Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-09-27
(cuNcLuDED.)


squadron when they met each ether, alter tins
desperate and most unequal combat. Every one
would naturally inquire, GLOW many men were
killed and wounded in the different Briggs, Schoo-
nerS, BombaIdS, aud gum-bUatS." 1t was for De-
eatur to make the answers. Many are wounded,
my comrades, but not one is slain, but my broth
er. The Argus had his boat in tow, and the ulor-
ming OF the action, while at breakfast, the
signal was made ON COar. the Constitution 10 pre-
pare for battle. He left the lable-bld US gOO'i
morning and said 'boys. would 1t he strange 1t
were the only officer killed IN the action O-day"
When Decatur, TrpPe, MacdOnOugh, Henley, and
most of the officers aud Seamen, belonging 10 the
gunboaiS, joined the squadron, they looked as if
they had just escaped from the slaughter house.
The Sd Of august, was day Of dreadful reuIUu-
ton. From the representation of an officer, once
of the Philadelphia, then prisoner to the Ba-
shaw, it was learned, that every ole IN the city
fed, who could flee. Even the troops, III the
batteries and castle, dare not mount the PATapet
10 discharge the cannon. The aifnghted BaS%aw,
with Mahometan priests, concealed himself III
his bomb proof loom; aud undoubtedly responded
to the tUar OF christian cannon, by ptIiul UGlSOnI
TO the Prophet vi Mecca. BY tits first attack, the
city Of TrpUli suffered considerable damage
Many of the guns were dlSnOunted. anu many
Turks were slain. But it was in the BaShaw'S
marine force, where the most destructive blow
was struck. In the two prizes, Taken by Captain
Decatur, and the by Lieut.. rnppe, therr
were originally one hundred and twenty men.-
FOrty-SeNhn were killed, 26 wOumdedj whO with
the remaimderr were taken PRISONERS. Thee full
manned boats were sunk, with every Sul on
board; and almost every deck of the entmy's YES
Se!S. within the range Of American Cannon, were
swept OF lis crew.
In consequence of the destruction of the Phila-
deipEia Frigale, by Decatur, the barbatOuS JUS
sui, the bloody BaShaw, was incenSed against
Capt. BIinbudge, and his officers ami seanen, in
D. 1, \
allied by the magnanimOuS and philhnthrOpIc eX
crt:olS of Sir Alexander Ball, once (avurlle Of
fcer with Nelson, and then at the Island Of Mall
Ii, found means 10 alleviate the dismal gloom OF
their bondage. A gallant naval COMM nder, lik.
Sir Alexander Ball, could not endure the thought
that gallant heroes, like BanbrIuge and his noble
crew, should suffer intIIgmIty or abuse from such
sanguinary wretcheS, as JGsSuif and his SlavsS.-
After the Sd of August. the humble BaShaw began
to relent, but his conviction was more the Result
OF alarming fears, than OF CONSCIOUSNESS OF guilt
The noble hearted Decatur treated his prisoners
with the greatest humanity. Their wounds were
dressed with the utmost care; aud, upon the 9Th
he persuaded Commodore Pre5e TO send fourteen
ofthem to their friends. These were sent in u
French Pnvateer, coming out of port, on cruise.
In generous bosom, although an enemy, such an
act would have excited meXpreSSIble admiration;
| aud although species OF Revenge, calculated 10
cheap Goals of fire upon the head' Of Subdued
eneInyj YET II must nave UlelleI near OF lIiaIln.
