New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-14
NnVnl Glory,

Naval Glory.
The historic flagehip Hartford, which,
under Captain Harmony, has Just returned
from a long and eventtul cruise around the
world, brought home a number of ''curios,"
gathered in Japan, China, the East Indies
and Africa. and among them some of ex-
citing interest pertaining to q vessel that
has it's name permanently registered in the
history of the American navy. Small
though they be, worn and wasted by the
action of the elements, they represent all
that is known 10 be left OF the famous
frIgate Philadelphia, which, after various
eventful and unpleasant experiences, finally
laid away her charred skeleton in the hostile
waters of the Bay of Tripoli. A rusty look
ing, weather beaten knee of this historic
craft and few corroded bolts and spikes,
gathered by the Hartford's officers on their
recent visit TO Tripoli, and neatly boxed
pose all the relics of that noted ship. They
bring to mind her history, which was
strange one. The scenes in which the old
Philadelphia played an important part were
those that developed the heroes Of the fu-
ture war with Great Britain. 1t was in
Tripoli that the -Prebles, Decaturs, Hulls,
Bainbridges, MeDonoughs, Somers, Stew
arts, and other gallant officers, displayed
their daring gallantry and skill that gave to
the American navy world wide reputation,
and established its position in the hearts of
our people.
1t will be remembered that the Philadel-
phia frigate, thirty eight guns, under the
command of Captain Bain bridge, while
pursuing a large Trpolitan vessel, ran on a
reef of rocks off Tripoli, NJ ,nday, October
81, 1903. Her consOrt, the Enterprise, was
absent on cruise up the Mediterranean,
and the Philadelphia was alone on her
blockading station. The trigate, in strik
ing the rocks under q press of sail. ran
well up and became fixed. Captain Balm
bridge, his officers and crew, did all in their
power to extricate her from her dangerous
position. Guns, anchors, chains and such
heavy articles as could be got at, were
thrown overheard, the foremost was cut
away, the water butts started and the
water pumped out, but all in vain. The
ship was.immovable. Meanwhile fleet of
nine Tripolitan gunboats had come out and
opened fire upon the unfortunate ship, to
which she had no guns that could be
brought to bear to respond, AS she had
heeled over to port.
Night was approac hing, the weather was
threatening, and additional gunboats were
coming out to aid in a final attack, when,
upon consultation with his officers the i'm
perious duty of hauling down the flag was
left to Captain cambridge. Before this
was done the magazines were flooded, holes
were bored ia the ships bottom, pumps
were choked, and everything was done that
was thought would make sure the tiual loss
of the vessel. AT five o'clock the flag was
hauled down, and soon thereafter the
Corsair gunboats came alongside and the
barbarians swarmed over the Philsdelphia's
bulwarks and through the ship. There was
no difference between officers and men: all
plundered their victims without the slightest
mercy.
Officers we're stripped to the skin, in many
cases, and Captain cambridge had his era
vat torn from his neck, besides being
stripped of his epaulettes, buttons and
money. The Americans were taken to Tri-
poll that night, paraded before the Bashaw,
and finally consigned to building once
occupied by the United States consul,
where they passed a long and unhappy cap
tivity. Favored by good weather, and
aided by large force of gunboats and
men, the Tripolitans, after a few days Ia
Dor, got the frigats into deep water, re-
paired her, manned and mounted her guns,
regained her anchors and chains and other
heavy articles, and lowed her into the bay,
anchoring her about half a mile off the
Bashaw's castle. There she was being fitted
out for cruise, when Commodore Preble,
commanding the frigate Constitution and
squadron, learned of her loss Moorish
kstch of about fifty tons had been captured
by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, in the
schooner Enterprise, and Commodore Pre-
BILE at once determined to make use of the
prize to destroy the Philadelphia.
Decatur asked and received command of
q volunteer party, and in company with the
brig Siren, Lieutenant Charles Stewart,
afterwards cold Ironsides," started from
Syracuse, the headquarters of the go uadron,
for Tripoli. On the sixth of February they
arrived off the port, but were driven away
by gale and did not return until February
l6, the officers apd men of the ketch, now
called the Intrepid, living on an allowance
OF bread and water. On the evening of the
sixteenth of February, 1904, the Intrepid
sailed leisurely into the harhor Of Tripoii
Decaturs lieutenants were Lawrence, after
ward killed on the Chesapeake, and Balm
bridge. Thomas McDonough was one OF
the midshipmen. Her crew consisted of a
pilot and sixty-two petty officers and sea-
Pel, AND al souls numbered seventy four.
Under the, bright rays of the moon, with q
fair breezs and smooth sea, tile Intrepid
moved silently toward the. Philadelphia
All but twelve men were hidden about the
deck out of view. When hailed from the
Philadelphia the pilot responded that she
was vessel from MOROCCO, disabled by the
gale, without aechors, and desired to tie to
the Philadelphia chains. ,
Unsuspicious OF the craft, the Musselmsn
sent boat to help in towing the Intrepid
to the proper point, and in inement she
renee, cambridge and other equally gallant
men were soon streaming over the Philadel.
phia's sides on the enemy's deck. The Sur
prise was complete. After sharp encounter
the spar deck was cleared and the fighting
had become severe on the main deck. The
barbarians fought well, but were forced at
every point, many being killed or seriously
WnunAaA the haIanaa takinu IN he aka,,
The firing parties at once rushed to their
stations in the lower part of the ship, and
so effectiye were the preparations that the
party from the lower hold had barely time
TO reach the deck before the flames burst
from the ships ports. .,t ~
Decatur and his men were not on board
more than twenty minutes, but they had
done their work in the most dashing man
ner, and before the enemy had recovered
from their amazement, the intrepid was
standing out in the bay, under all sail, aid
ed by powerful sweeps. Although the shore
batteries and the enemy's gunb0ats opened
terrific tire upon the escaping craft, no
one was injured. and by the time the In
trepid was ont ofsthe harbor and Decatur
was on the 6insn to report tn Stewart HE
brilliant success, the old Philadelphia was
. mass of fames, and her broadside guns,
heated by fine flames, were firing into the
town. Soon after the masts fell, the maya
sine exploded sand nothing but the ehsrred
remsins were left of the frigate. Thus end
ed the moot Brilliant exploit in our naval
annals. subsequently, IN anchur end chain
belonging to the7 il-starred D Graft Nere
picked up BY an American msn.of-War, hut
nothing else was ever found, save frsg.
ments Of her timbers. This piece, that the
Of the histsris chip, snd VII bei carefully
Cherished m IN tia NAVY .no0 arfxnnnt a