The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-04-17
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SKETCHES
OF TIE
N \ ~ HNAS S
OF THE
UNITED STATES NAVY,
FROM TIE TINE OF THE AMERICAN REvo-
LUTON TO THE PRESENT DAY.
No. ~
OF THE

On the Sd of September, the bomb.
kctchcs being repaired, and also the
damages sustained by the other yes
sells i'll the action on the 9th Of Au-
gust, the Commodore resolved on an
other attack. The action commcn-
ccd between three and four o'clock,
and soon became general. AS the
American gun.boats bore down, the
boats and galleys gave away, and re-
treated under cover of the musketry,
on shore. The brias, schooncrs and
gun-boats, pursued as far as the depth
of the water would permit, and within
muskct.shot Of fort English. The ac.
ton III this 9aartcr wac,. ,,iyided,
+ .siu .s,alsIy -...s III
vision Of the guu.boats engaged The
fort. The other division continued
engaged with the Tripolitan boats and
gallcys.
The two bomb. kctchcs, while throw
ing their shells into the town were cx-
posed to a direct fire from the bash.
avs castle, from the crown, mole,
and several other batteries. The
Commodore, pcrcciving their danger,
ran his ship between them and the
batteries, within muskct shot. Sew
cnty guns were brought to bear on
him from the batteries. But he dis.
charged eleven broadsidcs with so
much effect, that he silcnccd the prin-
cipal batteries. and injured the 9TH
crs, and also the town considerably.
The wind vecring to the northward
and it beginning to blow fresh, the
Commodore, at half past four T. NJ,
gave signal to retire from the action
under cover of the Constitution
Though the frigatcs and vessels were
much damaged in this engagement,
not man was lost.
The bom.vcsstl, commanded BY
Lieutenant Robinson, had all her
s'rouds shot away, and was SO much
damaged in her hull, as to be with
difficulty kept above water. The Ar
gus received thirty.two pound ball
in her hull. 1t cut away her lower
cable as it entered, which so complete
ly destroyed its force, that it fell the
deck without doing any injury.
Commodore Preblc, had for some
time contemplated sending Grc-ship
into the Earbor, in order to destroy
the ilotila, and injurc the town.
Captain Somcrs volunteered his ser.
vices. He, with tnc assistance of
Iieutcnants Wadsworth and Israel,
fitting out the kctch Intrepid for the
expedition. One hundred barrels Of
gnnpowdcr and one hundred and fifty
shells were placed in the hold Fu.
sees and combustib!cs we're SO applied
as not to endanger retreat.
On the evening Of the 9TH of Sep,
tcmbcr, Captain Somcrs chose two
fastrowing boats, in order to bring
off the people after the vessel should
be set on fire. His own boat was
manned by four men from the Nautl-
lus and six from the Constitution,
with Lieutenant Wadsworth. At
eight thoy parted from the squadron,
and stood into the harbor. They
were conveyed by the Argus. Vixen
and Nautilus, until arrived within a
short distance from the batteries.
On entering the inner harbor, and
near the point Of her destination, the
fire ship was boarded and carried by
two gallcys of one hundred men each.
At this moment she exploded with the
most awful effect. Every battery was
silcnccd. Not gun was fired during
the remainder of the night. There
is every reason to suppose that cap.
tain Somcrs, on pcrceiving no means
Of escape left, and that he should in.
evitably be doomed TO an ignominious
captivity, heroically resolved to die,
and with his own hands set fire to the