The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 47

(_Anno Domini: The year of our Lord_) 1801. Bust of President Jefferson, facing the left.

PEACE AND FRIENDs.h.i.+P. Two hands clasped in token of amity: on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes and as many b.u.t.tons; on the other, the American eagle; above the hands, a calumet and a tomahawk crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.[72]

[Footnote 72: See INTRODUCTION, pages xxiv and xxvi.]

This medal bears no signature, but as the smaller size of the same is marked R. (_Reich_), it is presumable that both are the work of that engraver.

JOHN REICH, a native of Germany, came to America by the advice of Henry Voigt, chief coiner of the United States Mint, who on his arrival took him into his employ to make scales and other fine work.

Mr. Scott took him afterward as an a.s.sistant to make dies, but tried in vain to have him appointed by the government. Reich made the Preble and Hull medals and the Indian medals of Presidents Jefferson and Madison. He died in Albany, State of New York, in 1833.

THOMAS JEFFERSON was born at Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia, April 2, 1743. He studied at William and Mary College, Virginia, and was admitted to the bar in 1767. He was a member of the House of (p. 134) Burgesses, of Virginia, from 1769 till the Revolution; was delegate to the Continental Congress in 1775; wrote the Declaration of Independence, 1776; was governor of Virginia, 1779-1781; member of Congress, 1782; minister to France, 1785-1789; secretary of State to President Was.h.i.+ngton, 1790-1793; vice-president of the United States, 1797-1801; President (first term), 1801-1805; (second term), 1805-1809. He then retired to his estate of Monticello, in Albemarle County, Virginia, and died there, July 4, 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Independence of the United States, and on the same day with John Adams.

No. 23. (p. 135) PLATE XXIV.

_1804._

Edwardo Preble duci strenuo Comitia Americana. [Rx]. Vindici commercii Americani.

COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE.

[_Naval operations against Tripoli._]

EDWARDO PREBLE DUCI STRENUO COMITIA AMERICANA. (_The American Congress to Edward Preble, a valiant officer._) Bust of Commodore Preble, in uniform, facing the left. On edge of bust, R. (_Reich_).

VINDICI COMMERCII AMERICANI. (_To the vindicator of American commerce._) The United States fleet, commanded by Commodore Preble, is bombarding Tripoli. Exergue: ANTE TRIPOLI MDCCCIV. (_Off Tripoli, 1804_).[73]

[Footnote 73: See INTRODUCTION, pages xxiv and x.x.x.]

EDWARD PREBLE was born at Falmouth Neck, now Portland, Maine, August 15, 1761. He served as mids.h.i.+pman and lieutenant during the War of Independence, was appointed lieutenant in the navy in 1798, and commanded the brig Pickering. In 1799 he became captain, and was appointed to the Ess.e.x. Owing to ill health he was unemployed till 1803, when he was given the command of the squadron sent against Tripoli. For his skill and bravery on this expedition Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. In 1806, President Jefferson offered him the Navy Department, which he declined on account of ill health. He died in Portland, August 25, 1807.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS. (p. 136)

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Commodore Preble._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress a.s.sembled_: That the thanks of Congress be, and the same are hereby, presented to Commodore Edward Preble, and through him to the officers, seamen, and marines attached to the squadron under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct displayed in the several attacks on the town, batteries and naval force of Tripoli, in the year one thousand eight hundred and four.

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of the attacks on the town, batteries, and naval force of Tripoli, by the squadron under Commodore Preble's command, and to present it to Commodore Preble in such a manner as, in his opinion, will be most honourable to him; and that the President be further requested to cause a sword to be presented to each of the commissioned officers and mids.h.i.+pmen who have distinguished themselves in the several attacks.

_Resolved_, That one month's pay be allowed, exclusively of the common allowance, to all the petty officers, seamen, and marines, of the squadron, who so gloriously supported the honour of the American flag, under the orders of their gallant commander, in the several attacks.

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be also requested to communicate to the parents, or other near relatives, of Captain Richard Somers, Lieutenants Henry Wadsworth, James Decatur, James R. Caldwell, Joseph Israel, and Mids.h.i.+pman John Sword Dorsey, the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss of those gallant men, whose names ought to live in the recollections and affections of a grateful country, and whose conduct ought to be regarded as an example to future generations.

Approved March 3, 1805.

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_President Thomas Jefferson to Congress._

Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., February 20th, 1805.

TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES.

