Stephen Decatur’s brother James had command of Gunboat No. 2. In boarding, he was shot through the forehead and died that evening. The details of the many sanguinary actions during Preble’s blockade cannot be given. Three captured gunboats, numbered 7, 8, and 9, were changed in rig and added to the fleet. On August 7th No. 7 blew up in action and of her crew of twenty-eight, ten, including Lieutenant Caldwell, her commander, and Midshipman Dorsey, were killed, and six wounded. The arrival of the _John Adams_ on August 8th brought the unwelcome word to Preble of the coming of a new and more powerful force under Commodore Samuel Barron, his senior. This, as it was arranged, was an unfortunate necessity, as a new squadron could not be organized without putting in command some of Preble’s seniors, and it was deplored by the Secretary of the Navy in a letter to Preble. It is not, however, readily seen why the crews with Preble, the times of which had expired, could not have been replaced by new crews, and only the two captains junior to him sent. It was an act which showed feeble unaccustomedness to administration. Preble wrote in his private journal: “How much my feelings are lacerated by this supersedure at the moment of victory cannot be described and can be felt only by an officer placed in my mortifying situation.” He kept up his attacks, however, while awaiting his relief, and on the night of August 24th, after being much delayed by heavy weather, a night attack was made by bombardment with little reply. This was renewed on the 28th; one Tripolitan gunboat was sunk, two ran ashore, and the rest retreated. The town was subjected to a heavy bombardment during which a 24-pound shot entered the quarters of the captive Americans, covering Bainbridge in the débris. On September 3d came Preble’s fifth and last attack by bombardment. The next evening the _Intrepid_ was sent in with the intent of blowing her up in the midst of the Tripolitan fleet. A compartment was built in which was placed 15,000 pounds of powder connected with a slow match expected to take fifteen minutes in burning. Over the powder was placed one hundred 13-inch and fifty 9-inch shells, with a quantity of solid shot and pig-iron ballast. She was commanded by Commander Richard Somers, who volunteered for the work and took with him, as the only other officer, Lieutenant Wadsworth of the _Constitution_. Ten men were taken. At the last moment, before parting company with the three vessels which accompanied the _Intrepid_ to a point near the entrance and stood by to receive the boats when they should return, Lieutenant Joseph Israel of the _Constitution_ went aboard the _Intrepid_ to carry a message from the commodore and begged so to stay that Somers allowed him to do so.