Portland gazette., 1805-05-06
INTERESTING DOCUMENT.
Csqy Of d Etflr Jfior, Comnaaors PReBkE 10 tbe
Seeraary q. tie Navy.
(coNrLuDzo FsoM OUR Lasr}

allowance of water in the fquadron. | fen
the Enterprise to Malta, with orders to The a
gent there, to hire tranfports and lend off i'm
lnedate!y lupPiy Of frelh water, provifion
aad other Rorcs which have become nsce1ary
rs iomc Of the fquadron have now been hvc
months within fight Of this difma coat, with
out once vifting friendly port thefc venels
as we'll as the gun boats, receive their fuppy
of water and provihons from the Contribution.
Sth AS the fcafon is fat approaching wher
we may expect bad weather, and no ,iews Of the
frigates. have determined to make an attack
as loon as the wind proves favourable. At g.
?. M. | lcut captains Decatur and Chaunccy
III two fmall boars 70 reconnoi;rc the harbour,
aud ob!erve the dilpo!ltion of the enemys hotil-
IA at night they returned at midnight, and re-
ported that they were anchored in line abrclt
from the NIuic to the baflaw's caftle, with their
heads to the ealtward, for the defence of the in
ner harbour Ar day light the wind flifted fud
denly from II, Z. to II. n. w. and brought a
heavy fea on ihore, which Obliged us, for the
greater fafety. to weigh and Gand to lea.
2oth. We had gained an oding of nine OF
zen leagues, till blowing hard. We met with
the Ketch Intrepid, from Spracufe, with car
go of irelh water, hock, and vegetables !or the
Squadron.
22d. Fell IN with a fhip from Malta, with
water and live flock for the fquadron. Thefc
cargoes arrived very opportunely, as we have
for iome time palt been Oh ihort allowance Of
water. The wind having moderated. we ftood
in, and anchored with The iquadron & miles n
Z. by n. from Tripoli all the boats we're eng
ged in di1charging the tranfports The Eater-
prize arrived from Malta, but brought no intel
ligencc OF the long exPe6ted frigates. ..
cath. With light breeze from the n. Z.
we ,tood in,with the fquadron preparei for &C
ton, intending to attack the town and ihipiag
in the night. AT 8 in the evening anchored a
bout two and half miles from the batteries
At midnight it fell calm. | fent the bomb vef-
fels under the protection of the gun boats to
lombard the town the boats Of the luadron
were employed in towing them in. Atz, A.
Nj. the bombardment commenced, and cen
tinued until day light, but with what effect i:
uncertain. AT all the boats joined US, and
were taken ii tow by the lquadren, which wa:
under weigh, and ftanding off. At 7 anchored
four miles north of the town. The weather fol
feveral days proved unfavourable for approach
ing the lhore.
!, 18th. We were, fayoured with a pleafan
breeze from the eaitward. At 3, P. NJ. we
weighed and Good in for Tripoli. At anchor
cd the Contribution 2 miles n. by =. from for
Eqgliih, and 4 and an half from the bafhaw'
caltle; the lig ut velitIs ordered TO keep under
weigh. We were employed until p. M. r
making Arrangements for attacking the town; Z
aUmber of the officers and many OF the fcamer
CT the Conltitutioil being attached to the bombs
gun and fhip's BOATS, captain Chaurcy with fey
eral of lis officers, and about fryenty leamen anG
1narines volunteered their lervices on board til;
Conlttutiou, All the boats in the (quadror
were Differed and manned, and attached TO th,
ftveral gun boats !; the two bomb veflclS coult
not be brought irtc a0 ion, as one was lcaky
and the mortar bed Of the other had given way
The John Adams, Scourge, transports, ano
bombs, were anchored miles TO the northwarc
Of the town. Lieutenant coElxandant Dent, G
rbe Scourge, came OH board the Contribution
and took charge Of the gun deck; leut Izarc
OF the Scourge, alGo Joined me. Lieut. Cor
don commands gunboat No s, and Iieutenan
Laurence Of the Enterpriie, No. 2-thcfe ar
The only changes. At half patt A. vi. III,
Gon5oatS il two divilions, led by captains De
Catar and Somers were ordered 10 advance
and take their itation5 clole to the rocks. at tn
entrance Of the harbour, wiihingrap3 fhot d;l
tance of the Baihaw's cattle. The Syren, Ar
gus, Vixen, Nautilus. Enterprise, and boats Q
ihe fausetoa accompanied them, AT 4, AN
The Boats anchored with fprings on, within pii
!ol ihot of the rocks, and commenced a bri1
firing on the ihipping, town, batteries and BaGn
avs cattle, which was warmly returned, bu
set as well dirctted the hips boats RENAME
%ith the gun boats, to atitt in boarding tn
rnemy's fotila, if it lhouId venture out; Will
,iic brigs and Ichooners kept Under weigh read