Between the Philadelphia and the shore lay a number of Tripolitan
cruisers, galleys and gunboats. Into this hornet's nest, Decatur steered
his little vessel of sixty tons, carrying four small guns, and having a
crew of only seventy men.
The Tripolitans saw the vessel entering the harbor, but supposed it to
be one of their own until it was alongside the Philadelphia. Then there
was a cry of "Americanos!" and a rush to quarters, but it was too late,
for Decatur and his men swarmed up the side and over the rail of the
Philadelphia, and charged the dismayed and panic-stricken Tripolitans.
There was a short and desperate struggle, and five minutes later, the
ship was cleared of the enemy.
It was manifestly impossible to get the Philadelphia out of the harbor,
so Decatur gave the order to burn her. Combustibles had been prepared in
advance, and in a moment, flames began to break out in all parts of the
ship. Then the order was given to return to the ketch, the cable was
cut, the sweeps got out, and the ketch drew rapidly away from the
burning vessel. The sounds of the melee had awakened the troops on
shore, and, as the harbor was lighted by the flames from the
Philadelphia, the shore batteries opened upon the little vessel, but
without doing her any serious damage, and Decatur got safely out of the
harbor and back to the fleet without losing a man.
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