The native American., 1840-09-19
Vol w.. CITY OF WASHINGTON,

bridge had, in chasing one OF tile enemies
vessels into the harbor of Tripoli, ran up
on reef of rocks, where, after despe-
rate resistance, she was surrendered. to
the Tripolitans. 1t was while in pos
session ofthese Tripo,itans, the desperate
resolution was formed to carry her by
surprise and destroy her. Lieut.. Com.
Decatur, with eighty-one volunteers, nn,
dcrtook the service, in small ketch on
the evening of the 10Th of December, 1903.
The watchwori was Philadelphia"
As the ketch drew in with the land, the
ship became visible. She lay not quite
mile within ntheentrance, riding to the wind,
and abreast Of the town. Her fore mast,
which had been cut away while she was
on the reef, had not yet been replaced, her
main and izen-top-masts were housed,
and her lower yards were on the gun
wales. Herlower standing rigging. how
ever, was in its place, and, us was shortly
afterwards ascertained, her guns were loa-
ded and shotted. Just within her, lay
two corsairs, with few gun-boats, and
galley.
1t was mild evening for the season,
and the sea and bay was as smooth as
summer; as unlike as possible to the same
place few days previously, when the two
vessels had been driven from the enter
prise by a tempest. Perceiving that he
was likely to get in too soon, when about
five miles from the rocks, Mr.. Decatur or
dered buckets and other drags to be towed
astern, in order to lessen the way of the
ketch, without shortening sail, as the lat
ter expedient would have been seen from
the port, and must have awakened sus-
picion. In the mean time the wind grad
ually fell, until it became so light as 10
leave the ketch but about two knots way
on her, when the drags We're removed.
About 10 o'clock the Intrepid reached
| the eastern entrance of the bay, or the
passage between the rocks and the shoal.
The wind was nearly east, and, as she
steered directly for the frigate, it was we'll
abaft the beam. There wasa young moon,
and as these bold adventures were slow
| ly advancing into hostile port, all around
them was tranquil and apparently without
distrust. For near an hour they were
stealing slowly along, the air gradually
failing until their motion became scarce
lly perceptible:
Most of the officers and men of the
ketch had been ordered to lie on the deck,
where they were concealed by low bull
warks, or weather boards, and by the diff
ferent objects that belong to vessel. As
| it is the practice Of those seas to carry a
number Of men even in the smallest craft,
the appearance of ten or twelve would ex-
cite no alarm, and this number was visi-
BILE. The commanding officer, himself,
stood near the pilot, Mr.. Catalano, who
was to act as interpreter.
The quarter-master at the helm, was
ordered to stand directly for the frigate's
bows it being the intention to lay the ship
aboard in that place, as the mode of attack
which would least expose the assailants to
her fire.
| The Intrepid was still considerable
distance from the Philadelphia, when the
latter hailed. The pilot answered that
the ketch belonged to Malta, and was on
a trading voyage that she had been near
Ily wrecked, and had lost her anchor in a
late gale, and that her commander wished
to ride by the frigate during the night.
This conversation lasted some time, Mr..
Decatur instructing the pilot to tell the
frigate's people with what he was laden,
in order to amuse them, and the Intrepid
gradually drew nearer, until there was
every prospect of her running foul of the
Philadelphia: in minute or two, and at
the very spot contemplated. But the wind
suddenly shifted, and took the ketch A.
back. The instant the southerly puff
struck her, her head fell of, and she got
astern- board the ship, at the same mo-
ment, tending to the new current of air.
The effectof this unexpected change was
to bring the ketch directly under the fri
gates broadside, Mt the distance Of about
forty yards, where she lay perfectly be-
Gained, or, if any thing, drifting slowly
EASTERN, exposed to nearly every one of the
Philadelphia's loaded guns.
Not the smallest suspicion appears to
have been yet excited on board the fri
gate, though several of her people were
looking over her rails, and notwithstand
the moonlight. So completely were the
Turks deceived, that they lowered boat
and sent it with a fast. Some of the
ketchs men, in the meantime, had got
into her boat and had ran a limo to the
Ifrigate's fore-chains. As they returned,
'|they met the frigate's boat, took thefast il
brought, which came from the after part
of the ship, and passed it into their own
vessel. These fasts were put into the
hands of the mer, as they lay on the
ketch's deck, and they began cautiously
ltn brenst the Intrenid nlonr side of the