Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-07-21
NAVAL "REMINISCENCES.

The formidable preparations witch
France has made for the conquest Of Al
gers, would seem to threaten annihllaon
to that naughty power, were it not ,hatfcr-
mer expeditions, equally grand and cxer-
sive, have failed Of success. Il is not
/ impossible that the burning sands Of AZ
rica wll prove az fatal 10 their fifty thou
send men. as the SHOWS of Russia di to
me hundreds Of thousands under Nap1le-
on. In the event Of victory, il may be
doubted whether the lofty spirit Of the Al
gerlnes will be moro C6octuuiiy huuhled
than 1t was by the heroic Decatur, ~ @ tcW
DAYS in 1915, with his little squadron Of
three fr'ga,es, and as many sloops Of war.
A distinguished gentleman of this CITY.
who was on board the Guerrero. Commo
dore Decatur's flag ship, and consequent
Ivan eye witness of the events which dis
tnguished that memorable epoch in the
annals Of our Navy, has communicated TO
US the prominent incidents pi the expedi-
ton, some OF which we don't recolect 10
have seen in print.-N Y JOur. Gem.
The squadron made the passage from
this port to Gibraltor in a period of 81
days, carefully concoaliug their character,
lest the Algerine fleet should obtain lnfor-
nation Of their being at sea, and thus C.
Jude their grasp. After passing the Straits
one Of the Agerine frigates was deserted
under easy sail, of Cape De Gait, on the
Spanish coast, where the Barbary corsairs
usually lie lurking for prey. She was mo-
wing gently along, unsuspicious Of the
character of our feet, until by some mis-
take the American flag was run mp by The
Constellation. The English flag was in
staudy hosted by the Guerrero, followed
by the whole sQuadroa, butit was too late:
in a moment the lrigate had all sails set,
and was going before them with exiraordl-
narp velocity The Constellation and the
Guerrero gave chaoe, and as they we're
approaching the object Of their pursuit,
the Constellation occasionally fired, until
some Of her shot passed so near the bow
Of the Guerrero, that signals were made
for her TO resume her station in the line
The Guerrero ran up within nTusket shot
and poured in such tremendous broad
sides, that in about % minutes the enc
mics guns were completely silenced. Prom
an INABILITY to understand their language,
1t was impossible 10 understand whether
laey had struck; and Capt Lewis, with
number Of men, was therefore dlrec ted hv
Decatur to lower one Of the boats and
board. As they rowed alongside, several
oil the AlgerInes made signs I'm them 10
Keep Off but after a moments oonsuha-
ton, 1t was resolved to hazard the expert
ment Of boarding.
On reaching the deck. a most appalling
spectacle presented itself The deck was
swimming with blood nearly an inch and
halt deep; an evidence of the awful car
sage made among the crew. Those who
were alive fell upon their knees in an aiti-
tude OF supflication, looking for no more
mercy than lhey FSould have shown under
change Of circumstances. As ono Of
cur officers was traverslng the deck. his
cutlass, which was swinging from his arm.
accidentally struck a wounded man in the
face with some force, upon which bro.
Their officer exclaimed, For mercy's sake.
my dear fellow, be careful The Turk
turned bls eyes upon the latter with raild
and benlgnant look, which, says our in
loImaRt, ii never shall forget. He was
offered an orage to cool his thirst, but
shook ISIS head, and IN a few moments was
a corpse,