Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-03-27
NAVAL HISTORY.
account Of Me sierations otthe american sqnad
ron, under Commodore Dcca'ur, against III
eiers, 1UiuS and Ifqtok.

In the year 1795, treaty concluded he
tween the United States of Anne, lea, and the Dey
OF Aiyiers, in which the former were put upon a
foAtng with other nations. condition o payirg TO
the Dcy, yearly tribute of twelve Thousand Al
gcriue s,q;iDs, 10 he invested in naval stores. This
treaty subssted without any infringement, on tie
part Of the Agerines, u Ill time in the month
OF July, 1912, when the Dey, stimulated, probably,
BY the near prospect ot a war between the United
States and England, which he encouraged ia the
belief would anniliatc the naval force o. the form
er, ard disable them ioin taking satisfaction, took
an Opportunity to yiaI-te its important articles
lie Was probsbiy further stimulated 10 this mea-
sure, by having little employment az that time for
ms cru'Zers, III consequence At Just concluding a
peace with Portugal, while at the same time he
was prevented from committing depredations upon
his ola enemies, the Scilrns, of whom the English
had dee AIRED themselle s the protectors.
The n e;ence OF his highness for this breach of
his engagements WAS that the cargo OF the ship Al
leasry, tsu Just arrived, with naval stores, for the
payment oil the tribute stipulated in the treaty OF
1895, did not contain such an assortment OF articles
rs he had right To expect. IN consequence OF hs
disappointment, tie Dey who was subject TO vi lent
paroNysms oil passion, became exec cong!y outrage
Gus, and told his Minister of marine that the cargo
should not be received that the SLIP shoGld i'm
medisteiy quit Aisels and that colonel Lear, the
American consul, should go with her, lie could
not have consul in his regency, who did not cause
every article to be brought, ~ he ordered. Every
attempt To eXpisin, the part nj the consul, was
wnhnut effect ON the Dey, who either WAS or affect
ed to be extremely angry. few days afterwards
he maoea demand ct certain arres'ases of tribut.
To the amount of twenty seven Thousand dollars the
claim to which founded on the difference be-
tween the solar and lunar years. the one consisting
OF three hundred and s;ytyiye, the other of three
hundred and fi;ty-four DAYS, creating difference of
halt year. in the lapse ofsevesteCn ars, which
had expired since the couelusiCn o. the treaty
his was the first time the distinction between the
Christian sud Mahometan year had ever been
brought Tor ward ny his highuess, anil il is certain
that II was insisted upon ia this instance, merely as
iurni'iirg n preteXt fer eSscting money from the
government of the United States or in case of re-
iusal, as furnishing additional grounds for decar-
alton OF hostlities. The reasoning, remonstrances
and explanations OF the consul were without effect
and he was atlast given to understand that if the
money was not paid Immediately, he should be sent
to the marine in chains-the Allegsry and her car
so eonfiscated every citizen ofthe United States in
Algiers condemned to perpetual slavery, and war
forthwith declared.
After yarioua iner cual attempts 20 negociate
mitigation OF The demands colonel Lear finally re-
ccived this deniive answer 10 his repeated appIi-
cations, by his hehT es,'s drogerman-"T That he
should tomorrow morning pay into the treasury,
twentv-seven thousand Spanish dollars, which he
(the dey) claimed as Ike balance OF annuiti,s due
from the United Stste., ard then dc part rom the
regency If Aigers With his family, AID all the c-
Zens OF the United Stat S." On failure o. payment
the const quences, hchllad at first been tire atened
would most assuredly be inflicted. This message
having been considered conclusive, the CONSUL de
srou> OF averting these ca'ani cs from hims elf and
family, well number Oh his country men then
ia A'ges, made every eifor, to raise the money de-
msrded. merchant OF Aleiers. at length aGganc-
ell II on receiving bills on Joseph Gaviuo y uevican
consul az 9Th altar, and II paid into the treasury
before lie time specified in tie dey's message.
Having committed the care of his property, which
he WAS not permitted To attend to himsefto the a
gerteenerai ofhis Swedish mai esty at Alciers col
Lear embarked on board the Aiieeany, with his
ianly and about twenty others for the United
States. The dey, Immediately on his departure
commenced hosti'ies Upon our commerce, and
these oniraaes renamed unreyeng-d by tie govern
menl CT the United States, whici, could not send
iorce to the NJ diteITarcsn, in consequence of the
war with Great Britain, declared ia June following
these transactions
Immediately, however, on the ratification orpesce
with Great Britain the attention of Congress was
called the consideration o. tue conduct Of Igiers
and the foregoing facts heirg sufficiently substantial.
ted, war was declared 10 exist between the United
Stat ~ America and the regency Of AIgiers.
Perpetrators were Immediately made to follow up
this declarations and squadron fitted utit under
The command of commodore Decatur, consisting OF
the Cuerrisre, Constellation, aud Macedonian ili.
gates, the Ontario and Epervisr slCops of war; and
the schooners Spark, Spitfirc, Torch, and Flam
beau. Another squadron, under cnmmOdnre Balm
bridge, to follow this armament ON the arrival
would return to the United States in single vessel
leaving the command ct the vii lie combined fo CO
to commodore Bainbrd,e.
The force under commodore Decatur render
yoused at New-York, from which port they sailed
the goth day OfApril, 1871 - and arrived in Lli" bay
OF Gibraltar in twenty-five DAYS. after having prev-
ously cOmmur cated with Cadiz ard Tangier. Tn
the passage, the Spitfire, Torch, Fre8y, and Onta-
RIO separated at ditferei times from the squadron
in gales, but all Joined again Gibraltar win The
exception Of the FREELY, which sprung her fnasts
and pat back to New.Yprk to reft. Having learned
at Gibraltar that the Agerine squadron, which bad
been out into the Atlantic, had undoubtedly pissed
up the straits, and that Information OF the ivsl of
tic American force had been sent to Agers hv per-
sons IN Gibraltar, commodore Decatur determined
20 proceed without delay, up tue Mediterranean, IN
the hope OF ntereepung ihe enemy before lac could
return 10 Aleiers, or gain a neutral port
The 17th of June, OF Cape dc Gait, ne fcU In
with and csptared the Agerine friga,c Mszcuia,
n running fight Of twenty-five minutes. After
two brOadsies tie Alserincs ran below The
Guerre ere had four men wounded by musk try
The Algefincs about thirty killed, according 10 the
statement ofths prisoners vino amounted % four
hundred and six. IN this affair the Famous Age
r'ne admiral, or Rails, Hauumda, who had long been
he terror this sea, WAS cut IN two by cannon
shot.
o. the 10Th of,Iune, cfcape Palos tIe squadron
fell in with aud captured Algerine brig oI Lwcrty-
Two guns. The brig was chased close a. the shore
Ioreh, and Spi fire, 10 whom she surrendered, af-
ter losing twenty. three men. No Americans we're
either Kill Il or wound, d. The captured brig, with
most tie prisoners ON boari, wss sent iuto Cartha-
rena, where she has since been claimed by the Sra
lish g1vernmertu'dcr me plea ~ breach of ncu.
alitv As Uii5 affair will probably b. come q SUBJ
Ct o, uegOsisuOn between the UfitCd States aud
q eli stsf