Decatur said he had never seen a ship handled more skilfully than the Epervier was, or a battery worked better than hers, but of course, the pirate was “completely mobbed,” and surrendered to the squadron, not to one ship. The Macedonian was in at the surrender and not six hours’ sail away.
The fire of the Yankees seem to have been ill-directed, when the results are considered, for only thirty were killed and wounded out of the four hundred and thirty-six in the pirate crew. Master Commandant William Lewis and Midshipmen Howell and Hoffman took charge of the prize, and she was escorted to Carthagena by the Macedonian.
On June 19th, near Cape Palos, a brig was chased ashore by a small vessel of the American squadron. She proved to be the Estido, a twenty-two-gun brig of the Algerian navy. Eighty prisoners were taken from her, and twenty-three dead were found on her decks. Her crew had numbered one hundred and eighty, but many escaped ashore in her boats. Having been taken within the three-mile limit she was eventually given up to the Spanish Government.
Decatur was now ready to treat with the Dey. Arriving off Algiers on June 28th, he summoned the Swedish consul, Mr. Norderling, on board, by means of signals. The Algerian captain of the port came with Mr. Norderling, arriving at noon. It was found that Mr. Norderling could not act for the Algerian Government, so the demand of the President of the United States was sent to the Dey by the hands of the Captain of the Port. Meantime, Decatur asked the Algerian where the Algerian Navy could be found.
“By this time it is safe in some neutral port,” replied the Algerian.
Decatur’s Squadron at Anchor off the City of Algiers, June 30, 1815.
From an engraving by Munger and Jocelin.
“Not all of it,” replied Decatur. “The frigate Mashouda and a twenty-two-gun brig are already captured, and your Admiral Hammida is killed.”
In language not too polite the Algerian expressed his doubts about this assertion, when Decatur produced the first lieutenant of the Mashouda, who confirmed the news. The Captain of the Port at once changed his bearing entirely and begged that hostilities might cease until a treaty could be negotiated on shore. To this Decatur replied: