hero tales from american history-第13章
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The suspicions of the Tripolitans were now at last awakened。 They raised the cry of 〃Americanos！〃 and ordered off the Intrepiid； but it was too late。 As the vessels came in contact； Decatur sprang up the main chains of the Philadelphia； calling out the order to board。 He was rapidly followed by his officers and men； and as they swarmed over the rails and came upon the deck； the Tripolitan crew gathered； panic…stricken； in a confused mass on the forecastle。 Decatur waited a moment until his men were behind him； and then； placing himself at their head； drew his sword and rushed upon the Tripolitans。 There was a very short struggle； and the Tripolitans； crowded together； terrified and surprised； were cut down or driven overboard。 In five minutes the ship was cleared of the enemy。
Decatur would have liked to have taken the Philadelphia out of the harbor； but that was impossible。 He therefore gave orders to burn the ship； and his men； who had been thoroughly instructed in what they were to do； dispersed into all parts of the frigate with the combustibles which had been prepared； and in a few minutes； so well and quickly was the work done； the flames broke out in all parts of the Philadelphia。 As soon as this was effected the order was given to return to the Intrepid。 Without confusion the men obeyed。 It was a moment of great danger； for fire was breaking out on all sides； and the Intrepid herself； filled as she was with powder and combustibles； was in great peril of sudden destruction。 The rapidity of Decatur's movements； however； saved everything。 The cables were cut； the sweeps got out； and the Intrepid drew rapidly away from the burning frigate。 It was a magnificent sight as the flames burst out over the Philadephia and ran rapidly and fiercely up the masts and rigging。 As her guns became heated they were discharged； one battery pouring its shots into the town。 Finally the cables parted； and then the Philadelphia； a mass of flames； drifted across the harbor； and blew up。 Meantime the batteries of the shipping and the castle had been turned upon the Intrepid； but although the shot struck all around her； she escaped successfully with only one shot through her mainsail； and； joining the Siren； bore away。
This successful attack was carried through by the cool courage of Decatur and the admirable discipline of his men。 The hazard was very great； the odds were very heavy； and everything depended on the nerve with which the attack was made and the completeness of the surprise。 Nothing miscarried； and no success could have been more complete。 Nelson； at that time in the Mediterranean； and the best judge of a naval exploit as well as the greatest naval commander who has ever lived； pronounced it 〃the most bold and daring act of the age。〃 We meet no single feat exactly like it in our own naval history； brilliant as that has been； until we come to Cushing's destruction of the A1bemarle in the war of the rebellion。 In the years that have elapsed； and among the great events that have occurred since that time； Decatur's burning of the Philadephia has been well…nigh forgotten； but it is one of those feats of arms which illustrate the high courage of American seamen； and which ought always to be remembered。
THE CRUISE OF THE 〃WASP〃
A crash as when some swollen cloud Cracks o'er the tangled trees！ With side to side； and spar to spar； Whose smoking decks are these？ I know St。 George's blood…red cross； Thou mistress of the seas； But what is she whose streaming bars Roll out before the breeze？
Ah； well her iron ribs are knit； Whose thunders strive to quell The bellowing throats； the blazing lips； That pealed the Armada's knell！ The mist was cleared；a wreath of stars Rose o'er the crimsoned swell； And； wavering from its haughty peak； The cross of England fell！ Holmes。
THE CRUISE OF THE 〃WASP〃
In the war of 1812 the little American navy； including only a dozen frigates and sloops of war； won a series of victories against the English； the hitherto undoubted masters of the sea； that attracted an attention altogether out of proportion to the force of the combatants or the actual damage done。 For one hundred and fifty years the English ships of war had failed to find fit rivals in those of any other European power； although they had been matched against each in turn； and when the unknown navy of the new nation growing up across the Atlantic did what no European navy had ever been able to do； not only the English and Americans； but the people of Continental Europe as well； regarded the feat as important out of all proportion to the material aspects of the case。 The Americans first proved that the English could be beaten at their own game on the sea。 They did what the huge fleets of France； Spain； and Holland had failed to do； and the great modern writers on naval warfare in Continental Europe… …men like Jurien de la Gravierehave paid the same attention to these contests of frigates and sloops that they give to whole fleet actions of other wars。
Among the famous ships of the Americans in this war were two named the Wasp。 The first was an eighteen…gun ship…sloop； which at the very outset of the war captured a British brig…sloop of twenty guns； after an engagement in which the British fought with great gallantry； but were knocked to Pieces； while the Americans escaped comparatively unscathed。 Immediately afterward a British seventy…four captured the victor。 In memory of her the Americans gave the same name to one of the new sloops they were building。 These sloops were stoutly made； speedy vessels which in strength and swiftness compared favorably with any ships of their class in any other navy of the day； for the American shipwrights were already as famous as the American gunners and seamen。 The new Wasp； like her sister ships； carried twenty…two guns and a crew of one hundred and seventy men； and was ship…rigged。 Twenty of her guns were 32…pound carronades； while for bow…chasers she had two 〃long Toms。〃 It was in the year 1814 that the Wasp sailed from the United States to prey on the navy and commerce of Great Britain。 Her commander was a gallant South Carolinian named Captain Johnson Blakeley。 Her crew were nearly all native Americans； and were an exceptionally fine set of men。 Instead of staying near the American coasts or of sailing the high seas； the Wasp at once headed boldly for the English Channel； to carry the war to the very doors of the enemy。
At that time the English fleets had destroyed the navies of every other power of Europe； and had obtained such complete supremacy over the French that the French fleets were kept in port。 Off these ports lay the great squadrons of the English ships of the line； never； in gale or in calm； relaxing their watch upon the rival war…ships of the French emperor。 So close was the blockade of the French ports； and so hopeless were the French of making headway in battle with their antagonists； that not only the great French three…deckers and two…deckers； but their frigates and sloops as well； lay harmless in their harbors； and the English ships patroled the seas unchecked in every direction。 A few French privateers still slipped out now and then； and the far bolder and more formidable American privateersmen drove hither and thither across the ocean in their swift schooners and brigantines； and harried the English commerce without mercy。
The Wasp proceeded at once to cruise in the English Channel and off the coasts of England； France； and Spain。 Here the water was traversed continually by English fleets and squadrons and single ships of war； which were sometimes covoying detachments of troops for Wellington's Peninsular army； sometimes guarding fleets of merchant vessels bound homeward； and sometimes merely cruising for foes。 It was this spot； right in the teeth of the British naval power； that the Wasp chose for her cruising ground。 Hither and thither she sailed through the narrow seas； capturing and destroying the merchantmen； and by the seamanship of her crew and the skill and vigilance of her commander； escaping the pursuit of frigate and ship of the line。 Before she had been long on the ground； one June morning； while in chase of a couple of merchant sh
