Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-03-11
From, the North AsperieaH Reries for JGauary
Com. Decatur at TripOIi.

Commodore Preble had made preparations though
with very insufficient force, 10 lombard the town,
and TO make a simultaneous attack with gunboats
upon the Tripolitan olilla, which could not be as
sailed by the larger vessels, it was protected By
reefs and shoals Six OF these boats very defective
in construction and equipment, had been borrowed
fef this purpose Of the king Of Naples. They wers
arranged in two divisions Of three boats EACH the
first division being commanded by Somers, and
the second BY Decatur. The object Of attack was
foiilla of nineteen gnnboats, protected by ten
gun brig, several armed schooners and galleys, and
batteries on shore that mounted ono hundred and
hfty heavy guns. There is hardly record in naval
history OF an attack made with such disparity Of
force, and crowned with entire success. Each OF
Decatur's boats singled out opponent, ran
board Of her. and carried her after desperate fight.
hand to hand, with pixies and cutlasses. As De-
catur was conveying hts own prize out OF the har-
Dor, news was brought TO him that his brothers
boat had engaged and captured one Of the largest
ofthe enemy's squadron. She had struck. but as
James Decatur was stepping on board to take pos
session, he shot through the head by her COM
mander. Grief and Indignation urged Decatur to
mprudent and reckless altemptto obtain revenge.
Leaving most Of his crew in the prize, he pushed of
in his own boat towards that Of his brothers muir
derer, pursued her within the enemy's lines ran on
board, and jumped on her deck, followed only by
one officer and nine men. This fearful inequality
Of numbers mace the result of the conflict doubtful
for twenty minutes; three of the Americans were
already disabled BY wounds
At length Decatur able to single out the
treacherous commander, conspicuous no less b. gi-
gantic size than by the feroeity With which he
fought and to meet him face 10 face. Decatur
was armed with cullass the Turk with heavy
ironed bosrding-pkc. As the latter made thrust
at Decatur. he struck il violently with his cuilass,
in the hope of seyering the head but his cutlass.
coming in contact with the iron, broke at the hilt
and left him whou, weapon Many brave man
! thus disarmed might have turned TO seek another
weapon But Decatur stood his ground, and at
tempting with his right parry the next thrust
Of his antagonist, received the point Of il in his
arm aud breast Tearing the weapon from the
wound, he succeeded, likewise, by sudden jerk,
in wrestling il from the hands of his adversary who
Immediately grappled him and, after fierce and
| prolonged struggle both fell with violence on the
deck, Decatur being upPeTmost. During this time,
the crews, rushing TO the aid OF their respective
commanders Joined in furious conflict around their
persons. Tripolitan officer, who had got behind
Decatur, aimed unseen blow at his head, which
must have decided his fate, had not young man
by The name Of Reuben James, who had lost the
use Of both arms by wounds, rushed in and inter-
cepted the descending cmelar with his own head
thus rescuing his beloved commander by act OF
heroic seli-sacri6ce which has never been suppas-
! sed
T most his superior strength, succeeded in turning
! Decatur, and getting upon him. held him to the
( deck with iron clutch Of his leit hand. whilst
ihrusing his right beside him, he drew from hi
sash the shorter oftw yataghans, which. for the
very purpose Of such close work, he carried in thu
! same sheath. The moments Of Decaturs exist
= ence seemed numbered scarce an interval remain
ed to breathe prayer ior mercy in another world
. second brother was about to perish beneath tn
!. rage Of the fierce Tripoltsn. But the cool cour
! age and fertile resources OF Decatur came to hi
\ rescue in this extremity. Disengaging his lei
= hand, he caught the right Of the Tripoian. stage
: the yataghan as it was about TO drink his blood
!. and, thrustiDg his own right hand into his pants
!. looms pocket succeeded in cooking pistol whic
n he had there, and giving il the proper direction
!, fred The Trpolitan relaxed his hold and Decs
l. tur disengagng himself from the heap of wounde
and slain which the struggle had gathered aroun
him. stood again that day victor on the enemy
Is deck.