exception of a few hours, a distance of more than fifty miles.
The bomb vessels were placed in the evening of the 27th, and immediately began the bombardment of the fort, it being Captain Gordon’s intention to attack it with the two frigates at day-light the following morning. On the bursting of the first shell the Americans were observed to retreat; but supposing some concealed design, Captain Gordon directed the fire to be continued. At eight o’clock, however, his doubts were removed by the explosion of the powder magazine, which destroyed the inner buildings; and at daylight on the 28th he took possession. Besides the principal fort, there was a battery on the beach, a martello-tower, and a battery in the rear, containing altogether 21 heavy cannon and six field-pieces. The whole of these guns were already spiked by the enemy, and their complete destruction, with that of their carriages also, was effected by the seamen and marines sent on that service, in less than two hours.
The city of Alexandria thus lost its only defence; and Captain Gordon declined giving any answer to a proposal made to him for its capitulation, until the following morning, when he was enabled to place his squadron in such a position as ensured assent to the peremptory and humiliating conditions which he had determined to enforce. The following is a copy of the articles which were acceded to by the Common Council of that place:–
“The town of Alexandria, with the exception of public works, shall not be destroyed, unless hostilities are commenced on the part of the Americans; nor shall their dwelling houses be entered, nor the inhabitants molested in any manner whatever, if the following articles are strictly complied with:–
“I. All naval and ordnance stores, public or private, must be immediately given up.
“II. Possession will be immediately taken of all shipping, and their furniture must be sent on board by the owners without delay.
“III. The vessels that have been sunk must be delivered up in the state they were in on the 19th August, the day the squadron passed the Kettle Bottoms.
“IV. Merchandise of every description must be instantly delivered up; and to prevent any irregularities that might be committed in its embarkation, the merchants have it in their option to load the vessels generally employed for that purpose, when they will be towed off by us.
