Attacks on Tripoli in 1804
In the spring of 1804 Commodore Preble obtained bomb ketches and more gunboats from Naples. Displaying his strength outside of the range of the Tripolitan defenses, Preble attempted to negotiate with Tripoli, as he had successfully with the Moroccans and at Algiers and Tunis. The Pasha remained intransigent. In August Preble directed a series of bombardments using the smaller vessels, supported from a distance by the heavy frigates under his command. A series of bombardments of the city during August and September led to the destruction of several Tripolitan gunboats, the capture of three, and only light damage to the city’s defenses.
On September 4 Preble decided to use Intrepid in a deceptive attack for a second time, packing the small vessel with gunpowder and detonating it just beneath the walls of the Pasha’s castle. One hundred barrels of gunpowder and 150 explosive shells were packed into the vessel, and slow fuses cut to a length which would allow them to burn for fifteen minutes were rigged to the magazine, allowing the crew of the vessel ample time to escape before it exploded. Obviously for an operation so fraught with risk, the men carrying it out needed to be volunteers. Throughout the squadron officers vied for the opportunity to lead the mission.
Preble selected Lieutenant Richard Somers to lead the mission, with a crew of twelve to sail the ketch into the harbor and light the fuses. Accompanying the ketch were two ship’s boats to carry the volunteers aboard Intrepid away from the floating bomb. The Americans intended to moor Intrepid among the gunboats huddled beneath the Pasha’s castle, hoping to sink as many of them as possible as well as demonstrate to Karamanli that he wasn’t safe from a direct American attack on his person. The American attack began on September 4 at eight in the evening. Shortly after, the ketch was spotted by the Tripolitan shore batteries which opened fire.
Intrepid continued to approach its planned destination under the fire of the shore batteries, with the range steadily decreasing as the ship drew nearer the castle and the gunboat moorings. Shortly after nine the gunboats joined in the bombardment, and it was evident from observers on the American ships in the harbor that Intrepid would not be able to reach its goal without capturing some of the gunboats. It was not carrying enough men to do so. Just before ten o’clock the harbor was rocked by a tremendous explosion as Intrepid blew up. There were no American survivors from either Intrepid or the boats which accompanied the ketch.
The morning revealed that several of the gunboats had been severely damaged and at least one was missing entirely. In his report Preble noted that Somers had announced that he would not be taken by the Tripolitans when he solicited volunteers for his crew, intending instead to cause as much damage as possible to the enemy at the cost of his own life. Following the loss Preble suspended offensive operations against the harbor fortifications. Less than a week later Commodore Barron arrived at Tripoli with more American frigates to assume command, and Preble returned to the United States, receiving a hero’s welcome when he reached home.