It will be most proper for you to enter the harbor with a westerly wind, as it will ensure you a safe retreat. The destruction of the frigate is of national importance; and I rely with confidence on your valor, judgment, and enterprise, in contributing all the means in your power to effect it. Whatever may be your success, you will return (if possible) directly to this place. May the Almighty take you under his protection, and prosper you in this enterprise. I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, EDWARD PREBLE. Lt. Commandant STEWART, United States' Brig Syren. No. 5. ON BOARD THE KETCH INTREPID, At Sea, February 17th, 1804. SIR: I have the honor to inform you, that, in pursuance to your orders of the 31st ultimo, to proceed with this ketch off the harbor of Tripoli, there to endeavor to effect the destruction of the late United States' frigate Philadelphia, I arrived there, in company with United States' brig Syren, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, on the 7th; but, owing to the badness of the weather, was unable to effect any thing until last evening, when we had a light breeze from the N. E. At 7 o'clock, I entered the harbor with the Intrepid, the Syren having gained her station without the harbor, in a situation to support us in our retreat. At half past 9 o'clock, laid her alongside of the Philadelphia, boarded, and, after a short contest, carried her. I immediately fired her in the store-rooms, gun-room, cockpit, and birthdeck, and remained on board until the flames had issued from the spardeck, hatchways, and ports; and, before I had got from alongside, the fire had communicated to the rigging and tops. Previous to our boarding, they had got their tompions out, and hailed several times, but not a gun fired. The noise occasioned by boarding and contending for possession, (although no fire-arms were used,) gave a general alarm on shore, and on board their cruisers, which lay about a cable and a half's length from us; and many boats, filled with men, lay around, but from whom we received no annoyance. They commenced a fire on us from all their batteries on shore, but with no other effect than one shot passing through our topgallant sail. The frigate was moored within half gunshot of the Bashaw's castle, and of their principal battery; two of their cruisers lay within two cables' length on the starboard quarter, and their gun-boats within half gunshot on the starboard bow. She had all her guns mounted and loaded, which, as they became hot, went off. As she lay with her broadside to the town, I have no doubt but some damage has been done by them. Before I got out of the harbor her cables had burnt off, and she drifted in under the castle, where she was consumed. I can form no judgment as to the number of men that were on board, but there were twenty killed. A large boatful got off, and many leapt into the sea. We have made one prisoner; and I fear, from the number of bad wounds he has received, he will not recover, although every assistance and comfort has been given him. I boarded with sixty men and officers, leaving a guard on board the ketch for her defence: and, it is with the greatest pleasure I inform you, I had not a man killed in this affair, and but one slightly wounded. Every support that could be given, I received from my officers; and, as each of their conduct was highly meritorious, I beg leave to enclose you a list of their names. Permit me, also, sir, to speak of the brave fellows I have the honor to command, whose coolness and intrepidity was such, as I trust will ever characterize the American tars. It would be injustice in me, were I to pass over the important services rendered by Mr. Salvadore, the pilot, on whose good conduct the success of the enterprise in the greatest degree depended. He gave me entire satisfaction. Com. EDWARD PREBLE, I have the honor to be, sir, &c. &c. STEPHEN DECATUR. Commanding U. S. Squadron in the Mediterranean. No. 6. BRIG SYREN, SYRACUSE HARBOR, SIR: I have the honor to enclose, for your information, the principal occurrences and observations during our late expedition, in company with the ketch Intrepid, Lieut. Commandant Decatur, to effect the destruction of the frigate Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli; and on the happy termination of that enterprise, I heartily congratulate you. I only have to lament that a junction had not been formed with the Intrepid by the boats of the Syren, under the command of Lieut. Caldwell, as I make no doubt that they would have been able to carry and destroy one or both of the cruisers lying near the frigate. You will observe, by my notes, that the boats were despatched, in due season, to meet the Intrepid, agreeable to our arrangements; but circumstances rendering it advisable