The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-05
Observation-Disclosures, one marine.

"
Do.-gun-bost No. 4, Captain Decatur,
flight, one fergeant of marines, and two tea-
n. ,:.... ru;.,.
feverely, one boasfwain's mate, and two ma
rpcs.
Do.-gun-boat No. two feameD.
Do.-sun-ooat No. g, two ieamen.
Total--one killed and thirteen wounded.
Ausut stu. We were at anchor with the
fquadron ab0Nt too leagues north from the city
OF Triooi, the Argus in chafe OF 4 fmall vclel
to the wea-ward, which fhe fpon come up
with, and brought within hail. She proved to
be A French privateer of 4 guns, which put M
to Trpoli few days fnce for water, aud lett
it this morning. prevailed on the Captain FOR
confederation, to return to Tripoh, for the
purpoie of landing very badly wounded III
politans, which put OH board his veilel with
a letter TO the prime mini cr, leavins It at the
option of the Balflaw, 10 reciprocate tins gene
rous mode of conducting the war. The iend-
ing thefe unfortunate men on ihore TO be taken
care of by their friends was An act OF humanity
ON our part, which hope will make proper
irnprefiion on the minds of the barbarians-out
Idcubt it. AL hands were buiiiy employed al
tcring the rig of the three prizes, from latteen
yeaels to Hoops, and preparing for fecond at
tack. Offering one of the enemy's fchooners
and the brig two corfars) in the harbour to be
diiimaited, was informed by the French Cap
tain, that the damage thefe veiiels received in
the action of the 3rd, had occaGoned their
mats being taken out.
The 18th the French privateer came out, and
brought ne letter from the French Couful, in
which he obierves, that our attack of the 3rd
infant had d,fpoied the Baihaw to accept OF
Reasonable terms; and invited me to iend a
boat To the rocks with flag of truce, which
was declined, as the white flag was not hoifted
at the B1ihaw's cattle. At g, \. III. with a
very light breeze from the Eaitward, and 4
itrong current, which obliged the Contribution
to remain at anchor, | made the fgna for the
light veiiels to weigh, and the gun and bomb
boats to cat off and ftand in ihore towards the
Wefein batteries, the prize boats having been
completely fitted for fervice, and the command
of them given to lieut.. Crane, of the Vixen,
Thorn, of the Enterprife, and Caldwell of the
Syren the whole advanced with fails and oars
The orders were for the bombs to take pofi-
ton in fnah bay to the weitward of the city,
where but few of the enemy's guns could be
brought TO bear on them, but from whence
they could annoy the town with fhells. The
gun boats, to ience, a battery of feven heavy
guns, which guarded the approach to that poG.
ton, and the briggs and fchooners to fupport
them, in cafe the enemy's hotilla ihould ven
ture out, at half paft L., P. NJ. breeze from
n. Il. E. l weighed with the Contribution, ant
food in for the town, but the wind being Oh
ihore made timPrudent to engage the batteries
with the Ship, as in cafe of a matt being ihot a
lEaysnthe iofs the veliel would probably en-
iYs. 81, change of wind ihould favour ou
half paft P. NJ. the bomb G
SEed their itationS, the fig
b to attack the town anl
blt.c,;s..V Fbs Immediately commen
ced thro'vi and the gun-boats opened
iharI, andN !IireSted fire on the town and
batteries within point blank lhot, which was
warmly returned by the enemy. The fever
gun battery in lefS than two hours was Genced
except one gum preflune the others were dit:
mounted by our lhot, as the walls were amoR
totally defroyed. AT 2 quarter paft 8, P. NJ
ihip hove in fight to the northward, handine
for the town; made the Argus, fignal to chaft
AT half paft one of our prize gun-boats wa
blown up by a hot fl,ot from the enemy, which
paIed through her magazine. She had or
board 2S officers, ieamcn and marines /; 10 o.
whom were killed, and wounded. Among
the killed were James r. Coldwe!l frit lieu.
tenant OF the Syren, and midihipman John S
Deriey, both excellent officers idhipmar
Spence and eleven men were taken up un.
hurt.-Captan Decatur, whole diviion thi,
boat belonged 70, and who was near her al
time Inc uieW up, r0PUrts 10 me mai
Mr.. Spence was experimenting the loading
ofthe gun at tbat moment, and notwithftand
ing the boat was fnking, he, and tue brave fell
lows furriving, fniihed charging, gave thres
cheers as the boat went from under them, and
fvam TO the neareit boats, where they afhlted
during the remainder of the action. The enc.
my's gun-hoats and gallies q IS in number) were
all in motion clofe under the batteries, and ap-
pared to meditat2 an attack on our boats
the Contribution, Nautilus and Enterprise were
to windward, ready at every hazard to cut
them of, from the harbor, if they ihould ven
turc down while the Syren and Vixen were
near our boats to fupport and cover any of
them that might be dtabed. The enemy
thought it NOT prudent, however, TO retire to
their fnug retreat behind the rocks, after firing
few ihot. Our boats, in two diviiions, under
captains Somers and Decatur, were well con.
ducted, as were our bomb-veifels, by eufs.
Dent ard Robinion. The town mua have fnf-
fersd much from this attack, and their bate
ries, particularly the feven gun-battery, mut
have ioft many men. At half pan 5 p. M. the
wiGd began to freihen from tie N. N. Z. |
made the fgnaI for the gun and bomb boats to
retire from action, and FOR tie yeftls to which
they were attached 70 take them in tow. The
Argus made iigndl that the nrange fail was a
friend. in this days action No. had %
pound ihot through her hull; No. 6, had her
lattecn yard fhot away No a 81 pound fhot
through her hull, which killed two men. Some
OF the other boats had their rigging and fails
conildcrably cut. We threw Is nIeIls. and a.