I communicate, for the information of Congress, a letter of September 18, from Commodore Preble, giving a detailed account of the transactions of the vessels under his command, from July the 9th to the 10th of September, last past.

The energy and judgment displayed by this excellent officer, through the whole course of the service lately confided to him, and the zeal and bravery of his officers and men in the several enterprizes executed by them, cannot fail to give high satisfaction to Congress and their country, of whom they have deserved well.

Th: JEFFERSON.

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_Commodore Preble to the Secretary of the Navy._ (p. 137)

To the Honourable SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C. United States s.h.i.+p Const.i.tution, Malta Harbour, September 18th, 1804.

Sir: I had the honour to write you from Messina, under date of the 5th of July; I then expected to have sailed the day following, but was detained, by bad weather, until the 9th, when I left it, with two small bomb vessels under convoy, and arrived at Syracuse, where we were necessarily detained four days. On the 14th I sailed, the schooners Nautilus and Enterprize in company, with six gun boats and two bomb vessels, generously loaned us by His Sicilian Majesty. The bomb vessels are about thirty tons, carry a thirteen-inch bra.s.s sea mortar, and forty men. Gun boats, twenty-five tons, carry a long iron twenty-four pounder in the bow, with a complement of thirty-five men. They are officered and manned from the squadron, excepting twelve Neapolitan bombardiers, gunners, and sailors, attached to each boat, who were s.h.i.+pped by permission of their Government. This step I found necessary, as every vessel in the squadron was considerably short of complement. The gun boats are constructed for the defence of harbours; they are flat bottomed and heavy, and do not sail or row even tolerably well. They were never intended to go to sea, and, I find, cannot be navigated with safety, unless a.s.sisted by tow ropes from larger and better sailing vessels, nor even then, in very bad weather; however, as they were the best I could obtain, I have thought it for the good of our service to employ them, particularly as the weather in July and August is generally pleasant, and, without them, my force too small to make any impression on Tripoli.

On the 16th of July we arrived at Malta, where we were detained by contrary gales until the 21st, when we left it, and arrived in sight of Tripoli the 25th, and were joined by the Syren, Argus, Vixen and Scourge. Our squadron now consisted of the Const.i.tution, three brigs, three schooners, two bombs, and six gun-boats, our whole number of men one thousand and sixty. I proceeded to make the necessary arrangements for an attack on Tripoli, a city well walled, protected by batteries judiciously constructed, mounting one hundred and fifteen pieces of heavy cannon, and defended by twenty-five thousand Arabs and Turks; the harbour protected by nineteen gun-boats, two galleys, two schooners of eight guns each, and a brig mounting ten guns, ranged in order of battle, forming a strong line of defence, at secure moorings, inside a long range of rocks and shoals, extending more than two miles to the eastward of the town, which form the harbour, protects them from the northern gales, and renders it impossible for a vessel of the Const.i.tution's draught of water to approach near enough to destroy them, as they are sheltered by the rocks, and can retire under that shelter to the sh.o.r.e, unless they choose to expose themselves in the different channels and openings of the reefs, for the purpose of annoying their enemies. Each of their gunboats mounts a heavy eighteen or twenty-six pounder in the bow, and two bra.s.s howitzers on their quarters, and carry from thirty-six to fifty men. The galleys have each one hundred men, schooners and brigs about the same number. The weather was not favourable for anchoring until the 28th, when, with the wind E. S. E., the squadron stood in (p. 138) for the coast, and at 3 P.M. anch.o.r.ed, per signal, Tripoli bearing S. two and a half miles distant. At this moment the wind s.h.i.+fted suddenly from E. S. E. to N. N. W., and from thence to N.

