Venezia 1

Robbie Venezia

Military History – AHST 397-01

Professor Mustafa

October 10, 2006

In the year 1801 the United States went to war, not with Great Britain or France

but rather with the Barbary state of Tripoli. This was the young republic’s first war

overseas. During this war the United States conducted its first naval attack on an enemy

port. In the years 1803-1804, the United States Navy attacked the city of Tripoli. What

was the experience for the United States Navy during the battle of Tripoli?

The Barbary States of Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis and Morocco, had for three

centuries used piracy as a way to extract money from the European powers. They would

attack ships and then ransom the crews and would negotiate a yearly tribute from each of

the powers.1 The United States at first tried to bribe the Barbary States, and it worked, but

the tribute and ransom for American sailors captured equaled one million dollars, which

infuriated Thomas Jefferson.2 Jefferson felt that America should not have to pay tribute to

trade with the countries on the Mediterranean Sea and that America’s honor was at stake.

Most of America’s money went to Algiers, the most powerful state. Bashaw Yusuf

Karamanli, the ruler of Tripoli wanted his fair share from the Americans. In early 1801,

he demanded 250,000 dollars for peace and an annual tribute of 25,000 dollars.3 Jefferson

refused to pay any more money to Tripoli and prepared America’s small navy for war.

On May 13th, 1801 Tripolitan soldiers, walked into the American consulate and chopped

down the American flag, which meant war. The American squadron, for the first two
1
Joshua E. London, Victory in Tripoli How America’s War with the Barbary Pirates Established the U.S.
Navy and Shaped a Nation: ( Hoboken, NJ. John Wiley and Sons, INC, 2005), 21.
2
Joseph Wheelan. Jefferson’s War: (New York, New York. Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2003), 54.
3
Ibid., 100.
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years was led by ineffective commanders and stayed relatively inactive. The only

exception was the USS Enterprise which defeated and captured a Tripolitan warship,

named Tripoli.4

All of that changed in February 1803 when the United States Mediterranean

Squadron was placed under the command of Commodore Edward Preble. Preble’s

squadron was the biggest so far with eight ships. Preble’s flagship was the USS

Constitution, a frigate that had forty-four guns. The other frigate in the fleet was a thirty-

eight gun ship commanded by Capitan William Bainbridge, named the USS

Philadelphia. The fleets’ three brigs were the 18 gun USS Argus, the 18 gun USS Siren

and the 16 gun USS Scourge. The fleet also had three schooners; the 16 gun USS

Nautilus, the 16 gun USS Vixen and the 12 gun USS Enterprise, which was commanded

by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur.5

The battle of Tripoli began on October 31, 1803, when the American fleet

suffered a huge disaster. The USS Philadelphia was wrecked “on rocks between four

and fives to the eastward of the town of Tripoli.”6 The Philadelphia was chasing a

Tripolitan gunboat when it was caught on a reef. Two more gunboats joined the other one

and they began to place direct fire on the Philadelphia. The Philadelphia’s crew fired

their guns to protect their ship from the gunboats, but the gunboats continued to fire at the

ship.7 The battle lasted for four hours until Captain Bainbridge, wanting to save the lives

4
London, , 103.
5
U.S. Navy, Register of Officer Personal United States Navy and Marine Corps and SHIPS DATA, 1801-
1807 Barbary Wars and ShipData, 1807: (Washington DC: United States Government Printing Office,
1934), 67-85 (hereafter: Naval Ships).
6
William Bainbridge to Robert Smith Secretary of the Navy. Nov 1, 1803: (Early American Imprints
#7548 Microfilm)
7
William Ray, Horrors of Slavery: or The American Tars in Tripoli: (Troy, NY: Oliver Lyon, 1808), 76
(Early American Imprints 16035 microfilm)
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of his crew, decided to surrender his ship.8 The crew was horrified and the ensign in

charge of lowering the American flag refused Bainbridge’s order to lower it. The crew

begged the captain to rescind the order saying they preferred death to slavery.9

Bainbridge’s order was eventually followed and the ship was surrendered to the

Tripolitans. The second most powerful ship in America’s Mediterranean Squadron now

belonged to the Tripolitans and three hundred and seven American sailors were now

hostages. Yusuf Karalmeni had gained a great bargaining chip. Two days later, the

Tripolitans were able to refloat the Philadelphia off the rocks and it was towed into

Tripoli harbor.