for Lieut. Commandant Decatur to enter upon the enterprise much earlier than was intended, the junction with the boats was, consequently, defeated, until after the ship was on fire, and the ketch retreating out of the harbor. I have the honor to be, Your very obedient servant, Com. EDWARD Preble, CHARLES STEWART. Commandant of the U. S. Squadron in the Mediterranean. WASHINGTON, February 26th, 1828. I certify the within to be a correct copy from the letter book of Commo dore Preble, now in my possession. CH. W. GOLDSBOROUGH. No. 7. UNITED STATES' BRIG SYREN, Syracuse Harbor, February 19, 1804. SIR: Pursuant to your orders of the 31st January, 1804, we sailed, on the 3d February, in company with the Intrepid, Lieut. Commandant Decatur, and arrived off Tripoli, the 8th inst. having employed ourselves, in the intermediate time, in preparing every thing for executing the intended object. At 9 P. M. we anchored in 6 fathoms water, near the rocks, got out the boats, and prepared them for co-operating with the Intrepid. At 11, we observed the Intrepid, by her light, standing off shore-a very heavy sea from the north; and a strong wind hauling to that quarter obliged us to get our boats in immediately, and get under weigh. At 4 A. M finding it impossible to weigh our anchor, having had the men several times knocked down by the capstan-bars, and several much injured, day-light approaching to expose our designs to the enemy, we cut, and got an offing of ten miles, when the gale and sea having increased so much that we could scarcely shew any sail, which continued until the 11th. It then abated, and I sent for Lieut Commandant Decatur, and we fixed on the following plan for the next attempt, viz: He to proceed in the Intrepid, about five miles ahead of the brig, and anchor, at night, abreast of the Eastern Rocks that form the harbor, until the Syren got into that station, or her boats had joined him. After midnight, he to proceed in the Intrepid to the ship; the boats to keep at a considerable distance astern of him, until he effected a lodgement in the frigate; they were then to board the Intrepid, and reinforce him, or proceed on such other service as he might direct We were driven so far to the eastward by the gale, that we did not regain our station off Tripoli until the 15th, when, considering the possibility there was of the Tripolitans having some suspicions of our intentions, I reinforced Decatur with an officer and nine volunteers from the Syren-the necessary arrangements of his men not leaving more than 50 to support him in boarding. We stood into 8 fathoms water that night, but could not determine our position, not having seen the town; we were, therefore, obliged to stand off again. On the 16th, at 11 A. M. the Intrepid stood in for the harbor, and when she had got her distance, we tacked and stood in after her, with a light breeze from the northward and westward: at dark, we hoisted out the boats and prepared them: at 8h. 30m. P. M. the wind left us, and a light air from the land succeeded: we anchored with our stream in 20 fathoms water, the town of Tripoli bearing southwest, about 3 miles distant. We immediately despatched the boats with 30 men and officers, under the command of Lieut. Caldwell, who was ordered to proceed to the Eastern Rocks, where he would find the Intrepid, and to place himself under the command of Lieut. Commandant Decatur. At past 10, the frigate Philadelphia was in a blaze fore and aft, when the batteries commenced a fire on the Intrepid as she retreated. At 11, the frigate's tops fell: several of her guns going off, the shot made a considerable rattling in the town. Shortly after, her cables parted, and she drifted under the castle. At 1, A. M. the Intrepid and boats joined us; at 6 the light could still be seen from the deek, we being about 40 miles distant from her. I have the honor to be, &c. &c. Commodore EDWARD PREBLE, &c. CHAS. STEWART. WASHINGTON, February 26, 1828. I certify the foregoing to be a correct copy from the letter-book of Commodore Preble, now in my possession. CH. W. GOLDSBOROUGH. I have carefully examined the letter-book, journal, and order-book, of Commodore Preble, during his command in the Mediterranean, and state, confidently, that there is no letter from Lieutenant Caldwell to Lieutenant Stewart or any other officer, upon the subject of the proceedings of the boats of the Syren, under his command, on the occasion of the destruction of the frigate Philadelphia, by Lieutenant Commandant Decatur, in the harbor of Tripoli. CH. W. GOLDSBOROUGH. February 27, 1828. No. 8. Extracts from Commodore Preble's official Despatches. Syracuse Harbor, 19th February, 1804. