I cannot but notice the active exertions and officer-like conduct of Lieutenant Gordon, and the other lieutenants of the Constitution. Mr. Harriden, the master, gave me full satisfaction, as did all the officers and ship's company. I was much gratified with the conduct of Captain Hall and Lieutenant Greenleaf, and the marines belonging to his company, in the management of six long twenty-six pounders, on the spar-deck, which I placed under his direction. Captain Decatur speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of Lieutenant Thorn and Midshipman McDonough, of No. 4, as does Captain Somers of Midshipmen Ridgely and Miller, attached to No. 1.
Annexed is a list of killed and wounded, and, enclosed, a copy of my general orders on this occasion:
Killed. Gunboat No. 2: Lieutenant James Decatur.
Wounded. Constitution: one marine; gunboat No. 4: Captain Decatur (slightly), one sergeant of marines and two seamen; gunboat No. 6: Lieutenant Trippe (severely), one boatswain's mate and two marines; gunboat No. 1: two seamen; gunboat No. 2: two seamen. Total, one killed, thirteen wounded.
August 5. We were at anchor with the squadron about two leagues north from the city of Tripoli; the Argus in chase of a small vessel to the westward, which she soon came up with, and brought within hail; she proved to be a French privateer, of four guns, which put into Tripoli a few days since, for water, and left it this morning. I prevailed on the captain, for a consideration, to return to Tripoli, for the purpose of landing fourteen very badly wounded Tripolitans, which I put on board his vessel, with a letter to the Prime Minister, leaving it at the option of the Bashaw to reciprocate this generous mode of conducting the war. The sending these unfortunate men on shore, to be taken care of by their friends, was an act of humanity on our part, which I hope will make a proper impression on the minds of the barbarians, but I doubt it. All hands were busily employed in altering the rig of the three prizes from latteen vessels to sloops, and preparing for a second attack. Observed one of the enemy's schooners and the brig (two corsairs in the harbour) to be dismasted; was informed by the French captain that the damage these vessels received in the action of the 3d had occasioned their masts being taken out.
August 7th. The French privateer came out, and brought me a letter from the French Consul, in which he observes, that our attack of the 3d instant has disposed the Bashaw to accept of reasonable terms, and invited me to send a boat to the rocks with a flag of truce, which was declined, as the white flag was not hoisted at the Bashaw's castle. At 9 a.m., with a very light breeze from the eastward, and a strong current which obliged the Constitution to remain at anchor, I made the signal for the light vessels to weigh, and the gun and bomb boats to cast off, and stand in shore toward the western batteries; the prize boats having been completely fitted for service, and the command of them given to Lieutenants Crane, of the Vixen, Thorn, of the Enterprize, and Caldwell, of the Syren, the whole advanced with sails and oars. The orders were for the bombs to take a position in a small bay to the westward of the city, where but few of the enemy's guns could be brought to bear on them, but from whence they could annoy the town with shells; the gunboats to silence a battery of seven heavy guns which guarded the approach to that position, and the brigs and schooners to support them, in case the enemy's flotilla should venture out. At half-past one p.m., a breeze from N. N. E., I weighed with the Constitution and stood in for the town; but the wind being on shore, made it imprudent to engage the batteries with the ship, as, in case of a mast being shot away, the loss of the vessel would probably ensue, unless a change of wind should favour our getting off. At half-past two p.m., the bomb and gun boats having gained their station, the signal was made for them to attack the town and batteries. Our bombs immediately commenced throwing shells, and the gunboats opened a sharp and well directed fire on the town and batteries, within point blank shot, which was warmly returned by the enemy. The seven gun battery, in less than two hours, was silenced, except one gun; I presume the others were dismounted by our shot, as the walls were almost totally destroyed. At a quarter-past three p.m., a ship hove in sight to the northward, standing for the town; made the Argus signal to chase. At half-past three, one of our prize gunboats was blown up by hot shot from the enemy, which passed through her magazine: she had on board twenty-eight officers, seamen, and marines, ten of whom were killed, and six wounded; among the killed were James R. Caldwell, First Lieutenant of the Syren, and Midshipman John S. Dorsey, both excellent officers; Midshipman Spence and eleven men were taken up unhurt. Captain Decatur, whose division this boat belonged to, and who was near at the time she blew up, reports to me that Mr. Spence was superintending the loading of the gun at that moment, and, notwithstanding the boat was sinking, he and the brave fellows surviving, finished charging, gave three cheers as the boat went from under them, and swam to the nearest boats, where they assisted during the remainder of the action. The enemy's gunboats and galleys (fifteen in number) were all in motion close under the batteries, and appeared to meditate an attack on our boats; the Constitution, Nautilus, and Enterprize, were to windward, ready, at every hazard, to cut them off from the harbour, if they should venture down; while the Syren and Vixen were near our boats, to support and cover any that might be disabled. The enemy thought it most prudent, however, to retire to their snug retreat behind the rocks, after firing a few shot. Our boats, in two divisions, under Captains Somers and Decatur, were well conducted, as were our bomb vessels, by Lieutenants Dent and Robinson. The town must have suffered much from this attack, and their batteries, particularly the seven gun battery, must have lost many men. At half-past five p.m., the wind began to freshen from the N. N. E., I made the signal for the gun and bomb boats to retire from action, and for the vessels to which they were attached to take them in tow. The Argus made signal that the strange sail was a friend.
In this day's action No. 4 had a twenty-four pound shot through her hull; No. 6 her latteen yard shot away; No. 8 a twenty-four pound shot through her hull, which killed two men; some of the other boats had their rigging and sails considerably cut. We threw forty-eight shells, and about five hundred twenty-four pound shot into the town and batteries. All the officers and men engaged in the action behaved with the utmost intrepidity. At half-past six all the boats were in tow, and the squadron standing to the northwest. At eight, the John Adams, Captain Chauncey, from the United States, joined company. At nine the squadron anchored, Tripoli bearing southeast, five miles distant. Gunboat No. 3 was this day commanded by Mr. Brooks, master of the Argus, and No. 6 by Lieutenant Wadsworth, of the Constitution.
Annexed is a return of our loss in this attack.
Killed. Gunboat No. 9: One lieutenant, one midshipman, one boatswain's mate, one quarter gunner, one sergeant of marines, and five seamen; Gunboat No. 8: Two seamen.
Wounded. Gunboat No. 9: Six seamen, two of whom mortally. Total, twelve killed, six wounded.