Preble had to decide how to respond; he now had three hundred and seven

American sailors as hostages and a powerful ship that was about to be used against his

fleet. Preble decided to strike back, but in order to do that he needed a ship to get into

Tripoli harbor. On December 23rd, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur captured a ketch leaving

Tripoli harbor flying the Turkish flag. Decatur boarded the ship and noticed one of the

Tripolitan officers was holding Lieutenant David Porter’s watch, an officer from the

Philadelphia. Decatur took over the ship and took its crew of sixty prisoner.10 He

renamed the ship the Intrepid. Preble now had his ship and began to formulate a plan to

destroy the Philadelphia and make the Bashaw agree to negotiations for the end of the

war.

On January 31st, 1804 Preble sent a letter to Stephen Decatur, who had taken over

command of the Intrepid, with the direct orders. “Board the frigate Philadelphia, burn her

8
William Bainbridge to Robert Smith Secretary of the Navy. Nov 1, 1803. (Early American Imprints #7548
Microfilm)
9
Ray, 77
10
Naval Documents Related to the United States wars with the Barbary Powers 6 vols (Washington U.S.
Government Printing Office 1939), vol 3, 294. (hereafter: NDRB)
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and make your retreat good with the Intrepid.”11 Decatur asked for seventy volunteers to

go on this risky mission. He got his seventy volunteers immediately and the force set off.

On the night of February 16th Decatur led the Intrepid into Tripoli harbor. Decatur

disguised the ship as a British merchantman from Malta, by waving British colors. The

pilot of the ship was speaking Italian to make the ruse complete. Decatur made his crew

look like Maltese sailors, and not American sailors, by using uniforms that they had

picked up in Malta.12 The Intrepid at 1900 hours went into the harbor, and in just two

hours they had reached the Philadelphia. The Intrepid was challenged by the watch on

the Philadelphia. The pilot claimed the ship was a British ketch laden with cattle for the

British garrison on the island of Malta.13

The pilot had convinced the Tripolitan crew of the Philadelphia, that it was a

British ketch. The crew of the Philadelphia threw the Intrepid a line to tie up next to the

ship. As the Intrepid was nearing the ship, an alert Tripolitan crewman screamed,

“Americano.” The captain on watch on the Philadelphia ordered that the tow line be cut,

but it was too late. Decatur’s crew had their cover blown. Decatur led his men up the

ship, and they began to fight hand to hand with the crew.14 There were only eight

Tripolitans on guard, and the American used spikes, knifes, and tomahawks to kill any

Tripolitan crewmembers that showed signs of resistance. The Americans in less than five

minutes had overpowered the Tripolitans and taken over the ship. Decatur shot a rocket

into the air.15

11
Edward Preble to Stephen Decatur Jan 31, 1804 NDRB., 376
12
London, 160
13
Ibid, 161
14
Midshipman Ralph Izard JR to Mrs. Ralph Izard, SR. NDRB., 416-417.
15
Lieutenant Charles Stewart to Edward Preble NDRB., 415-416.
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The Americans realized that the ship was near Tripolitan defenses for the port,

and 115 guns soon began firing at the ship. “At about 11 o’clock at night, we were

alarmed by the screeches of women…voices of men mingled with a thundering of cannon

from the castle,” said William Ray.16 The Tripolitan guns were still pouring fire into the

ship, but with little effect. Tripolitan gunners were very inaccurate. The Americans had

control of the ship and began to plant gunpowder and other combustibles across the ship.

When the ship was full of explosives Decatur showed the order, “Fire!”17 The Americans

than lit the charges. The fire spread quickly across the ship and was very soon out of

control. The ship burned so fast that the boarders were forced to jump back into the

Intrepid sooner than expected. Decatur waited for everyone else to get off the ship to

reboard the Intrepid.18 At eleven o’clock the Philadelphia’s topmasts fell; the deed was

done - no American had been killed and only one was slightly wounded. However, the

Intrepid still had to escape Tripoli harbor.

The Tripolitan cannons and musketry had a smaller target in the Intrepid.

