The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-11-01
Dan,sltir Jntsliigrree.
AFFAIRS WITH TRIPOLL.
SPRINGFIELD, (MAss.) Oe. IS.

- ofNiNGflELD, lMAss.) Oct. Is.
Ixfr09 Of a letter, reeeived BY a gentleman in
tbi5 to7vn, from GENERAL EATON, dated on
T.. board the United Stafes .fiigate Contribution,
at /sa, JJnne II, 1906.
"After tedious and perpIexing march of
ff:y days through the defart of Lydia, arrived
on the 2sth of April, and took poft at the head
of Hamet Baihaw's army in the rear of Derne.
Our movements in Egypt had induced Jofeph
Bahaw to fend an army to the defence of the
province, which was within fourteen hours
march of the place when we arrived. The GO
vernon Of Dernc was ALTO ordered, and deter
termined. with carlton of Turkifh foldiery
and abont third Of the city in his intereft to
reft our approach. Commodore Barron had
tent to the COAT, 70 sliIt our operations, the
brig Argus, the fchr. Nautilus, and the loop
Hornet; alto two pieces of field artillery. On
the morning of the 25th, fent flag to the 60
vernon with ovsrtures of friendfhip, on conditi-
ton of non-re6ftance and allegiance to Hamet
Baihaw, which he fent back with this lac onic
anfSer, "my head or yours !" The next day
we attacked him by fea and land, and after a
fharp conteit of two hours and half, carried
the place by charge of bayonet. The governor
took refuge in a fanttuary, and mott of his adj
herents fled and either joined the advancing ar
my of Jofeph Baibaw, or took the 'efaIt. The
few chrftians had with me, filtered feverely
IN the action nearly one third Of them were
either killed or wounded; becaufr our Arabs
not having been accuftomed to this kind of cIofe
decilion, left us the burthen of the day. I had
the misfortune to receive muiket ball through
my left WRIT, jult below the Joint, which fear
will deprive me Of the ufe Of my hand. i'm
mediateIy began to fortify myfef by reveriire
the embrafures of the battery, linking line OF
Entertainments, and rafting a parapet without
the fort. Hamet Baihaw opened his divan at
the late governors palace in the city, and the
Inhabitants universally and with apparent dilIa-
Sisfaetion recognized him.
Con the 18th May, the cnemy's army ad-
vanced and attacked US with all its force, in
hopes of recovering the place. But after an
action ct four hours with various fIccefs, they
gave way and retreated precipitately to their
camp behind the mountains. We were too
weak in our number of Chrihians to purfue this
hcceis, the Baihaw's people fcemed not to
have full confidence in themfclves and our Sd
rscen militia and newly acquired allies at Derne,
refolved to ad no longer offenhvely without a
Pecuniary confederation Of this we were derti-
tute.- Each party therefore held its pot, with
final krmiihing till the 2sth, when party of
the enemy, Of fifty or 6xty foot, covered by a
troop of cavalry, defended the mountain, fell
on the right flank of our Arab camp, and drove
off feverai camels and cattle. A detachment of
the Bafhaw's people purified theft marauders,
overlook them at the foot of the mountain, killed
three Of them s. recovered the plumber. While
this was tranfaetiDg, i made fortie with FIVE
officers ard thirty rank and file, Americans and
Greeks, volunteers, took ravine undifcoyered,
and gained the furnlnit of the mountain before
the enemy. We received them ON the point
of the bayonet. They made ibort reliance
and then fed. We purified them within llort
e Ill II - n
FIVE men, and wounded greater namber; then
retired in plain view OF the whole army with
out receiving the leaf injury. They apologize
for this cowardly inactivity by choofng to be-
Iieve we aimed to draw them into an ambufcade
on advantageous ground. The next day
their commander in chief offered by proclama-
ton, 5000 dollars for my head double that
fun for me prifoner; and fifty dollars head
for my Chri1ians. Thi; little affair put an end
TO Admitting.
On the / 9th infant, the enemy having re-
ceived re-inforcemen.s, again moved down and
attacked - Bat after a well fought battle,
Of upwards of four hours and half, they were
put to fight with great lofs both in men and
horfes. On this occahon we calculated the
numbers actually in the field Of both parties, to
have been about FIVE thoufand. The BaGhaw
dcferves the merit of this vctory--I had little 10
DO with it. arrangement, and could not render
lin any afiftance in arms, but from the FIRE Of
foge field piece. The veifcls had better
petition, and occaioualiy CALLED the enemy
with their heavy metal; but the fatl ia, I doubt
I'd the p,opriety Of further ofSenfive operations,
have been officially informed that deportation
wss pending Between the u. States and Joieph
Dail,aw.
"The next day The CorGeiIation appeared
and came to anchor in the ofIing. No fooner
was fhe Gecu by the enemy, than thcy dccamp-
cd irrvgularly, leaving moR of their heavy bag
cage, ard took up a precipitate retreat towards
tie dcfart, under AZ seprehenfon that The bro't