Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-03-06

uiauc HE. siSnai Tor ,tae boats 10 tettre
nom action, and for the briggs an.l scl,oon-
ers to take them in tow, and soon after
hau'ed of with the Constitution 10 repair
damages. Our niaintop sail was totally
disabled by she'll FROM the batteries,
which cut away .he leach rope and several
cloths of the sail. Another she'll went
through ihe fore.top-sail, and one through
the Jib. All our sails considerably cut
Two topmasts backstnys shot away, MAIN
sheet, fore.tacks, lifts, braces, bswlin~,,
and the running rigging generally very
much cut, but no shot IN our hull, except
ing few grape. Our gun boals we're an
hour and fifteen minu,csin action. They
disabled several Of the enemy s gaslics and
boats, and considerably dana; ,ed fort En-
glish.- Most of our boats received damage
IN their rigging & sails. The bomb vessel
No. /, commanded ~ lieut.. Robinson was
disabled every STROUD being shot away
the bed of the mortar rendered useless,
and the vessel near sinking. She was how
ever towed oil. Abort Atty shells were
thrown into the town, and our boats fred
800 round shot, besides grape aud canis-
ter. They were led into action by Cap.
tans Decatur and Somers with their usa-
al gaiIan,ry, The briggs and sch.Dners
were hand someIy conducted, md 6red
many shot with effect at fort English,
which they werenear enough TO reach with
their carronades. They suffered .consi-
dcrably in their rigging, and The Argus re-
eeivcd 80 pound shot in The hull forw ard,
which cut off a bower Cable as il entered.
We kept under weigh until III p. nj.
when we anchored, TriruIi bearing 8. $.
w. 8 leagues. againwith pleasure ac-
knowledge the services OF an able and acs
tive officer in Captain Chapncy, serving
Oh The quarter deck Of the Constitution.
AZ sun rise ! made the signal for the
squadron TO prepare for action. The car
penters were sent on board the bombs 10.
repair damages, and our boats employed
IN supplying the bombs and gunboais with
amunition, and 10 replace the expend;<
lures. ~
DESTROYS Of annoying tire enemy, BY
all the means in nay power, direcled lo
be put in execution long contemplated
plan of sending fireship, or Internal, In
TO the hafbor OF Tripoii, in the night, for
the purpose oferdcavoring to destroy The
enemy's shipping, aud shatter The ba
shaw's castle and town. Captain Soniers
OF the Nautilus, having volunteered his SER
vsces, had, for several days before this
period, been directing the preparatian of
the ketch Intrepid, assisted by Lieu,s.
Wadsworth and Israel. About loo bar
rels OF powder and SO fixed shells, were
apparently iudieiousiy disposed of ON
board her. The fuzes leading to the ma
gazine, where all the powder was deposi-
ted, were calculated 10 burn Quarter Of
an hour.
Sepsemher4th. The Intrepid being pre-
pared tor the intended service, capt. So
mers and lieut.. Wordsworth made choice
OF two Of the fastest rowing boats in the
squadron, for bringing them out. After
reaching their destuntion and firing the
combuslible materials, which we've 10
communicate with the fuSes, capt. So
iners' boat was manned with four seamrn
ison the Nautilus, and lieut.. yyatlsworth's,
with six from The Constitution. Lieut..
israel accompanis 3 them. AT 8 in the e.
venin9, the Irtrepid was under sail, and
standing for The port, with a leading breeze
rom the eastward. The Argus, Vixen
and Nautilus conveyed her as Ear as the
rock On entering tie harbor, several
shot were fred a, her from the bate res.
IN a lev minutes after, when she had ap-
parentIy nearly gained the intended place
oil dest'nation, she suddenly exploded,
Without having previously fired room
i'i'ed with sp!inters and other cornbusti.
oies, which were in.cndedto create a blaze,
IN order 10 deter the enemy from board
ing, whist the FIRE was communicating to
the !uzes, Which led 10 the magazine.
The eHect of the explosion awed their
batteries into profound silence, with ssio-
instrument. Not gun was afterwards FIR
ed iorthe night. The sbricks OF the IN
habltauts informed us that the Town was
thrown into the greatest terror and con
s'ernation by the explosion of the maya
zine, and the bursting and falling OF shells |
m all directions. The whole squadron
waited With the utmost anxiety 10 learn
the tate of the sdvenlurers, from signal
previously agreed on in case of success, !
pu, waited in vain no sings OF their safe !
" were 10 be observed. The Argus, Viz !
en- and Nautilus lowered round the en-.
trance OF the port until sunrise, Wien they