However, the cannon balls were still landing near enough to the Intrepid to cause a stir in

the sailors on board. The Intrepid, had wind blowing in the direction of the sea and it was

able to make its escape at a brisk pace and was soon out of the range of the harbor’s guns.

The Intrepid met up with the Siren outside of Tripoli’s harbor and both ships began the

trip back to Syracuse.

Decatur the next day sent his message to Commodore Preble. “Sir, I have the

honor to inform you that in pursuance of your orders….to effect the destruction of the

United States late frigate Philadelphia.”19 Decatur had gone into an enemy port, boarded
16
Ray, 110.
17
Stephen Decatur to Edward Preble, NDRB vol 3, 417.
18
Lieutenant Charles Stewart to Edward Preble NDRB vol 3, 415-416
19
Stephen Decatur to Edward Preble, NDRB 417.
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an enemy ship within range of more than a hundred guns, and destroyed it without losing

a man. Admiral Hiratio Nelson called it, “the most bold and daring act of the age.”20 The

Americans had made a strong statement by burning the ship however; the crew of the

Philadelphia suffered the consequences. The crew of the Philadelphia the next day

received the worst beatings they ever received and the worse part was who did the

beatings. The Tripolitans used five American sailors, who had converted to Islam to

receive better treatment, to beat their former comrades. The officers were moved to a new

dungeon and were thereafter treated not much better than the crew was.21

Preble took six weeks to go into Tripoli harbor to negotiate with Yusuf after the

Philadelphia had been burned. Yusuf told Preble he demanded half a million dollars to

get the captives back and have peace. Preble told Yusuf he would sacrifice the prisoners,

rather than to submit to the unfavorable terms that Yusuf offered. Preble decided that he

needed to strike Tripoli itself, in order for Yusuf to agree to his terms. He realized it

would take a while for this happen, and he spent the next couple of months planning his

attack on Tripoli.

Preble went to his base on Syracuse on the island of Sicily to gather his fleet. The

King of the Two Sicilies loaned Preble six gunboats and two bombards, as well as some

Sicilian (Neapolitan) crewman to help run these ships. Preble counted in his fleet, one

frigate, three schooners, three brigs, and now six gunboats and two bombards, all totaled

Preble had 1,060 American and Neapolitan crewmen.22 He planned to use the ships

loaned to him by the Neapolitans to wander the shallow reefs around Tripoli itself. The

20
Wheelan, 194.
21
Ray, 111.
22
Naval Ships: (Washington DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1934), 85.
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gunboats would strike the Tripolitan fleet anchored in the harbor; Preble figured this

would destroy the power of the Barbary state of Tripoli.

Preble arrived off of Tripoli, and offered Yusuf an offer of 40,000 dollars for

peace. Yusuf refused and on August 3rd, the American fleet moved into position to attack

Tripoli. Preble placed commanders on his six gunboats. His 1st division of gunboats was

commanded by Lieutenant Richard Somers, Lieutenant James Decatur, and Lieutenant

Joshua Blake. His 2nd division of gunboats was commanded by Captain Stephen Decatur,

Lieutenant Joseph Bandbridge and Lieutenant John Trippe.23 The 2nd division went

charging into a group of nine Tripolitan gunboats. Decatur and his crew swarmed over

two enemy gunboats and took possession of them without much resistance. Lieutenant

Trippe and only eleven of his men were able to board an enemy gunboat manned by

thirty-six Tripolitan crewmembers. The captain of the Tripolitan gunboat rushed at

Trippe and was able to stab him eleven times with his scimitar. Trippe was bleeding

profusely, but was able to stab him and kill him.24 The gunboat then surrendered to

Trippe’s crew.

Meanwhile in the first division of gunboats, James Decatur’s crew attacked the

largest of the gunboats and it “surrendered.” However, as Decatur was boarding the ship,

the captain treacherously shot him, mortally wounding him.25 The boat carrying James

Decatur passed his brother Stephen, who was incensed at this, and he took eleven men

from one of his prizes to attack the Tripolitan gunboat, whose captain mortally wounded

his brother. Decatur came across a gunboat, probably not the one he was looking for, and

attacked it. The captain of this gunboat charged at Decatur and threw him on the ship.

