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Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor

August 22, 2023

The Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor was a naval action that occurred during the American naval blockade which took place in Tripoli Harbor on July 14, 1804. The battle was part of the First Barbary War between forces of the United States and the forces of the Eyalet of Tripolitania.

Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor
Part of the First Barbary War

Burning of the frigate Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli, 16 February 1804, Edward Moran
DateJuly 14, 1804
Location
Tripoli, Eyalet of Tripolitania
32°54′8″N 13°11′9″E / 32.90222°N 13.18583°E / 32.90222; 13.18583
Result Tripolitanian victory
Belligerents
Tripolitania  United States
Commanders and leaders
Yusuf Karamanli Edward Preble
Strength
1 brig
2 schooners
2 galleys
19 gunboats		 1 frigate
3 brigs
3 schooners
2 bomb vessels
10 gunboats
1 bomb ketch
Casualties and losses
Unknown 54 killed and wounded
1 frigate scuttled
1 bomb ketch sunk[1]

Background

Commodore Edward Preble had assumed command of the U.S. Mediterranean Squadron in 1803. By October of that year Preble had begun a blockade of Tripoli harbor. The first significant action of the blockade came on October 31, when USS Philadelphia ran aground on an uncharted coral reef and the Tripolitan Navy was able to capture the ship along with its crew and Captain William Bainbridge. Philadelphia was turned against the Americans and anchored in the harbor as a gun battery.

On the night of February 16, 1804, a small contingent of U.S. Marines in a captured Tripolitan ketch rechristened USS Intrepid and led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr. were able to deceive the guards on board Philadelphia and float close enough to board the captured ship. Decatur's men stormed the vessel and decimated the Tripolitan sailors standing guard. To complete the daring raid, Decatur's party set fire to Philadelphia, denying her use to the enemy. Decatur's bravery in action made him one of the first American military heroes since the Revolutionary War. The British Admiral Horatio Nelson, himself known as a man of action and bravery, is said to have called this "the most bold and daring act of the age."[2][3] Even Pope Pius VII stated, "The United States, though in their infancy, have done more to humble the anti-Christian barbarians on the African coast than all the European states had done..."[4]

Battle

Preble attacked Tripoli outright on July 14, 1804, in a series of inconclusive battles, including a courageous but unsuccessful attack by the fire ship USS Intrepid under Master Commandant Richard Somers. Intrepid, packed with explosives, was to enter Tripoli harbor and destroy itself and the enemy fleet; it was destroyed, perhaps by enemy guns, before achieving that goal, killing Somers and his crew.

Aftermath

The actions against Tripoli harbor continued to prove indecisive until September when Commodore Samuel Barron assumed command of the Mediterranean Squadron and focused the fleet's attention on supporting William Eaton's attack on Derne, which ended in a victory.

Notable veterans

Several of the United States' early naval heroes served in the blockade including Stephen Decatur, William Bainbridge, Charles Stewart, Isaac Hull, David Porter, Reuben James and Edward Preble. Collectively referred to as Preble's Boys, many of these officers would play a significant role in the upcoming War of 1812.

Notes

  1. ^ Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars With the Barbary Powers, Vol. 4, Naval Operations Including Diplomatic Background from April to September 6, 1804. (Washington, DC: Office of Naval Records and Library, 1942): 292-310
  2. ^ Tucker, Spencer. Stephen Decatur: a life most bold and daring. Naval Institute Press; 2005. ISBN 978-1-55750-999-4. p. xi.
  3. ^ See, Leiner, Frederick C., "Searching for Nelson’s Quote", USNI News, United States Naval Institute, February 5, 2013, setting forth the evidence for and against that quote.
  4. ^ Anthony, Irvin (1931). Decatur. Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 153. Retrieved April 2, 2020 – via Google Books.