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the United States' brig Syren, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, and ketch Intrepid, of four guns, Lieutenant Commandant Decatur, arrived here last evening from a cruise. They left this port the 3d instant, with my orders to proceed to Tripoli, and burn the frigate late the United States' frigate Philadelphia, at anchor in that harbor. I was well informed that her situation was such as to render it impossible to bring her out; and her destruction being absolutely necessary to favor my intended operations against that city, I determined the attempt should be made. I enclose you copies of my orders on this occasion, which have been executed in the most gallant and officer-like manner, by Lieutenant Commandant Decatur, assisted by the brave officers and crew of the little ketch Intrepid, under his command. Their conduct in the performance of the dangerous service assigned them, cannot be sufficiently estimated. It is beyond all praise. Had Lieutenant Decatur delayed one half hour for the boats of the Syren to have joined him, he would have failed in the main object, as a gale commenced immediately after the frigate was on fire, and it was with difficulty the ketch was got out of the harbor. The Syren, owing to the lightness of the breeze in the evening, was obliged to anchor at a considerable distance from the city, which prevented her boats from rendering such assistance as they might have done, had they entered the harbor earlier. Lieutenant Stewart took the best position without the harbor, to cover the retreat of the Intrepid, that the lightness of the breeze would admit of; his conduct throughout the expedition has been judicious and highly meritorious. But few of the officers of the squadron could be gratified by sharing in the danger and honor of the enterprise. In justice to them, I beg leave to cbserve that they all offered to volunteer heir services on the occasion; and I am confident, whenever an opportunity offers to distinguish themselves, that they will do honor to the service. I enclose you Lieutenant Commandants Stewart and Decatur's official communication, with the names of the officers on board the ketch. With the highest respect, I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient humble servant, EDWARD PREBLE. No. 9. Statement of the circumstances attending the destruction of the frigate Philadelphia, with the names of the officers and the number of men employed on the occasion, as laid before the President by the Secretary of the Navy, November 13, 1804. On the 31st January, 1804, Commodore Preble, lying with his squadron in the harbor of Syracuse, gave orders to Lieutenant Charles Stewart, commanding the brig Syren, of 16 guns, and to Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, jr. commanding the ketch Intrepid, of 4 guns and 75 men, to proceed to Tripoli, and to destroy the frigate Philadelphia of 44 guns, then lying in the harbor of Tripoli. Lieutenant Decatur had orders to enter the harbor in the night, board and set fire to the Philadelphia; and Lieut. Stewart was ordered to take the best possible position, without the harbor, to cover the retreat. Under these orders, they proceeded immediately to the coast of Tripoli; but, owing to the very heavy gales of wind that usually prevail there in the Winter season, the enterprise could not be undertaken until the 16th of February, when Lieutenant Stewart, having taken the best possible position to effect the object of his instructions, Lieutenant Decatur, at seven o'clock in the night, entered the harbor of Tripoli, boarded and took possession of the Philadelphia. This frigate, at the time she was boarded, had all her guns mounted and charged, and was lying within half gun shot of the Bashaw's castle, and of his principal battery. Two Tripolitan cruisers were lying within two cables length on the starboard quarter, and several gun boats within half gun shot on the starboard bow, and all the batteries on shore were opened upon the assailants. About twenty men in the Philadelphia were killed, a large boatful got off, and one man was made prisoner. After having gained possession of the frigate, Lieut. Decatur set fire to her store rooms, gun room, cock pit, and birth deck; and with a firmness highly honorable to him, his officers and men, they remained on board until the flames had issued from the ports of the gun deck and the hatchways of the spar deck, and they continued in the ketch, along side the frigate, until the fire had communicated to her rigging and tops. Lieutenant Decatur did not lose a man, and had but one slightly wounded. The following is a list of the officers, and the number of men employed in the destruction of the Philadelphia, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, jr. James Lawrence, Joseph Bainbridge, Jonathan Thorn, Lieutenants. |