could succeed in mounting the side.  Fortunately, the Turks had not sufficiently recovered from their surprise to take advantage of this delay.  They were crowded together on the quarterdeck, perfectly astonished and aghast, without making any attempt to oppose the assailing party.  As soon as a sufficient number of men had gained the deck to form a front equal to that of the enemy, they rushed in upon them.  The Turks stood the assault for a short time, and were completely overpowered.  About twenty were killed on the spot, many jumped overboard, and the rest flew to the maindeck, whither they were pursued and driven to the hold.

After entire possession had been gained of the ship, and every thing prepared to set fire to her, a number of launches were seen rowing about the harbor.  This determined Lieutenant Decatur to remain on board the frigate, from whence a better defence could be made than from on board the ketch.  The enemy had already commenced firing on them from their batteries and castle, and from two corsairs that were lying near.  Perceiving that the launches did not attempt to approach, he ordered the ship should be set on fire, which was done, at the same time, in different parts.  As soon as this was done, they left her; and such was the rapidity of the flames, that it was with the utmost difficulty they preserved the ketch.  At this critical moment a most propitious breeze sprang up, blowing directly out of the harbor, which, in a few moments, carried them out of reach of the enemy’s guns, and they made good their retreat without the loss of a single man, and with but four wounded.

For this gallant and romantic achievement, Lieutenant Decatur was promoted to the rank of post captain, there being at that time no intermediate grade.  This promotion was peculiarly gratifying to him, insomuch as it was done with the consent of the officers over whose heads he was raised.

In the ensuing spring, it being determined to make an attack upon Tripoli, Commodore Preble obtained from the King of Naples, the loan of six gunboats and two bombards, which he formed into two divisions, and gave the command of one of them to Captain Decatur, the other to Lieutenant Somers.  The squadron sailed from Syracuse, consisting of the frigate Constitution, the brig Syren, the schooners Nautilus and Vixen, and the gunboats.

Having arrived on the coast of Barbary, they were for some days prevented from making the attack, by adverse wind and weather.  At length on the morning of the 3d of August, the weather being favorable, the signal was made from the commodore’s ship to prepare for action, the light vessels towing the gunboats to windward.  At nine o’clock, the signal was given for bombarding the enemy’s vessels and the town.

The gunboats were cast off, and advanced in a line ahead, led on by Captain Decatur, and covered by the frigate Constitution, and the brigs and schooners.

The enemy’s gunboats were moored along the harbor under the batteries and within musket shot.  Their sails had been taken from them, and they were ordered to sink, rather than abandon their position.  They were aided and covered, likewise, by a brig of sixteen, and a schooner of ten guns.