N. E. At 5 o'clock it blew strong, with a heavy sea, setting directly on sh.o.r.e. I made the signal to prepare to weigh. At 6, the wind and sea having considerably increased the signal was made for the squadron to weigh and gain an offing. The wind continued veering to the eastward, which favoured our gaining sea-room without being obliged to carry so great a press of sail as to lose any of our gunboats, although they were in great danger. The gale continued varying from N. E. to E. S. E. without increasing much, until the 31st, when it blew away our reefed foresail, and close-reefed main-topsail; fortunately, the sea did not rise in proportion to the strength of the gale, or we must have lost all our boats. August 1st the gale subsided, and we stood towards the coast: every preparation was made for an attack on the town and harbour. August 3d, pleasant weather, wind East; stood in with the squadron towards Tripoli. At noon we were between two or three miles from the batteries, which were all manned, and observing several of their gunboats and galleys had advanced, in two divisions, without the rocks, I determined to take advantage of their temerity. At half-past 12 I wore off sh.o.r.e, and made the signal to come within hail, when I communicated to each of the commanders my intention of attacking the enemy's s.h.i.+pping and batteries. The gun and mortar boats were immediately manned and prepared to cast off, the gunboats in two divisions of three each; the first division commanded by Captain Somers, in No. 1; Lieutenant Decatur in No. 2, and Lieutenant Blake in No. 3; the second division commanded by Captain Decatur, in No. 4, Lieutenant Bainbridge in No. 5, and Lieutenant Trippe in No. 6. The two bombards were commanded by Lieutenant-Commandant Dent, and Mr. Robinson, First Lieutenant of this s.h.i.+p. At half-past 1 o'clock, having made the necessary arrangements for the attack, wore s.h.i.+p and stood towards the batteries. At 2 signal made to cast off the boats; at a quarter-past 2 signal for bombs and gunboats to advance and attack the enemy. At half-past 2 general signal for battle. At three-quarters-past 2 the bombs commenced the action, by throwing sh.e.l.ls into the town. In an instant the enemy's s.h.i.+pping and batteries opened a tremendous fire, which was promptly returned by the whole squadron within grape-shot distance; at the same time the second division, of three gunboats, led by the gallant Captain Decatur, was advancing, with sails and oars, to board the eastern division of the enemy, consisting of nine boats. Our boats gave the enemy showers of grape and musket b.a.l.l.s as they advanced; they, however, soon closed, when the pistol, sabre, pike and tomahawk were made good use of by our brave tars. Captain Somers, being in a dull sailer, made the best use of his sweeps, but was not able to fetch far enough to windward to engage the same division of the enemy's boats which Captain Decatur fell in with; he, however, gallantly bore down with his single boat on five of the enemy's western division, and engaged within pistol shot, defeated and drove them within the rocks, in a shattered condition, and with the loss of a great number of men. Lieutenant Decatur, in No. 2, was closely engaged with one of the enemy's largest boats of the eastern division, which struck to him, after having lost a large proportion of men, and, at the instant that brave officer was boarding her to take possession, he was (p. 139) treacherously shot through the head by the captain of the boat that had surrendered, which base conduct enabled the poltroon (with the a.s.sistance he received from the other boats) to escape. The third boat of Captain Somers' division kept to windward, firing at the boats and s.h.i.+pping in the harbour; had she gone down to his a.s.sistance, it is probable several of the enemy's boats would have been captured in that quarter. Captain Decatur, in No. 4, after having, with distinguished bravery, boarded and carried one of the enemy of superior force, took his prize in tow, and gallantly bore down to engage a second, which, after a severe and b.l.o.o.d.y conflict, he also took possession of.

These two prizes had thirty-three officers and men killed, and twenty-seven made prisoners, nineteen of which were badly wounded. Lieutenant Trippe, of the Vixen, in No. 6, ran alongside of one of the enemy's large boats, which he boarded with only Mids.h.i.+pman John Henley and nine men, his boat falling off before any more could get on board; thus was he left, compelled to conquer or perish, with the odds of _thirty-six_ to _eleven_. The Turks could not withstand the ardour of this brave officer and his a.s.sistants; in a few minutes the decks were cleared, and her colours hauled down. On board of this boat fourteen of the enemy were killed, and twenty-two made prisoners, seven of which were badly wounded. The rest of their boats retreated within the rocks. Lieutenant Trippe received eleven sabre wounds, some of which are very severe; he speaks in the highest terms of Mr.

Henley, and those who followed him. Lieutenant Bainbridge, in No.

5, had his latteen yard shot away early in the action, which prevented his getting alongside the enemy's boats, but he galled them by a steady and well directed fire, within musket shot; indeed he pursued the enemy until his boat grounded under the batteries; she was, fortunately, soon got off. The bomb vessels kept their stations, although covered with the spray of the sea occasioned by the enemy's shot. They were well conducted by Lieutenants Dent and Robinson, who kept up a constant fire from the mortars, and threw a great number of sh.e.l.ls into the town.

