openings in this natural
breakwater, the light-draft native craft could pass in and out to harass
the blockading fleet.

It was Commodore Preble's plan to make a carefully concerted attack upon
this stronghold as soon as summer weather conditions permitted. For this
purpose he had strengthened his squadron at Syracuse by purchasing a
number of flat-bottomed gunboats with which he hoped to engage the enemy
in the shallow waters about Tripoli while his larger vessels shelled the
town and batteries. He arrived off the African coast about the middle of
July but encountered adverse weather, so that for several weeks he could
accomplish nothing of consequence. Finally, on the 3rd of August, a
memorable date in the annals of the American navy, he gave the signal
for action.

The new gunboats were deployed in two divisions, one commanded by
Decatur, and fully met expectations by capturing two enemy ships in most
sanguinary, hand-to-hand fighting. Meantime the main squadron drew close
in shore, so close, it is said, that the gunners of shore batteries
could not depress their pieces sufficiently to score hits. All these
preliminaries were watched with bated breath by the officers of the old
Philadelphia from behind their prison bars.

The Pasha had viewed the approach of the American fleet with utter
disdain. He promised the spectators who lined the terraces that they
would witness some rare sport; they should see his gunboats put the
enemy to flight. But as the American gunners began to get the range and
pour shot into the town, and the Constitution with her heavy ordnance
passed and repassed, delivering broadsides within three cables'
length of the batteries, the Pasha's nerves were shattered and he fled
precipitately to his bomb-proof shelter. No doubt the damage inflicted
by this bombardment was very considerable, but Tripoli still defied
the enemy. Four times within the next four weeks Preble repeated these
assaults, pausing after each bombardment to ascertain what terms the
Pasha had to offer; but the wily Yusuf was obdurate, knowing well enough
that, if he waited, the gods of wind and storm would come to his aid and
disperse the enemy's fleet.

It was after the fifth ineffectual assault that Preble determined on a
desperate stroke. He resolved to fit out a fireship and to send her into
the very jaws of death, hoping to destroy the Tripolitan gunboats and
at the same time to damage the castle and the town. He chose for