23
Ibid., 85.
24
NDRB 6 vols (Washington U.S. Government Printing Office 1939), vol 4, 296-297.
25
Ibid p 296-297.
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Decatur was able to take his cutlass and stab the captain dead. The rest of the crew

surrendered to Decatur.26

During this time the USS Constitution was pouring broadsides into Tripoli itself.

Seven small ships attacked the Constitution, to stop the attack on Tripoli. The

Constitution just turned her guns on the attackers, driving them off and inflicting severe

causalities. A total of two hundred and sixty-two shots were fired into Tripoli that night.27

Preble after two hours called back his fleet. For how close the Americans had fought the

action, the relativity light American causalities were shocking. Only one American was

killed, Lieutenant James Decatur and twelve men were wounded. The Tripolitans lost

four gunboats; one sunk and three others captured, and forty-eight men killed and sixty-

one sailors taken prisoner.

Four days later the American fleet reinforced by the three captured Tripolitan

gunboats went in to attack Tripoli again. At 0800 hours the signal was launched for the

attack to begin. The plan was to have Tripolitan gunboats leave the protected part of the

harbor and attack the Americans. The nine American gunboats got within fifty yards of

the fortifications and began bombarding them, but the fighting was chaotic and fifty

American guns on the gunboats fired cannons without balls in them.28 The Americans

even with this chaos were able to maintain a continuous fire. In less than two hours, most

of Tripoli’s defenses were silenced. 29 However, the Tripolitan gunboats remained where

they were, and then without warning, Gunboat #9 commanded by Lieutenant James

Caldwell, was hit by one of the few non-silenced Tripolitan guns. The one in a million
26
Ibid., 347.
27
Ibid., 297.
28
Stephen Cleveland Blyth. History of the war between the United States and Tripoli, and other Barbary
Powers: to which prefixed a geographical, religious, and political history of the Barbary States in general
(Salem, MA. Salem Gazette Office. 1806, 112)
29
Ray,125.
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shot destroyed the gunboat.30 Lieutenant Caldwell and Midshipman John S. Dorsey along

with eight crewmen were killed; however, most of crew was lucky and they were picked

up by surrounding American ships.31 The American fleet continued to bomb Tripoli until

1700 hours that night and than the order was given to withdraw.

The attack had cost the Americans a total of twelve killed; ten on Gunboat #9, and

two others killed on other ships. After the attack Preble found out, that in a couple of

weeks he would be heading home, Washington had ordered a relief squadron to sail after

the Philadelphia was captured, and not able to recall after hearing of the burning of the

ship. Preble decided that since his replacement was not there yet he should continue

attacking Tripoli. He attacked the city on the 24th of August, but did not do much

damage.32 Preble launched his next attack four days later.

At half past five on the 28th, the American fleet began its attack on Tripoli.33 The

gunboats were towed in the harbor and would be protected by the big guns of the Siren,

Argus, and Nautilus. The heavy fighting would be done by the two frigates of the fleet,

the Constitution and the newly arrived John Adams. Fifteen Tripolitan gunboats went in

and began to attack the American fleet. The USS Constitution, with Preble himself in

command, showed up and fired grapeshot into the attacking gunboats. One immediately

sank and two ran aground to avoid sinking. The Bashaw’s Castle began to fire on the

ship. The Constitution turned and hit the Bashaw’s Castle with a devastating broadside.34

Preble brought his ship so close to the castle that the Tripolitan gunners could not fire at

the ship’s hull. Anytime a Tripolitan gun crew got a cannon ready to fire, the

30
Blyth, 112
31
NDRB 6 vols (Washington U.S. Government Printing Office 1939), vol 4, p 376
32
Blyth, 113
33
NDRB 6 vols (Washington U.S. Government Printing Office 1939), vol 4, p 472
34
Ibid., 472.
 Venezia 10

Constitution would fire into the port, and destroy the gun. In just forty-five minutes

Preble’s ship fired three hundred rounds of solid shot and just as much canister and grape

into the castle and the city.

The John Adams attacked, in the meantime, along with the American gunboats.