Five of the enemy's gunboats, and two galleys, composing the centre division, and stationed within the rocks, as a reserve, joined by the boats that had been driven in, and supplied by fresh men from the sh.o.r.e to replace those they had lost, twice attempted to row out, to endeavour to surround our gunboats and their prizes: I as often made the signal to cover them, which was promptly attended to by the brigs and schooners, all of which were gallantly conducted, and annoyed the enemy exceedingly, but the fire from this s.h.i.+p kept their flotilla completely in check.

Our grape shot made great havoc among their men, not only on board their s.h.i.+pping, but on sh.o.r.e. We were several times within two cables length of the rocks, and within three of their batteries, every one of which, in succession, were silenced, so long as we could bring our broadside to bear upon them; but the moment we pa.s.sed a battery, it was re-animated, and a constant, heavy fire kept up from all that we could not point our guns at.

We suffered most when wearing or tacking; it was then I most sensibly felt the want of another frigate. At half-past four, the wind inclining to the northward, I made the signal for the bombs and gunboats to retire from action, and, immediately after, the signal to tow off the gunboats and prizes, which was handsomely executed by the brigs, schooners, and boats of the squadron, covered by a heavy fire from the Const.i.tution. At three-quarters past 4, P.M., the light vessels, gunboats, and prizes being (p. 140) out of reach of the enemy's shot, I hauled off to take the bomb vessels in tow. We were two hours under the fire of the enemy's batteries, and the only damage received in the s.h.i.+p is a twenty-four pound shot nearly through the centre of the mainmast, thirty feet from the deck; main royal yard and sail shot away; one of our quarter-deck guns damaged by a thirty-two pound shot, which, at the same time, shattered a mariner's arm; two lower shrouds and two backstays were shot away, and our sails and running rigging considerably cut. We must impute our getting off thus well to our keeping so near that they overshot us, and to the annoyance our grape shot gave them; they are, however, but wretched gunners. Gunboat No. 5 had her main yard shot away, and the rigging and sails of the brigs and schooners were considerably cut. Lieutenant Decatur was the only officer killed, but in him the service has lost a valuable officer. He was a young man who gave strong promise of being an ornament to his profession. His conduct in the action was highly honourable, and he _died n.o.bly_. The enemy must have suffered very much in killed and wounded, both among the s.h.i.+pping and on sh.o.r.e. Three of their gunboats were sunk in the harbour, several of them had their decks nearly cleared of men by our shot, and a number of sh.e.l.ls burst in the town and batteries, which must have done great execution. The officers, seamen, and marines, of the squadron behaved in the most gallant manner. The Neapolitans, in emulating the ardour of our seamen, answered my highest expectations.

I cannot but notice the active exertions and officer-like conduct of Lieutenant Gordon, and the other lieutenants of the Const.i.tution. Mr. Harriden, the master, gave me full satisfaction, as did all the officers and s.h.i.+p's company. I was much gratified with the conduct of Captain Hall and Lieutenant Greenleaf, and the marines belonging to his company, in the management of six long twenty-six pounders, on the spar-deck, which I placed under his direction. Captain Decatur speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of Lieutenant Thorn and Mids.h.i.+pman McDonough, of No. 4, as does Captain Somers of Mids.h.i.+pmen Ridgely and Miller, attached to No. 1.

Annexed is a list of killed and wounded, and, enclosed, a copy of my general orders on this occasion:

_Killed._ Gunboat No. 2: Lieutenant James Decatur.

_Wounded._ Const.i.tution: one marine; gunboat No. 4: Captain Decatur (slightly), one sergeant of marines and two seamen; gunboat No. 6: Lieutenant Trippe (severely), one boatswain's mate and two marines; gunboat No. 1: two seamen; gunboat No. 2: two seamen. Total, one killed, thirteen wounded.

_August 5._ We were at anchor with the squadron about two leagues north from the city of Tripoli; the Argus in chase of a small vessel to the westward, which she soon came up with, and brought within hail; she proved to be a French privateer, of four guns, which put into Tripoli a few days since, for water, and left it this morning. I prevailed on the captain, for a consideration, to return to Tripoli, for the purpose of landing fourteen very badly wounded Tripolitans, which I put on board his vessel, with a letter to the Prime Minister, leaving it at the option of the Bashaw to reciprocate this generous mode of conducting the war.

The sending these unfortunate men on sh.o.r.e, to be taken care of by their friends, was an act of humanity on our part, which (p. 141) I hope will make a proper impression on the minds of the barbarians, but I doubt it. All hands were busily employed in altering the rig of the three prizes from latteen vessels to sloops, and preparing for a second attack. Observed one of the enemy's schooners and the brig (two corsairs in the harbour) to be dismasted; was informed by the French captain that the damage these vessels received in the action of the 3d had occasioned their masts being taken out.

