108 VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. [February^ 
with which they supported each other in the impetuosity of their 
attack, should such become the unpleasant alternative. In a 
word, they were to look to Lieutenant Shubrick as their leader ; 
and to execute, with implicit obedience, his orders in the general 
movements, as well as the commands of officers in charge of the 
several divisions, while separated from each other. 
Orders were now given to pass over the side of the ship, and 
take their places, as arranged, in the several boats. These 
orders were obeyed with a half suppressed and willing ardour 
which gave confidence as to the result of the enterprise, as well 
as an earnest of what still might be expected from American sea- 
men when their comitry shall require their services on a more 
important theatre, and on a larger scale. One of the sections of 
each division was armed with pistols and boarding-pikes, the 
rest with muskets. The boats in which the whole embarked 
were, the launch, four cutters, and the life-boat. 
The six-pounder, familiarly known to the officers and men by 
the cognomen of "Betsey Baker,'' was placed in the launch, to 
which a small stage had been fitted, and towed astern, for the 
purpose of facilitating the landing of the gun and the men, in 
case the surf should be found so high as to endanger the arms 
and ammunition. Every thing being now ready, and the men at 
their oars, the Httle flotilla left the frigate, led by Lieutenant 
Shubrick in the whale-boat, to indicate the place of landing. 
The other boats, with the largest ahead, followed in line, all with 
muffled oars, and silent as the grave. 
It was now about two o'clock, A. M., on the morning of Mon- 
day, the sixth of February. The night was still — the stars bright 
— but no moon. Not a word was spoken above the low, sup- 
pressed whisper, as the boats glided swiftly on towards the shore. 
The place of landing having been selected previously to leaving 
the ship, no difficulty was found in steering the boats to the 
designated spot, which was not far from the fort of the powerful 
rajah, Muley Mahomet. This place is almost a mile to the north 
of the town, and was selected as promising the most convenient 
spot for the men to land on, and form in their respective divisions; 
and as being in some measure protected from a view of the town 
by a projecting point of land. 
On approaching the shore, two lights were seen moving in dif- 
