he only
shot which struck the ketch was one through the topgallant sail. We
were in greater danger from the _Philadelphia_, whose broadsides
commanded the passage by which we were retreating, and whose guns were
loaded, and discharged as they became heated. We escaped these also,
and while urging the ketch onwards with sweeps, the crew were
commenting upon the beauty of the spray thrown up by the shot between
us and the brilliant light of the ship, rather than calculating any
danger that might be apprehended from the contact. The appearance of
the ship was, indeed, magnificent. The flames in the interior
illuminated her ports, and, ascending her rigging and masts, formed
columns of fire, which, meeting the tops, were reflected into
beautiful capitals; whilst the occasional discharge of her guns gave
an idea of some directing spirit within her. The walls of the city
and its batteries, and the masts and rigging of cruisers at anchor,
brilliantly illuminated and animated by the discharge of artillery,
formed worthy adjuncts and an appropriate background to the picture.
Fanned by a light breeze our exertions soon carried us beyond the
range of their shot, and at the entrance of the harbour we met the
boats of the _Siren_, which had been intended to co-operate with us,
and whose crew rejoiced at our success, whilst they grieved at not
having been able to partake in it.... The success of this enterprise
added much to the reputation of the navy, both at home and abroad.
Great credit was given, and was justly due to Commodore Preble, who
directed and first designed it, and to Lieutenant Decatur, who
volunteered to execute it, and to whose coolness, self-possession,
resources, and intrepidity its success was, in an eminent degree,
due."

Commodore Preble, in the meantime, hurried his preparations for more
serious work, and on July 25th arrived off Tripoli with a squadron,
consisting of the frigate _Constitution_, three brigs, three
schooners, six gun-boats, and two bomb vessels. Opposed to him were
arrayed over a hundred guns mounted on shore batteries, nineteen
gun-boats, one ten-gun brig, two schooners mounting eight guns each,
and twelve galleys. Between August 3rd and September 3rd five attacks
were made, and though the town was never reduced, substantial damage
was inflicted, and the subsequent satisfactory peace rendered
possible. Preble was relieved by Barron in September, not because of
any loss of confidence in his ab