Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-08-06
IL HISTORICAL.
Ai.GlERS.

the proceedings Of Decatur in 1915. And il
WORTHY Of being preserved II ia extracted
from The New York Journal of Commerce
-" a distinguished gentleman of this ciiv
WIN" was on board the Guerrero, 'CommodGr.
Decaturs flag ship, and conse quenty an cyn
witness of the events which DISTINGUISHED
that memorable epoch in the annals of our
navy, has communicated 10 us the prominent
incidents OF the expedition, some of which
we DO not iccolect to have seen in print
Inc squadron made the passare f;on,
this port TO Gibraltar in n period of "a DAYS
carefully concealing their character lest ih,,
Ai9erins fleet should obtain information oS
their being Mt sea. nnd thus eludc their grasp.
After passing the Straits one of the Alrerine
trigates was deserted under easy sail, off Can,
DE Gait, on the Spanish coast, whore tho
BaTbary corsairs usually lie lurking for prev
She was moving gently along ; unsuspicio,is
oil the character of our fleet, until by some
mistake, the American flag wa. run up bv
The Constellation. The English flag was in
stantly holsted by the Guerrero followed by
inc whole squadron, but it was too late: in
moment the trigate had all sails set. and
was going before the wind with extraordinary
velocity, The Constellation and the Guer-
rlcre gave chase and as they approached tho
OBJECT OF their pursuit the Constellation oc-
casional!y fired, until some of her shot PASSED
so near the bow ofthe Guerriere that SIGNAL.
were made for her to resume her stotion in
the line. The Guerrero ran UP within mus.
ket shot and poured in such Tremendous
broadSides, that in about 90 minutes the enc
mv's guns were completely senced. From
an inability to understand their language,
IL was impossible to ascertain wheth.
err he had struck ; and Captain Lewis
with number of men, was therefore directed
10 lowe: one OF the boats and board. AS they
rowed alongside, several OF the Alperines
made signs for thnm Ia keep off: but after n
moments consultation, il was resolved to
hazard the experiment Of BOARDING. On
| reaching the deck, n most appalling snectocl,
presented itself The deck was swimmin,
with blood nearly an inch and a half deem
, an evidence the awful carnage made amonn
! the crew. Those who were alive fell unoS
their knees I'm an attitude of supplication
looking for no moro mercy than they would
nave shewn under change circumstances
AS one OF our officers was traversinp the deck.
his cutlass, which was swinging from bis
arm, accidentally struck a wounded man in
the face, with some force, upon which a
brother officer exclaimed, 90 for mercy's sake.
my dear fellow, be more careful" The Tur,
turned his eyes upon the latter with mild
ana benignant look, which, says our inform
ant, ," shall never forget" He was offered
an orange to cool his thirst, but shook his bead
" After capturing u brig of % runs off
cape Pa!os, the Commodore directed his
course to Alglers and entered that beautiful
Ira her ''w rtii4- -SsSsedtsh cours living The
Swedish consul came on board, with tn.
captain OF the Port, in a barge manned with
A'Ser'he sailors, and when they were told of
| me capture OF their finest frigatc and the
| death OF the Admiral, Rails lIammida, thew
shook their heads in utter disbelief But the
appearance of some of the officers of the fri.
gate, who We're brought up from below, at
once satisfied them of the truth Of the story.
ne terms OF treaty already drafted, were
delivered to the Consul for the Dew to sion
without alteration or qualification The Dew
was inclined to temporize, and solicited an
armistice, hrst tor "a hours, and afterwards
Tor ., to deliberate upon the PROPOSITIONS.
" Not one minutes" was the reply of Com
madore Decatur
he Consul was further told by Decatur,
tlat the treaty, assigned at all must be spncd
without delay: that there should be no sus
pension of hostlities, and if in the meantime
any OF The Algerine vessels should appear off
me harbor they would be captured and that
all American captves who were held in hon
age, together with full indemnity for all
captures made must accompany the return of
the treaty. The Consul retired, and it was
not long before 1T was proclaimed from tha
mast head that an Algerne fripate was stand
ing into the Bay. The drum beat to quarters.
and all hands We're addressed bv Decatur. as
was always his habit before battle i'm an ami
mated manner, who told them it would DO
necessary TO take The enemy by boarding,
TO prevent them from running on shore 10
AVOID capture and said he " all ask of YOU,
my boys, rs to follow me-" The crew ans wered
with three cheers, and orders were giyen TO
put The ship alongside of the approaching foe
Nhile she was standing out for that purpose,
boat was seen coming off with white flag
hoIsted, the signal which was agreed on If
the treaty should be signed. AS the Consul
gained The deck of the Guerrero, the Com.
madorc met him with the question Peace or
war;! Peace exclaimed the Consul in half
breath. " is the treaty signed exactly as |
sent IL Exactly, upon my honor" re-
Piled the Consul with agitation placing his
hand upon his heart. Tho eye of the Com
modoIe glanced hastily over the paper the
unfortunate captves were received with a
parental welcome, and the indemnity in hard
dollars conveyed on board. Preparations for
battle ceased, and the feet and the enemy
sailed peao ciully into the harbor
" "A liter the arrival of Com. Bainbridre the
squadron. with the exception of the Guer-
mere, sailed for Gibraltar, TO place itself I'M.
der his command. The Guerrero was cruis.
ing off the Spanish coast, when one day six
vessels were discerncd bearing down towards
her. As they approached, they drew up in
order OF battle and hoisted the Agcrine flag.
Not knowing but the Dcy had annulled the
treaty, the ship was prepared for action, and
the crew addressed by Decatur-Two ofthe
frgates sailed by within a short distance
the third ship, the Admiral's, hailed the Guer
Tlere, and asked g Where are you roinp?"
The Commodore snatched the speaking trum-
pet from the first Lieutenant, and answered
IN very stern, deliberate, and scornful tone,
"herc please laying strong empha-
sis on each word. They all passed bv. how.
ever, without Offering any menace or moles
tation, TO the evident disappointment of De-
catur, who expressed his confidence 10 tho
crew in his address, that they could fog the
whole OF them. Thus the daring depredations
OF those frcebooters were cfFectuany checked,
and since that period, our commerce in that