THE commodore was informed by captain Chauncey, that four frigates might be expected every moment, as they were to sail from Hampton Roads four days after him. In consequence of this information, and as he could not bring the John Adams into action, she having left all her gun carriages for her gun deck, except eight, on board the Congress and Constellation, a day or two previous to her sailing, he determined to wait a few days for the arrival of commodore Barron, before another attack, when, if he should arrive, the fate of Tripoli must be decided in a few hours, and the bashaw completely humbled. Had the John Adams brought out her gun carriages, he should not have waited a moment, and doubted not but the next attack would make the arrival of more ships unnecessary for the termination of the Tripoline war. Captain Chauncey received orders to remain on the station, that they might be benefited by the assistance of his boats and men, as nearly half the crews of the Constitution, brigs, and schooners were taken out to man VOL. III. NO. XX.

the bombs, guns, and ship's boats when prepared for an attack.

August 9th, they were engaged supplying the bombs and gun-boats with ammunition and stores, and getting every thing in readiness for an attack the moment commodore Barron should arrive and make a signal.

At 2, P. M., the commodore went on board the Argus for the purpose of reconnoitering the harbour of Tripoli; he stood in towards the town, and was near being sunk by the enemy's fire; one of their heaviest shot, which struck about three feet short of the water line, raked the copper off her bottom under water, and cut the plank half through. In the evening the wind blew strong from the N. N. E.: the squadron weighed and kept under sail all night. The day following it anchored, Tripoli bearing S. S. W., six miles distant.

At 10, A. M., the French consul hoisted a white flag-staff under the national colours, which was a signal that the bashaw was ready to treat. A boat was sent into the harbour,

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and took this opportunity to forward captain Bainbridge and his officers letters from their friends; the boat was not allowed to land, but returned in the afternoon, and brought a letter, advising that the bashaw was ready to receive 500 dollars for the ransom of each of the prisoners, and terminate the war without any consideration for peace or tribute. This is 350,000 dollars less than was demanded previous to the action of the 3d inst. These terms, says the commodore, I did not hesitate to reject, as I was informed, by captain Chauncey, that it was the expectation of our government, on the arrival of four frigates, to obtain the release of the officers and crew of the Philadelphia without ransom, and dictate the terms of peace.

No news being received of the frigates, and but short allowance of water in the squadron, the Enterprize was sent, on the 16th, to Malta, with orders to hire transports, and send off immediately a supply of fresh water, provision, and other stores, which had become necessary, as some of the squadron had now been five months in sight of this dismal coast without once visiting a friendly port; these vessels as well as the gun-boats receiving their supply of water and provisions from the Constitution.

As the season for bad weather was fast approaching, and no to kens of the frigates, it was determined to make an attack as soon as the wind proved favourable. At 8, P. M., captains Decatur and Chauncey, in two small boats, were sent to reconnoitre the harbour, and observe the disposition of the enemy's flotilla at night; they returned at midnight, and reported that they were anchored in a line abreast, from the mole to the bashaw's castle, with their heads to the eastward, for the defence of the inner harbour. At day-light the wind shifted suddenly from N. E. to N. N. W. and brought a heavy sea on shore, which obliged the squadron, for the greater safety, to weigh and stand to sea.

Having gained, next day, an offing of nine or ten leagues, they met with the ketch Intrepid, from Syracuse, with a cargo of fresh water, stock, and vegetables for the squadron; and the ensuing day fell in with a ship from Malta, with water and live stock for the squadron. These cargoes arrived very opportunely, as the crews had, for some time past, been on short allowance of water. The wind having moderated, they stood in, and anchored with the squadron, six miles N. E. by N. from Tripoli; all the boats were engaged in discharging the transports.

On the 24th, with a light breeze from the N. E., the squadron stood in and prepared for action, intending to attack the town and shipping in the night. At eight in the evening they anchored about two and a half miles from the batteries. At midnight it fell calm. The bomb vessels were sent, under the protection of the gun boats, to bombard the town; the boats of the squadron were employed in towing them in. At 2, A. M., the bombardment commenced, and continued until day-light. At 6, all the boats were taken in tow by the squadron, which was under weigh, and standing off. At 7, it anchored four miles north of the town.