Sources

  • The Barbary Wars, 1801-1805
  • Tripolitan War
  • Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia, 16 February 1804
  • Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy by Ian W. Toll, 2005
  • If By Sea by George C. Daugham, 2008

August 22, 2023
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The Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor was a naval action that occurred during the American naval blockade which took place in Tripoli Harbor on July 14 1804 The battle was part of the First Barbary War between forces of the United States and the forces of the Eyalet of Tripolitania Second Battle of Tripoli HarborPart of the First Barbary WarBurning of the frigate Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli 16 February 1804 Edward MoranDateJuly 14 1804LocationTripoli Eyalet of Tripolitania32 54 8 N 13 11 9 E 32 90222 N 13 18583 E 32 90222 13 18583ResultTripolitanian victoryBelligerentsTripolitania United StatesCommanders and leadersYusuf KaramanliEdward PrebleStrength1 brig 2 schooners 2 galleys 19 gunboats1 frigate 3 brigs 3 schooners 2 bomb vessels 10 gunboats 1 bomb ketchCasualties and lossesUnknown54 killed and wounded 1 frigate scuttled 1 bomb ketch sunk 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 Notable veterans 5 Notes 6 SourcesBackground EditCommodore Edward Preble had assumed command of the U S Mediterranean Squadron in 1803 By October of that year Preble had begun a blockade of Tripoli harbor The first significant action of the blockade came on October 31 when USS Philadelphia ran aground on an uncharted coral reef and the Tripolitan Navy was able to capture the ship along with its crew and Captain William Bainbridge Philadelphia was turned against the Americans and anchored in the harbor as a gun battery On the night of February 16 1804 a small contingent of U S Marines in a captured Tripolitan ketch rechristened USS Intrepid and led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur Jr were able to deceive the guards on board Philadelphia and float close enough to board the captured ship Decatur s men stormed the vessel and decimated the Tripolitan sailors standing guard To complete the daring raid Decatur s party set fire to Philadelphia denying her use to the enemy Decatur s bravery in action made him one of the first American military heroes since the Revolutionary War The British Admiral Horatio Nelson himself known as a man of action and bravery is said to have called this the most bold and daring act of the age 2 3 Even Pope Pius VII stated The United States though in their infancy have done more to humble the anti Christian barbarians on the African coast than all the European states had done 4 Battle EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Preble attacked Tripoli outright on July 14 1804 in a series of inconclusive battles including a courageous but unsuccessful attack by the fire ship USS Intrepid under Master Commandant Richard Somers Intrepid packed with explosives was to enter Tripoli harbor and destroy itself and the enemy fleet it was destroyed perhaps by enemy guns before achieving that goal killing Somers and his crew Aftermath EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The actions against Tripoli harbor continued to prove indecisive until September when Commodore Samuel Barron assumed command of the Mediterranean Squadron and focused the fleet s attention on supporting William Eaton s attack on Derne which ended in a victory Notable veterans EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Several of the United States early naval heroes served in the blockade including Stephen Decatur William Bainbridge Charles Stewart Isaac Hull David Porter Reuben James and Edward Preble Collectively referred to as Preble s Boys many of these officers would play a significant role in the upcoming War of 1812 Notes Edit Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars With the Barbary Powers Vol 4 Naval Operations Including Diplomatic Background from April to September 6 1804 Washington DC Office of Naval Records and Library 1942 292 310 Tucker Spencer Stephen Decatur a life most bold and daring Naval Institute Press 2005 ISBN 978 1 55750 999 4 p xi See Leiner Frederick C Searching for Nelson s Quote USNI News United States Naval Institute February 5 2013 setting forth the evidence for and against that quote Anthony Irvin 1931 Decatur Charles Scribner s Sons p 153 Retrieved April 2 2020 via Google Books Sources EditThe Barbary Wars 1801 1805 Tripolitan War Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia 16 February 1804 Six Frigates The Epic History of the Founding of the U S Navy by Ian W Toll 2005 If By Sea by George C Daugham 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor amp oldid 1156686850, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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