Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-17
JtNE II. 1918.


to the New-York, one of the second Medi
terrancan squadron, under the command of
commodore Morris.
When he returned to the United States
he was ordered to take the command of the
argus. proceed in her to join commodore
Preble's squadron, then in the Mediterrane-
an, and on his arrival there to resign the
command of the Argus to lieutenant Hull,
and take the schooner Enterprise, hen
commanded by that officer. After making
that exchange he proceeded to Syracuse
where the squadron was to rendezvous.-
On his arrival at that port he was informed
Of the fate of the frigate Philadelphia, which
had ran aground on the Barbary coast, and
fallen into the hands of the Tripolitans.-
The idea immediately presented itself to
his mind of attempting her re capture or
destruction. On commodore preble's arri-
val, a few days afterwards, he proposed to
to him a plan for the purpose, and volun-
tcered his services To execute il. The wary
mind of that veteran officer at first disap-
proved of enterprise so full of peril but
the risks and difficulties that surrounded it
only stimulated the ardor of Decatur, and
impaired to it an ar of adventure, fascinat-
ing to his youthfuiimagination.
The Consent of the commodore having.
been obtained, lieutenant Decatur seleck.
ed Tor tho expedition n ketch (the Intrel
which he had captured a few weeks before
from the enemy, and manned her wkt4~ Sc.
venty volunteers, chiefly from his own crew.
He sailed from Syracuse on the Sd Februa.
ry 1904, accompanied by the United States
brig Syren, lieutenant Stewart, who was to
aid with his boats, and to receive the crew
OF the ketch. in case it should be found ex-
pedient to use her as a fire-slip.
After Fifteen days Of very tempessuous
weather. they arrived at the harbor of Fri
poll a little before sunset 1t had been arranp-
ed between lieutenant Decatur and Stew
art, that the ketch should enter the harbor
about 10 O'Clock that night, attended by the
boats OF the Syren. On arriving of the har-
Dor, the Syren, in consequence of Il change
OF wind, had been thrown six or eight miles
without the Intrepid. The wind at this time
was fair, but fast declining, and lieutenant
Decatur apprehended tha., should he wait
for the Syren's boats TO come up, it might be
too late to make the attack that night, Such
delay might be fatal to the enterprise, as
they could not remain longer on the coast.
their provisions being nearly exhausted -
For these reasons he determined to adven-
ture into the harbor alone, which he did a.
bout s O'Clock.
An idea may be formed of the extreme
hazard of this enterprise from the situation
of the frigatc. She was moored within half
gun shot ct the Bashaw's castle, and of the
principal battery. Two CT the cnemv's
c%ruizers lay within two cables length, on
the starboard quarter, and their gun boats
within half gun shot on the starboard bow.
All the guns of the frigate were mounted
and loaded. Such were the immediate pc
rils that our hero ventured to encounter with
a single ketch, beside the other dangers that
abound in a strongly fortified harbor.
Although from the entrance TO the place
where the frigate lay was only three miles,
yet iii consequence of the ligh.ness of the
wind they did not get within hail of her un
I'll eleven o'clock. When they had ap-
preached within two hundred yard. thew
were hailed and ordered to anchor, or they
would be fired into. Lieutenant Decatur or
dered a Maltese pilot, who was on board the
ketch, to answer that they had lost their an
chors in a gale of wind on the coast, and
therefore could not comply with their re-
quest. BY this time it had become perfect.
ly calm, and they were about fifty wards
from the frigate. Lieutenant Decatur or
dered n small boat that was alongside of the
ketch to take a rope and make it fast to the
trlgate's fore-chains. This being lone THEY
began to warp the ketch alongside. 1t was
not until this moment that the enemy sus-
pected the character of their visitor, and
great confusion Immediately ensued. This
enabled our Adventures to get alongside of
the frigate, wheE Decatur immediately
sprang aboard followed by Mr.. Charles
Morris, midshipman. These two were near
ly a minute on the deck before their COMMA
nionscould succeed in mounting the side For
tunate.y, the Turks had nos sufficiently re.
covered from their surprise tn take advan
tage Of this delay. They were crowded to
getHeT on the quarterback, perfectly asto-
nished and aghast, without making any at
tempt to oppose the a%ssailing party. As
soon as a sufficient number of our men had
gained the deck, to form a front equal to
that of the enemy, they rushed in upon them.
The Turks stood the assault but a short
time, and were completely oyerpowered.-
About twenty were killed on the spot, ma
ny jumped overheard, and the rest fed to
the naindeck. whittier they were pursued
and driven from on board. .
After the entire possession hadbeeD gained
Of the ship, and every thing prepared to set
FIRE to her, a number Of launches were seen
rowing about the harbOr. This determined
Lieutenant Decatur TO remain in the ~frigate,
from whence a better defence could be made
than from on board the ketch. The enemy
had already commenced firing upon them
from their batteries and castle, and from
two c%orsairs that were laying near. Per-
cciying that the launches Cid not attempt to
approach, he ordered that the ship should
be set on fire, which was done, at the same