The weather proved bad till the 28th, when, at 3, P. M., they weighed, and stood in for Tripoli. At 5, the Constitution anchored two miles N. by E. from Fort English, and two and a half from the bashaw's castle; the light vessels being ordered to keep under weigh. They were employed till 8, P. M., in making arrangements for attacking the town; a number of the officers and many of the seamen of the Constitution being attached to the bomb, gun, and ship's boats; captain Chauncey, with several of his officers, and about seventy seamen and marines, volunteered their services on board the Constitution. All the boats in the squadron were officered and manned, and attached to the several gun-boats: the two bomb

vessels could not be brought into action, as one was leaky, and the mortar bed of the other had given way. The John Adams, Scourge, transports, and bombs, were anchored seven miles to the northward of the town. Lieutenant-commandant Dent, of the Scourge, came on board the Constitution, and took charge of the gun-deck; lieutenant Izard, of the Scourge, also joined. Lieutenant Gordon commanded gun boat No. 2, and lieutenant Laurence, of the Enterprize, No. 5: these were the only changes. At half past 1, A. M., the gun boats, in two divisions, led by captains Decatur and Somers, were ordered to advance, and take their stations close to the rocks, at the entrance of the harbour, within grape-shot distance of the bashaw's castle The Siren, Argus, Vixen, Nautilus, Enterprize, and boats of the squadron, accom. panied them. At 3, A. M., the boats anchored with springs on, within pistol-shot of the rocks, and commenced a brisk firing on the shipping, town, batteries, and bashaw's castle, which was warmly returned, but not as well directed; the ship's boats remained with the gun boats to assist in boarding the enemy's flotilla, if it should venture out, while the brigs and schooners kept under weigh, ready for the same service, or for annoying the enemy, as occasion might present. At day-light, presuming that the gun boats had nearly expended their ammunition, the Constitution weigh ed and stood in for the harbour. Fort English, the bashaw's castle, crown and mole batteries kept up a heavy fire on her as she advanced. At half past 5 the signal was made for the gun boats to retire from action, and for the brigs and schooners to take them in tow; she was then within two cable's length of the rocks, and commenced a heavy fire of round and grape on thirteen of the enemy's gun boats and gallies, which were in pretty close action with her boats. She sunk one of the enemy's boats; at the same time two more disabled ran on

shore to avoid sinking; the remainder immediately retreated. She continued running in until she was within musket shot of the crown and mole batteries, when she brought to, and fired upwards of 300 round shot, besides grape and canister, into the town, bashaw's castle, and batteries. She silenced the castle and two of the batteries for some time. At a quarter past 6, the gun boats being all out of shot and in tow, she hauled off, after having been three quarters of an hour in close action. The gun boats fired upwards of 400 round shot, besides grape and canister, with good effect. A large Tunisian galliot was sunk in the mole; a Spanish ship, which had entered with an ambassador from the grand scignior, received considerable damage. The Tripoline gallies and gun boats lost many men, and were much cut.

The bashaw's castle and town suffered very much ; as did their crown and mole batteries. Captains Decatur and Somers conducted their divisions of gun boats with their usual firmness and address; and were well supported by the officers and men attached to them. The brigs and schooners were also well conducted during the action, and fired a number of shot at the enemy; but their guns are too light to do much execution. They suffered considerably in their sails and rigging. The officers and crew of the Constitution behaved well; captain Chauncey gave very able assistance on the quarter deck of the Constitution during the whole of the action. The damage which that ship received was principally above the hull; three lower shrouds, two spring stays, two top-mast back stays, trusses, chains, and lists of the main yard shot away.

Her sails had several cannon shot through them, and were besides considerably cut by grape; much of her rigging cut to pieces; one of her anchor stocks and her larboard cable shot away, and a number of grape shot were sticking in different parts of the hull: but not a man hurt! A boat belonging to the John