which was warmly
returned, but not as well directed. The ship's boats remained
with the gunboats, to assist in boarding the enemy's (p. 145)
flotilla, if it should venture out, while the brigs and schooners
kept under way, ready for the same service, or for annoying the
enemy as occasion might present. At daylight, presuming that the
gunboats had nearly expended their ammunition, we weighed with
the Constitution, and stood in for the harbour. Fort English, the
Bashaw's castle, crown and mole batteries, kept up a heavy fire
upon us as we advanced. At half past five, I made the signal for
the gunboats to retire from action, and for the brigs and
schooners to take them in tow. We were then within two cables
length of the rocks, and commenced a heavy fire of round and
grape on thirteen of the enemy's gunboats and galleys, which were
in pretty close action with our boats. We sunk one of the enemy's
boats, at the same time, two more, disabled, ran on shore to
avoid sinking; the remainder immediately retreated. We continued
running in until we were within musket shot of the crown and mole
batteries, when we brought to and fired upwards of three hundred
round shot, besides grape and canister, into the town, Bashaw's
castle, and batteries. We silenced the castle and two of the
batteries for some time. At a quarter past six, the gunboats
being all out of shot and in tow, I hauled off, after having been
three-quarters of an hour in close action. The gunboats fired
upwards of four hundred 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 Seignor, received considerable damage. The Tripoline
galleys and gunboats lost many men, and were much cut. The
Bashaw's castle and town have suffered very much; as have their
crown and mole batteries.

Captains Decatur and Somers conducted their divisions of gunboats
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