Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-03-02

SO msp. The gallirs have each 100
men schooners and briggs about The sa,rs
number.
The weather was not favorable for an:
chosing until The 9sth, when, with the
wind Z. 5. E. the squadron stood in for :
The coast. and at p. NJ. anchored per sig-
nal, Tripoli bearing south 2 Leg miles dis.
tant. AT this moment the wind shifted
suddenly T.. S. l.. 10 N. ". w. and from.
thence to N. ~. E. at O'Clock il blew
strong with heavy sea, setting directly
on shore. l made the signal 10 prepare
to weigh--At 8, the wind and sea having
considerably decreased, the, signel was
made for the squadron to weigh and gain
an ofling the wind continued veeriug TO
the eastward, which favored our gaining
sea Dom, without being obliged 20 .arry
50 great press OF sail, as TO lose any of
our gun.boats, although hey were in great
danger. The gale continued varying
from n. T.. to <. :. Z. without increasing
much, until the 8 list. when it blew away
our reefsd forrsail and close rec Fed main
topsaii fUtuiateiy the sea did not rise in
proportion TO the strength of the gale or
we must have lost all our Boats. August
The ist, the gale sn5sidcd aud we stood
towards the coast; every preparation was
made for an attack on the town and har.
bors August the Sd, pleasant weather.
WIND east, stood In with the squadron to-
wards Iripoli; at noon we were between
two and three miles from the batteries,
which were all manned; and observing
several oftheir guh-boa and GALL. had
advanced in Q divisions without the rock.
determined'to take advantage of their
temeri,y at half past IL o'clock, wore
on shore, and made the signal to come
within hail, whef communicated to each
OF the commanders my Intention of al
lacking The enemy's shipping s batteries.
The gTn "a mortar beats were i'm :nesl;.l
s'ely manned and prepared to cast off:
the gun. boats in two divisions of three
each: the first divisions commanded BY,
captain Somers IN No. I, lieutenant De.
ca,ur in No. 2, and lieutenant Blake in Ne.
3. The second division cominands d by
capitals Decatur, In sSa- 5, Lieutenant
bainbridge IN Nos S, ard lieut. Trippe in
No. 6. The two boInbards were comman-
aed'hy lieutenant commandahl Dcnt, md,
Mr. Robinson, frs, lieutenant ofthis shin.
AT half past orc O'Clock, having made the.
necessary arrangements for ihs attack.
wore ship and stood towns Dis the batteries;
az 2, sIgnaf made 10 cast off the boats az
quarter pas, 2, signal for bombs and gun
boats to advance and attack The enemy:
at half past 2, general signal fer battle !:
Fat past the bombs commenced the
action by thowing shells into the town.
In an instant the enemy's shipping and
batteries opened tremendous FIRE, which
was promptly returned by The whole
squadron within grape shot distance ct
! the same TING the second di,isiop of
three gun-boats, led by the gallant cant.
Decatur, was advanci,n. with sails ard
oars, 10 board the EASTERN division ta the
enemy, Consisting of nine boats. Our
boats gave the enemy showers of CRANE
and rnusket balls as they advanced. ,hey
however, soon closed, when the pistol,
sabre, PIKE, and tomahawk, were ma,ic
/ good use OF by our brave tars. Captain
ooners beng IN dull saiIer, made the
best use oihis sweeps, butwas no; able 10
fetch TAR enough 10 windward TO engage
the same division Of the. enemy's boats,
which captain Decatur fell in with: he.
however, gaianily bore down with his SIM
[ gre boat on Eve OF the encyny.s western
/ -.' $3.50 af'NN ~hSeffIu Wflntn PISTOL SHCt,l
delea,ed aud drove them within the rocks
IN shattered condition, AID with the loss
ct a great number Of men. Lieut.. Deca-
tur, IN No 2, was closely engaged With
one OF the eDemy's largest boa;s, Of the
eastern division, which struck 10 him, af.
ter having lost large proportion Of men,
and at the instant that brave cf;c.r was
boarding her, to take possession, he was
treacherously shot through the bead, I,y
! he captain of the boat that had surrender.
cd, "hic', base conduct enabled the POI
troon(withihea assistance heFeceiy-d from,
other ooats) to escape. The ihnd soat &c
captain Ssmers' division, kept 10 wind.
ward, firing al The boats and shipping in
the harbor; had she gone down to his as
sIs'ance, Il is probable several of the ene-
nny's boats would have been captured in
that quarter. Captain Decatur, in MOI.
alter having with distinguished bravery,
boarded and carried one Of the enemy, Of
superior force, took his prize in tow end
Salian.iy bore down TO engage a second,
IN n. oil -