Combat· First Barbary War
Second Attack on Tripoli
On August 7, 1804, Captain Edward Preble's squadron made a second attack on Tripoli, sending gunboats, among them three newly fitted prize boats, and bomb vessels against the western batteries and the town.
The bombs threw shells while the gunboats fired on the town and batteries within point blank shot, silencing a battery of seven heavy guns except one gun in less than two hours. At half past three in the afternoon a hot shot passed through the magazine of Gunboat No. 9 and blew her up. Except Midshipman Spence of the Constitution, she was manned from the brig Syren; of her officers, seamen and Marines ten were killed and six wounded, among the dead Lieutenant James R. Caldwell and Midshipman John S. Dorsey. Midshipman Robert T. Spence and the survivors finished loading the gun before she sank. Two U.S. Marines of the Syren died in the gunboat: Sergeant Jonathan Meridith and Private Nathaniel Holmes. At half past five the boats were ordered out of action and taken in tow.
Podcast episodes on First Barbary War
Record no. 905