Portland gazette., 1805-04-29

The Second diviion commanded BY capt. De-
catur, in No q, lieutenant Bainbridge in No (
and leiut. IriPpe in No 6. The two bombards
were commanded by leiut,com. d Mt, and MIR.
Roblnlon. ut lieut.. OF this fhip. At half
patt o'clock, having made the ncecfIary arrang.
nents Tor the attack, wore ihip and food toward
the batteries at 2, f5Dal was made TO cait off
the boats at quarter paf two, Ggnal for bomb
and gunboats to advance an attack the enemy,
at half paf Z, general Ggnal for battle at three
quarters pat 2, the bombs commenced the ac-
ton by throwing fhels into the town. In an
infant the enemy fhipping and batteries open
ed tremenduous FIRE, WHICH was promptly re-
turned By the whole fquadfon, within grape
lhot diharce; at the fame time the ftcord di-
vifon of three gun boats, led by the gallant capt
Decatur, was advancing with fails and oars to
board the eStcrn diyiion of the enemy, conGlt-
ing Of nine boats. Our boats gave the enemy
ihowers Of grape and mufkct halls as .hey ad
vanced, they, however. foon cloled, when the
piitol, ia5re pike and tomdhawk, where made
good uie Of by our brave tars. Capt Somers
being in dull faer, make the beft ule Of his
fweeps, but was not able to fetch far enough 70
the wlnaward to engage the fame divi6on Of the
enemy's boats which capt Decatur fell in with
he, however, gallantly bore down in his Jingle
b at, on FIVE Of the enemy'o wettern divi6on, 8;
engaged within pifol fhot, defeated and drove
them within the rocks 10 lhattered condition,
| and with the lols of great nu mber Of men -
Leiut. Decatur, in No 2, was Clolely engaged
with one of the enemy's largef boats, of the
eatern divifon, which truck to him, after hav-
ing loA large proportion Of men, and at the
Ip(4@ fhar ofI,~ lt,r~
| take poh, fhon, he was treacherouly thot thro'
| the head BY the captain Of the boat that had
| fur -endered, which balc conduit enabled the poll
| troon with the aliitance he received from other
boats to eicaFe. The third boat Of capt
Somers' divfon, kept TO the wndward, firing
at the boats and fhipPing in the harbour had
Che gone to his afiitance, it is probable feveral
of the entmy's boats would have been captured
in that quarter. Capt. Decatur, in No q, af-
| ter having with diitinguilhed bravery, boarded
/ and carried one of the enemy, of fupcrior force,
took his prize in tow, and gallantly bore down
| TO engage a fecond, which, after a ievere con-
f6t, be alo took poAtlion Of. Thefe two
prizes had 83 officers and men killed, and Il
made prlionerS g Of whom were badly woun-
ded. Lieutenant Grippe, Of the Vixen, in No
8, ran along iide Of one Of the enemy's large
boats, which ne boarded, with only midhip.
man John Henley and nine men his boar fall
ing of Before anv more could get on board .
:hus was he left, compelled 10 conquer or Pc
rifh, with the odds Of SO to II.
The Turks could NOT withitand the ardour Of
this brave officer and his afhitants in few mi
nutes the decks were cleared, and her colours
hauled down. On board Of this boat Ia of the
enemy were killed and II made prifoners, J of
which were badly wounded, the ref Of their
| boats retreated within the rocks Lieut. Trippe
receiyed.eleven iabrc wounds, ione Of which
were very ievere; he ipeaks in the higheit
terEns Of Mr.. Henly and thole who followed
him. Lieutenant Bainbridge in No. 5, had his
latteen yard fhot away early in The action, which
prevented his getting along Gde of the enemy's
boats bat he called them with lteady and
well directed fire within muliet flot indeed,
he purified the enemy until his boat grounded
under the batteries fle was fortunately got off
loon. The bomb ve1ts kept their hAtions al
though covered with the fpray Of the fea, occa-
Goned by the enemy's fhot; they were well con-
Quoted by lieutenants Dent and Robinfon, who
kept up conitant fire from the mortars, and
threw a great number Of fheEls into the town
Five of fhe enemY's gun boats and two gallies
competing the centre dviion, aud fationed
within the rocks as relerve, joined BY the boats
thar had been driven in and fuppled with freih
men to replace thole they had loft, twice tt-
tempted TO row out, TO endeavOur TO furround
our gun-boats and their prizes, as often made
the tgnal 70 cover them, which was promptly
attendedto by the briggs and fchoonGrS, all OF
which were palIaDtlv conducted. and ANNOYED
the enemy exceedingly; but me fire from the
ihiP kept their Aotilla completely il check. Our
grafe ihoc made great havock among their men,