Page 29 - NS-2 Textbook

22 MARITIME HISTORY

ments were running out, so the squadron had to rehun 300 were then held for ransom. Unfortunately, the
home. Tripolitans were able to free the u.s. vessel from the reef
A more powerful squadron was prepared for the she was on, and they anchored her near the glU1S of the
next year. This squadron arrived in the spring of 1802, castle.
under the command of Richard Morris. The Americans Commodore Preble's squadron arrived off Tripoli in
were able only to caphu·e one Tripolitan cruiser and de- December. Preble saw that the Philadelphia was too
stroy another. Morris's blockade of Tripoli was not effec- closely guarded to be recap hIred, but he wanted to de-
tive, and Tripoli refused to lower its price for peace. Em- stroy her so that Tripoli could not use her.
barrassed by these failures, President Jefferson ordered Lieutenant Stephen Decahlr J" vohmteered to lead a
Morris replaced by Commodore Edward Preble. raiding party into the harbor to burn the Philadelphia.
The officers serving Preble at first did not like their On 16 February 1804 Decatur and his men slipped into
conunander because he "vas very sh-ict. After seeing their the harbor in a caphrred Tripolitan ketch renamed the
leader in action, ho\vever, the officers ,vere proud to be Illtrepid. Decatur disguised himself in Maltese dress and
called "Preble's Boys." Preble was at first worried be- stood next to his vessel's Sicilian pilot. Some of his sev-
cause his officers were all younger than thirty. "They enty volunteers, also in disguise, stayed on deck, but
have given me nothing but a pack of boys!" he said. But most hid below.
the young officers' aggressive spirit and quick minds As the Illtrepid came near her target, a Tripolitan
soon won Preble's respect. guard warned the vessel to stay away. The pilot told the
When Preble arrived in Gibraltar in September 1803, guard that the Illtrepid had lost her anchors in a storm
he found that Morocco had broken its treaty with the and asked to be allowed to tie up. The guard agreed, but
United States by capturing a U.s. vessel. He quickly sent then, just as the Illtrepid was passing her lines, the guard
the Philadelphia under Captain Bainbridge and a becmne suspicious and shouted, U Americanos!"
schooner to blockade Tripoli. Then he assembled a pow- Decatur immediately ordered, "Board!" and led his
erful force in the Moroccan port of Tangier. The emperor men over the side. The few Tripolitan guards on duty in
of Morocco was impressed by Preble's display of the Philadelphia put up little fight. Several were killed,
strength, and after that he kept his treaty with the United and the rest jumped overboard. Decahll-'s men set fire to
States. the ship, and the Philadelphia was soon engulfed in
flames. TIle Americans then reboarded the Illttepid and
THE PHILADELPHIA INCIDENT returned safely to the squadron, despite being fired upon
by the Tripolitan fort and several warships.
While she was blockading Tripoli, the Philadelphia had When news of the exploit reached the United States,
run agrolmd and been captured. Her crew of more than
Decatur "vas hailed as a hero and given a captain's COtn-
lllssioll. At hventy-five he was the youngest man to
reach that rank in the short history of the u.s. Navy.

Stephen Decatur, promoted to captain at age twenty-five by Presi-
The burning of the captured frigate Philadelphia on 16 February dent Jefferson as a result of his heroism during the war with Tripoli
1804. in 1804, was the youngest to achieve this rank in u.s. naval history.