They fired grape into the remaining Tripolitan gunboats,, and inflicted severe casualties,

forcing them all to retreat. A cutter from the John Adams went in too close to investigate

the damage and was sunk, killing three sailors.35 The entire fleet now bombed Tripoli and

damaged several buildings. Shells struck the consuls of Spain, Sweden, and Holland, and

even hit the prison where Philadelphia’s crew was being held.36 Some civilians were

killed, and many Tripolitan soldiers were killed. Yusuf refused to give out an exact

number to the neutral consuls. Since Tripoli was severally damaged Preble felt that

Yusuf would be more willing to negotiate on his terms. Yusuf however told Preble that

he demanded America pay him 400,000 dollars for the ransom of the crew as well as an

unlimited number of gifts. Preble responded four days later.

The Americans sailed into Tripoli Harbor on the 3rd of September. The fleet was

divided into two groups, the six gunboats and two bomb ketches were sent into the harbor

to bomb the city, while the Argus, Nautilus, and Enterprise began to bomb a Tripolitan

fortification, called Fort English by the Americans. Fort English was being hit broadside

after broadside.37 When the bombardment of Fort English was finished, its defenses had

been all but destroyed. Meanwhile, the American gunboats found and destroyed two

Tripolitan gunboats. Then they bombed Tripoli itself. The fire was so effective and

35
Horace Kimbell. The Naval Temple: Containing a Complete History of the battles fought by the Navy of
the United States from its establishment in 1794 to the present time, including the wars with France, and
with Tripoli, the late war with Great Britain and with Algiers. (Boston, MA. Barber Badger 1816), 39
36
NDRB 6 vols (Washington U.S. Government Printing Office 1939), vol4, 480-482.
37
Ray, 134.
 Venezia 11

accurate that it destroyed the home of Yusuf’s chief naval contractor.38 To help bring

some fire off of his fleet Preble again brought the Constitution close to the Bashaw’s

Castle. The Constitution fired eleven broadsides in all. The Tripolitans aimed seventy

guns at the ship, all of the guns that had not been silenced by the American

bombardment. The guns were hitting the sails and the rigging, but no hull shots, since

Preble had brought it in so close to the castle.39 At 1630 hours Preble sailed his fleet out

of the harbor. Not one American had been killed, during this bombardment.

Preble had been formulating a plan in his head to send the Intrepid into Tripoli

Harbor to destroy the fortress in the harbor. This plan was for the Intrepid slip through

the defenses, get close to the fortress, and ignite the combustibles, than the crew would

jump overboard. The crew would be brought back to the fleet by nearby American ships.

On August 29th Preble prepared the Intrepid for her final mission. She was loaded with

five tons of powder, one hundred thirteen-inch shells, and fifty nine-inch shells; along

with all this an entire room was full of combustibles, which could be easily ignited with a

powder keg.40 Preble asked for volunteers for this risky mission and three officers were

selected to lead it. Lieutenant Richard Somers, the former commander of gunboat #1,

Midshipman Henry Wadsworth, and Lieutenant Joseph Israel were the officers selected.

Ten enlisted men were selected from the volunteers.41

On the night of the September 4th, at twenty and half hours the Intrepid sailed past

the fleet, including the Constitution. The Argus, Vixen, and the Nautilus were the ships

that would be escorting the Intrepid to ¾ of a mile from the fortress.42 When the Intrepid

38
NDRB 6 vols (Washington U.S. Government Printing Office 1939), vol 4, 500
39
ibid., p 504.
40
NDRB 6 vols (Washington U.S. Government Printing Office 1939), vol 4, 506
41
London, 187
42
Ray, 186
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reached the western entrance to the harbor, two signal guns were fired, but Tripolitan

guns were inaccurate, so nobody in the fleet felt that the Intrepid was in any danger. It

appeared to the fleet that the Intrepid had reached the harbor and soon would set off their

explosives. Than at 9:47 PM, the American fleet saw a tremendous fireball.43 The

Americans thought that maybe the Intrepid had done its job, and began to go into rescue

the crew. The Nautilus went to investigate and look for the crew. It was not until 0900

hours the next morning that the fleet found out awful news. The Intrepid had exploded,

prematurely and the brave crew of thirteen was dead. Nobody knew what happened to the

Intrepid, had the ship been hit by a lucky shell from a Tripolitan gun or had something

else happened? Preble almost immediately with no evidence came up with a story. The

story was that Tripolitan gunboats had surrounded the Intrepid and than one hundred

Tripolitan sailors began to board the ship, Lieutenant Somers wishing death rather than

slavery from his crew lit his explosives himself.44

The fleet reacted to horror of the news of the brave Lieutenant Somers and his

crew being killed and their mission failing. Preble felt his accomplishments in the

campaign of bombing of Tripoli would be eclipsed by the failure of the Intrepid mission,

but he was mistaken. Preble’s story of the crew’s heroic sacrifice swept through the fleet

and the Intrepid’s crew was thought of as great American heroes. Preble’s replacement

Commodore Samuel Baron arrived two days later, and Preble returned home a great hero.

