8 Portland, Maine, Press Herald, Thursday, July 29, 1965 Blue Water Men - And Women - 192 Mainer Gets Command In Mediterranean Area By FRED HUMISTON Now a captain in the United States Navy, Edward Preble of Portland, Maine, had consider- able action behind him. Howev- er, with his new frigate "Es- sex" on convoy duty, which was performed successfully, Preble came down with the same fever that laid low eight of his men. While he was convalescing, or- ders came from Washington to fit "Essex" for sea again as part of a squadron of three sail- ing to give the Barbaray pirates their come-uppance. Truxtun, that fabulous hero, was in com- mand. Despite his health, Preble in- sisted on carrying out his or- ders, but by the time the fri- gate was ready to sail, he was forced to ask to be relieved. He was granted a leave, promptly bought a house in Norfolk, mar- ried a Maine heiress named Commodore Margaret Deering and then set- tled down to combine a honey- Richard Dale moon with his recovery. Truxtun, a good man and Some men are born fail- hero of the French war, knew ures; some achieve it; his rights and was sensitive to some have it thrust upon the least slight. A commodore should not sail his own ship; he them. After placing 45- should have a flag captain, and year-old Commodore Dale by chowder, he, Truxtun, would in a difficult position, his have one. situation was rendered im- TO THE MEN in power, this possible by the imposition attitude smacked of aristocratic of restrictions that pre- leanings, not at all suitable for cluded success. (Chrispix a republican navy. Truxtun's le- quest was refused rather abrupt- Archive) ly and Truxtun immediately re- signed. was badly damaged by an ex- He was replaced and Richard plosion and he handled his Dale, an old man who had squadron so poorly, that the pi- been a lieutenant under Joh n rates had it made for the rest Paul Jones, took the squadron of the summer, chasing Ameri- to the Mediterranean. He set up can merchantmen in all direc- a partial blockade of Tripoli, the tions and tossing the crews they leading miscreant state, Aut Jit- didn't kill outright, into slave tle was accomplished. labor. A year later Capt. Richard V. The Navy Department ordered Morris took out a squadron of the Commodore home and after three heavy frigates and two a board of inquiry, dismissed light ones. One of his vessels him from the service. This was harsh justice, for whatever crime was committed was simply one of error. But the country and the Navy itself sur- mised that something was de- cidedly wrong with the whole service structure. Shock treat- ment was needed, SO poor Mor- ris was thrown to the wolves. There was a like incident in the early days of the Civil War, in the northern service. Yes, something was wrong, but nobody knew just what, or what measures could be taken to improve conditions. The fact that the Navy had been reduced to a peace establishment hadn't helped any. Officers had been let go in wholesale lots and salaries had been cut, with no longer prospect of prize-money Morale was at an all time low. ONLY NINE CAPTAINS were retained, and Edward Preble of Portland was one. Even he had without success