Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1813-08-23

tie. and tom two corsairs that Wer
laying near. Perceiying that the iaun
ches did not attempt TO approach, n
ordered hat the ship should be set oil
fire, which wos done, at the same time
in different parts. AS soon as this was
completely effected they lett her, ant
such was the rapldity OF the hames
that it whs with the utmost difficulty
they preserved the ketch At this crit
ical MON ent most propitious breeze
sprang up, blowing directly out OF the
harbour, which, in few minutes, car
ried them beyond the reach OF the ene'
my's guns, and they made good their
retreat without the loss OF single man.
and with but four wounded.
For this gallant * romantic achieve
ment, lieutenant Decatur was promo
ted to the rank of post captain, ;here be
ing at that time no intermediate grade
This promotion was particularly
gratifying. TO him, inasmuch as 1t was
done with the consent Of the officers o.
yer who's beads he was raised
In the ensuing spring, IT being deter
mined ID make an attack upon lripoli'
Commodore PEBBLE Obtained from the
King of Naples the loan of six gun
boats and Two bombards, which he for
med into two divisions, and gave the
commaai of one of them to Captain
Decatur, the other to Lieutenant Som
ers. The squadron sailed from SYRIA
cusc, consisting of the lrigale Constitu.
ton, tn. brig Syren, the schooaers
Nautilus and Vixen, and the gnn boats.
Having arrived on the coast OF Barba
~, they were for some days prevented
from making the attack, by adverse
wiad and weather a. length, on the
morning of the Sd of August, the wealth
err bsins favourable, the signal was
made from the commodore's ship TO
pre- pare for action, the light vessels cow
Ing tn, gun boats to windward At 9
O'Clock the signal was made Tor the bonn
harding the town and the enemy's ve'-
sells. The gun boats were cast oH, and
advanced in line ahead, lead by Capt
Decatur, and covered by the frigate
Constitution, and the briggs and schcon-
ers. The enemy's gun boats were
moord along the mouth Of the harbour
nnder the batteries, and within musket
shot. Their sails had been taken from
them, and they were ordered to sink,
rather than abandon their position.
They were aided and covered likewise
by brig of 10 and schooner oil 10
guns,
Bep,e entering into close action capt.
Decatur went alongside each OF his
boats. and ordered them to unship their
bovspri,s and follow him, as IT was his
intep,ion 10 board the enemy's boats.
Lieut.. James Decatur commanded one
os the boats belonging to Lieut.. Somer's
division, bur being further to windward
than the res. OF his division, he joined
and took orders from his brother.
When Capt. Decatur, who was in
the leading boat, came within range OF
the fire from the batteries, heavy FIRE
was opened upon him from them and
from the gun boats He returned their
fire, and continued advancing until he
came in contact with the boats. At
his t,me Commodore Preble, seeing
Decatur approaching nearer than he
thought prudert, ordered the signal TO
be made for retreat but II was found
that IN making ont the signals Tor the
boats, the one for retreat had been o.
mitled. The enemy's boats had about
forty men each; ours an equal oumher,
twenty seven OF whom were Amerio ans
and thirteen Neapoitans. Decatur, on
boarding the enemy, was instantly fol
lowed by his countrymen, bur the Nca.
poii,ans remained behind. The Turks
did not sustain the combat, hand TO
hand, with that frmness they. had oh
tanned a reputation for j: IN ten minutes
thu deck was cleared eight OF them
Sought refuge in the hold and
of the rest, some fell Oh the deck,
and others jumped into the sea. only
three OF the Americans were wound
ed.
AsDecatur was about 20 proceed ont
with his prize, the jat which had been
commanded by his brother came under
his stein, and Informed him that they
had engaged and captured one OF the
enemy but that her commander, after
surrendering, had treacherously shot
Lieut.. James, Decatur, and pushed of
with the boat, and was then making Tor
the harbour.
'rhe feelings of the gallant Decatur,