Preble’s actions during his tenure as commander helped ensure America’s victory in her

war against Tripoli. Jefferson had always wanted to fight the Barbary Pirates and Preble

was his fighting commander.

43
NDRB 6 vol (Washington U.S. Government Printing Office 1939), vol 4, 507
44
Edward Preble to Robert Smith Secretary of the Navy. Sept. 17, 1804 (Early American Imprints # 9573
Microfilm)
 Venezia 13

In one month Preble’s squadron during the Battle of Tripoli, had inflicted more

damage to Tripoli than any of the three previous years of war. American cannon balls and

grapeshot had killed hundreds of Tripolitan soldiers and sailors. The Americans lost

thirty killed and twenty-four wounded during the Battle of Tripoli. The battle had

crippled Tripoli’s ability to make war on the United States. However, Preble’s main

motive in bombing Tripoli itself was not realized, the Philadelphia’s crew was still in

captivity, and would remain so for another year. The United States and Tripoli signed a

peace treaty a year later in 1805, after America financed an expedition to overthrow

Yusuf with his brother. This act convinced Yusuf to sue for peace. The United States

agreed to pay Tripoli 60,000 for the crew’s release, but no more annual tribute would be

paid.45

Preble’s surviving officers used money and created a monument to the six officers

killed in the Battle of Tripoli and dedicated to them. The monument reads “To the

memory of Somers, Caldwell, Decatur, Wadsworth, Dorsey and Israel.”46 Officers like

Stephen Decatur, William Bainbridge, Charles Stewart, David Porter, and Isaac Hull

would help lead America’s navy in a war a few later against Britain, and they would

inflict defeat after defeat on her Majesty’s navy. These officers carried the nickname

“Preble’s Boys” proudly. The war between the United States and Tripoli was a training

ground for these officers and they showed what they learned from their commander

during the War of 1812. From Stephen Decatur’s burning of the Philadelphia to the

bombardment of Tripoli itself, this war showed the world that the United States Navy

was a force to be reckoned with. The war was also the beginning of the end of piracy off

45
Kimbell, 41.
46
Wheelan, 230
 Venezia 14

the Barbary Coast of Africa and it was over within twenty-five years following

America’s victory.

Works Cited Bibliography

1.) Blyth, Stephen Cleveland. History of the war between the United States and
Tripoli, and other Barbary Powers: to which prefixed a geographical, religious,
and political history of the Barbary States in general: Salem, MA. Salem Gazette
Office, 1806.
2.) Horace, Kimbell. The Naval Temple: Containing a Complete History of the
battles fought by the Navy of the United States from its establishment in 1794 to
the present time, including the wars with France, and with Tripoli, the late war
with Great Britain and with Algiers: Boston, MA. Barber Badger ,1816.
 Venezia 15

3.) London, Joshua E. Victory in Tripoli: How America’s War with the Barbary
Pirates Established the U.S. Navy and shaped a Nation: Hoboken, NJ. John Wiley
and Sons, INC, 2005
4.) Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary States, in
six volumes, compiled by the U.S. Navy’s office of Naval Records and Library
(Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office 1939-1945)
5.) Ray, William. Horrors of Slavery or The American Tars in Tripoli: Troy, NY:
Oliver Lyon, 1808 (Early American Imprints 16035 microfilm)
6.) Register of Officer Personal United States Navy and Marine Corps and SHIPS
DATA, 1801-1807 Barbary Wars and ShipData:, 1807 Washington DC: United
States Government Printing Office, 1934
7.) Edward Preble to Robert Smith Secretary of the Navy. Sept. 17, 1804 (Early
American Imprints #9573 Microfilm)
8.) William Bainbridge to Robert Smith Secretary of the Navy. Nov 1, 1803. (Early
American Imprints #7548 Microfilm)