_August 28th._ We were favoured with a pleasant breeze from the eastward; at three P.M. we weighed, and stood in for Tripoli; at five, anchored the Constitution, two miles north by east from Fort English, and two miles and a half from the Bashaw's castle; the light vessels ordered to keep under way; we were employed until eight P.M. in making arrangements for attacking the town; a number of the officers, and many of the seamen, of the Constitution being attached to the bomb, gun and ship's boats; Captain Chauncey, with several of his officers, and about seventy seamen and marines, volunteered their services on board the Constitution. All the boats in the squadron were officered and manned, and attached to the several gunboats. The two bomb vessels could not be brought into action, as one was leaky and the mortar-bed of the other had given way. The John Adams, Scourge, transports and bombs, were anchored seven miles to the northward of the town. Lieutenant Commander Dent, of the Scourge, came on board the Constitution, and took charge on the gun-deck. Lieutenant Izard, of the Scourge, also joined me. Lieutenant Gordon commands gunboat No. 2, and Lieutenant Lawrence, of the Enterprize, No. 5; these are the only changes. At half past one, A.M., the gunboats, in two divisions, led by Captains Decatur and Somers, were ordered to advance and take their stations close to the rocks at the entrance of the harbour, within grape-shot distance of the Bashaw's castle. The Syren, Argus, Vixen, Nautilus, Enterprize, and boats of the squadron accompanied them. At three, A.M., the boats anchored with springs on, within pistol shot of the rocks, and commenced a brisk fire on the shipping, town, batteries, and Bashaw's castle, 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.