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