The BaShaw knew that of his officers had
hnSely slain The brother OF the exalted Decatur;
and could not comprehend the motives OF his hu-
manlty. HIS savage Su6tIlity augured evil, even
from an act OF pure b-nevoIence. But when lie
heard the restored and wounded HupOIlItanS ex-
claim, III the rupture OF enforced gratitude. The
Americans in battle fieTcer than lions, and at
ter battle kinder than AluSSrIrnru,' hS savage
| heart began SOlleu. But without great ran
som, he would not relieve single prisoner who
belonged to the Philadelphia. This fearful, yet
tempUrSimg BaShaw, through the medium of for
egn consul, offered terms 10 Preble, which he M
dIgmautly rejected, as degrading to his gov
ernrnemt. On the 7th, another attack was resuv
ed upon, and the squadron arranged IN order 10 ex
ecute 1t. The best effect waSprOduC ed. 4 heavy
battery was SIIenced; many hOmLSheSand round
shot were thrown INTO the town, which uCIeaSe,.
the dIsnay oil tue Bashaw. Among the gun boats,
engaged III this second attack, was one taken from
the enemy, by Decatur. She was blown up by d
hot ball Semt from the batteries, Lieut.. CALDWELL
AlldShIpmqn Dorsey, and eight Seamen, were KILL
ed; six wounded, and MidSmpman Spence, with
eleven Seamens were Rescued, unhuGl, from the
waves.
The gunner was loading his gun, when the ex-
ploson took place; his teet got entangerl III the
lackleS OF the gun, and he could not eXtIIcue INN
self. As she went down his arm seen above
his head, waving his tarpUln over II three times
| the brave sailor.
On the 18th Of August, another general attack
was male with such effect as TO induce the Bash
| aw TO renew negotiations tOr peace; but nothing
| definite was effected. Upon the Sd OF September
amotter attack was made, TO the very great IN jury
ni the BGShaw'S batteries, castle, aud city. AL
| though but lew Of the Americans had lost thrIr
lives, III the various bnteS, yet the Vessels Of the
squadron had suffered very considerable injury
Captain Decatur proposed that Tie kslch Intrepid,
which he had captured, should lie converted INTO
fire ship, and sent into the midst OF The enermy'S
gun boats and gaieyS, 10 complete theII deSIIuc-
| ton. 10 this the Commodore tde,i, loaded
her with 100 barrels Of powder and 100 shells;
aud fixed upon the night Of the memorable 4th uI
September for the danng, hazardous alternpt.-
Capt. Somers volunteered his services as cumnlan-
der, and was immediately joined 10y Lieut.. Israel,
| and twelve SeanIcu. The evening was unusually
calm, and the sea Scarcely presented the smallest
wave TO the eye. That part OF the squadron
which was not designed as convoy 10 the lutte
I'Id, lay IN the outer harbor. Two swift sailing
boats were attached to her, amui the Briggs argus,
vixen, Nautilus (the schooner commanded Ly
Lieut.. SomerS) were TO conduct them TO their deS-
| unalon and TeceIve the crew alter the match was
applied to The fatal train, and his signal of safety
made, which WIS 10 have been a sky rocket and
two lalSr fires. at little before O'Clock the In
urpld, followed ~ The convoy. moved slowly and
silently into the tuner harbUr. Two of Tie enc
| myS Eeavy galeyS, with more than 100 men each
encountered thei hre ship, UNCONSCIOUS that she
was Pregnant with concealed mag" zines OF death
They captured her, OF course, IS the little Crew.
could not Withstand such all overwhelming lorce
for moment. 1t being the first prize the Tripod
ianS had made, the exultlng cnp'Ors wee about
bearing her aud the prisoners rIunphanly IN: The
port. To SomerS, Srael aud " adSw urll, instant
death was far preferable to Turkish captivity Ii
Is still left to conjecture, and must slwnys be so
lett, by whom their instantaneous release from
slavery was occasioned. The Intrepid suddenly
exploded, and a few gallant Americans. wilh coun-
less numbers oil barLarianS, met with one common
destruction.
1t was supposed by the officers of the squadron
that Lieut.. Somers, Wordsworth ard lslaeI, and
the crew, after being captured, mutually agreed TO
make voluntary sacrifice OF themselves. t., avoid
Slavery md TO destroy the enemy as he declared
10 the Commodore when taking leave Of him about
sunset, that he would never be caplur,d by the
enemy and go into Turkish bondage. The silence
that preceded the approach OF the Intrv pid was
followed by the discharge of cannon and musket-
Iy and ended by the learful and alarming shock of