The story of those splendid attacks has been told in the biographies of Preble and Decatur.
After collecting his force, Preble sailed for Syracuse, that historic city, beautiful in its decay.
Preble had been watching him, and fully expected that all of the Tripolitan gunboats would be captured.
Arrived at Gibraltar, Preble met for the first time his five young captains.
While waiting for the re-enforcements, Preble continued his preparations for another attack.
