# Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor

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

## 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."

## Battle

The US commander prepared his forces to subdue Tripoli. Preble's forces consisted of one frigate, the Constitution; the brigs Syren, Argus, and Vixen; the schooners Nautilus, Enterprise, and Scourge; two bomb vessels, and six gunboats. The total number of men was 1,060. The Tripolitans had a force of nineteen gunboats, two galleys, two schooners, a brig, 25,000 men, and 115 cannons. On August 3, after the winds had calmed down, Preble launched his assault; he dispatched six gunboats to engage the Tripolitan navy, capturing 3 gunboats and sinking 1. Decatur led the attack but lost his brother, James Decatur who received a fatal shot. The attack cost the Americans 1 killed and 13 wounded. According to Decatur, the Tripolitans suffered 60 killed and 50 captured.
On August 5, Preble negotiated with Yusuf Karamanli, offering him to pay $80,000 for the ransom of American captives and, in return, free all the Tripolitan captives. In addition, he would pay $10,000 for the Pasha as a "consular present". However, the Pasha was determined to continue the fight and would not have peace unless the Americans have paid $200,000 to $300,000.
On August 7, the winds were favorable again for another attack. On 2:30 PM, his ships were in position to bombard the city. Hours later, the Americans suffered a disastrous setback, where one of the gunboat's powder magazines was hit by a Tripolitan round, causing its destruction and the death of 10 Americans. Additionally, six Americans were wounded as well. The bombardment continued, and over 500 shells were fired into the city, but since Tripoli was built using mortar, the city did not suffer great damage.
Preble decided to postpone the attack until August 25. During this time, the Tripolitans used the American captives to repair the defenses and damages. The day of the attack began at 3:00 AM, which continued until daylight. The Americans almost used all of their ammunition and suffered 4 killed. The attack sank only 1 Tripolitan ship and almost caused the death of Bainbridge. During the attack, several shots were fired into the Corsair's quarters but without inflicting many casualties. Preble decided to resume negotiations. 42 Tripolitan prisoners in exchange for some Americans, but the Pasha once again rejected it and increased his demand for a ransom to $400,000.
This angered Preble, and on September 3, he resumed the attack, damaging several of the Corsair's batteries but failing to force the Pasha to surrender. Desperate, Preble made a plan by using a ship loaded with explosions into the harbor. Preble used the ship Intrepid for this purpose. Richard Somers volunteered to take the mission. On September 4, 8:00 AM, the ship began moving to the harbor; the Tripolitans saw this and began firing at it. The Intrepid suddenly exploded, killing all of its 13 crew members, most likely caused by Tripolitan fire.
This setback greatly discouraged Preble and his men. On September 10, Preble finally called off the attack. The whole battle cost the Americans 32 killed and 22 wounded.

## Aftermath

Although Preble failed to subdue the Pasha, his efforts earned him praise in the US and Europe. 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."