_August 7th._ The French privateer came out, and brought me a letter from the French Consul, in which he observes, that our attack of the 3d instant has disposed the Bashaw to accept of reasonable terms, and invited me to send a boat to the rocks with a flag of truce, which was declined, as the white flag was not hoisted at the Bashaw's castle. At 9 A.M., with a very light breeze from the eastward, and a strong current which obliged the Const.i.tution to remain at anchor, I made the signal for the light vessels to weigh, and the gun and bomb boats to cast off, and stand in sh.o.r.e toward the western batteries; the prize boats having been completely fitted for service, and the command of them given to Lieutenants Crane, of the Vixen, Thorn, of the Enterprize, and Caldwell, of the Syren, the whole advanced with sails and oars. The orders were for the bombs to take a position in a small bay to the westward of the city, where but few of the enemy's guns could be brought to bear on them, but from whence they could annoy the town with sh.e.l.ls; the gunboats to silence a battery of seven heavy guns which guarded the approach to that position, and the brigs and schooners to support them, in case the enemy's flotilla should venture out. At half-past one P.M., a breeze from N. N. E., I weighed with the Const.i.tution and stood in for the town; but the wind being on sh.o.r.e, made it imprudent to engage the batteries with the s.h.i.+p, as, in case of a mast being shot away, the loss of the vessel would probably ensue, unless a change of wind should favour our getting off. At half-past two P.M., the bomb and gun boats having gained their station, the signal was made for them to attack the town and batteries. Our bombs immediately commenced throwing sh.e.l.ls, and the gunboats opened a sharp and well directed fire on the town and batteries, within point blank shot, which was warmly returned by the enemy. The seven gun battery, in less than two hours, was silenced, except one gun; I presume the others were dismounted by our shot, as the walls were almost totally destroyed. At a quarter-past three P.M., a s.h.i.+p hove in sight to the northward, standing for the town; made the Argus signal to chase. At half-past three, one of our prize gunboats was blown up by hot shot from the enemy, which pa.s.sed through her magazine: she had on board twenty-eight officers, seamen, and marines, ten of whom were killed, and six wounded; among the killed were James R.

Caldwell, First Lieutenant of the Syren, and Mids.h.i.+pman John S.

Dorsey, both excellent officers; Mids.h.i.+pman Spence and eleven men were taken up unhurt. Captain Decatur, whose division this boat belonged to, and who was near at the time she blew up, reports to me that Mr. Spence was superintending the loading of the gun at that moment, and, notwithstanding the boat was sinking, he and the brave fellows surviving, finished charging, gave three cheers as the boat went from under them, and swam to the nearest boats, where they a.s.sisted during the remainder of the action. The enemy's gunboats and galleys (fifteen in number) were all in motion close under the batteries, and appeared to meditate an attack on our boats; the Const.i.tution, Nautilus, and Enterprize, were to windward, ready, at every hazard, to cut them off (p. 142) from the harbour, if they should venture down; while the Syren and Vixen were near our boats, to support and cover any that might be disabled. The enemy thought it most prudent, however, to retire to their snug retreat behind the rocks, after firing a few shot. Our boats, in two divisions, under Captains Somers and Decatur, were well conducted, as were our bomb vessels, by Lieutenants Dent and Robinson. The town must have suffered much from this attack, and their batteries, particularly the seven gun battery, must have lost many men. At half-past five P.M., the wind began to freshen from the N. N. E., I made the signal for the gun and bomb boats to retire from action, and for the vessels to which they were attached to take them in tow. The Argus made signal that the strange sail was a friend.

In this day's action No. 4 had a twenty-four pound shot through her hull; No. 6 her latteen yard shot away; No. 8 a twenty-four pound shot through her hull, which killed two men; some of the other boats had their rigging and sails considerably cut. We threw forty-eight sh.e.l.ls, and about five hundred twenty-four pound shot into the town and batteries. All the officers and men engaged in the action behaved with the utmost intrepidity. At half-past six all the boats were in tow, and the squadron standing to the northwest. At eight, the John Adams, Captain Chauncey, from the United States, joined company. At nine the squadron anch.o.r.ed, Tripoli bearing southeast, five miles distant.