lue Water Men - And Women - 197 Preble Launches Attack On Pirate Stronghold By FRED HUMISTON The success of the project hen young Stephen Decatur was surprise, he said, and the ned of the projected cut- little schooner would surely be out expedition into Tripoli recognized as an American, bor from his commander, even at night. The squadron modore Preble, of Portland, did, however, have a ketch, re- ne, he immediately asked cently captured from the pi- the dangerous task of des- rates. She would be just the ing the captured American ticket. ate "Philadelphia." Renamed the "Intrepid" and ogether the Lieutenant and crowded with 74 eager volun- spring, and two mortar vessels Commodore worked out the teers, principally crewmen of All were in bad repair, bu ils of the plan, which car- the "Enterprise," everything Preble took care of that. Ye Preble back to his own went according to plan. The the reinforcements did no h and the taking of a Brit- "Philadelphia" was boarded and come. Preble determined to at warcraft in Castine harbor. burned where she lay, an as- tack without them "Having n atur was given the com- tounding story in itself. vessel in the Squadron except d of the expedition, and he ing this ship "Constitution ted to use his own "Lucky THE FRIGATE'S destruction whose cannon can make any erprise, 12", but Preble said took a great load off Commo- Impression on the Bashaw's o that, dore Preble's mind, for properly Walls, I expect we may suffe: commissioned in pirate hands, much." she might have wrecked havoc in the American squadron. THAT POSSIBILITY didn' Preble's nature was as eager bother the stern-faced old mar and active as Decatur's. In- from Maine overmuch, nor did stead of now devoting his time it his eager young lieutenants to the blockade. he planned a and midshipmen. Nor did he new and large scale attack, one slacken during the waiting that would settle the matter Burning Of The 'Philadelphia' period the iron discipline with for all time. He wrote about it which he controlled those live- to Washington: he intends to During the melee following the surprise boarding ly spirits. borrow light-draft gunboats and of the captured frigate "Philadelphia," Decatur, in In late July of 1804 the mortar craft from the King of squadron sailed, and on the 28th the Two Sicilies. A close-in as- danger from a sword blow aimed at him by a Turk, is was before Tripoli. The mortars sault is the plan, and he needs saved by a sailor's interposing his own arm to receive threw shells into the town, but 100 barrels of powder at once, the blow. (Chrispix Archive) the action was broken off be- "for he intends to blow up the cause a freshening onshore wind Bashaw's works the of oversight neglected to murder made it too dangerous to stay While he was on the subject, American consul at Tunis, one Hamet was his name and he On August 3 it died down and Edward Preble wrote, there was William Eaton. claimed to be the rightful ruler the squadron moved in to the another closely related project. The Bashaw, it seems, had a of Tripoli, Eaton claimed, and attack once more. This was a scheme put forward brother, one he had by some Preble agreed with him, that Due to the geography of the even the present American place it would not be an easy squadron had force enough to task. Added to that, it had a place Hamet in power over the strong defense; besides the secondary cities of Derna and Castle and outworks was a large Benghazi. This would place an fort, supported by the guns of enemy in the Bashaw's rear. the pirate fleet. Six gunboats came with the (To Be Continued)