A TRIPOLITAN WAR RECORD
Letter dated November 12, 1804, written by Midshipman Robert T. Spence, U.S.N.; with introductory note by Professor Allan Westcott, U.S. Naval Academy.
The highly interesting personal letter which follows, narrating events in the war between the United States and Tripoli, was found recently among family papers by descendants of the author, Midshipman (later Captain) Robert Traill Spence, U.S.N. Spence was commissioned midshipman in 1800, and was one of Commodore Preble's "schoolboys" in the Mediterranean Squadron during the lively campaign of 1804. His father, Keith Spence, was a Portsmouth (N.H.) merchant who had been purser in the captured U.S.S. Philadelphia, and was at this time a prisoner of the Bashaw.
The younger Spence's gallantry in the second gunboat action off Tripoli, August 7, 1804, won him his promotion, as stated in his letter, and has come down in history. He was in Gunboat No. 8, (one of those captured four days before), which blew up with the loss of her commander. Lieutenant Caldwell, and fifteen others out of a total complement of twenty-four. Fenimore Cooper, describing the affair in his Naval History of the United States says: "When the smoke cleared away all the after part of the boat was under water, while Mr. Robert T. Spence, of the Siren, and eleven men were forward, loading the long 26-pounder that formed her armament. This gun was loaded, and fired, and its gallant crew gave three cheers, as their vessel sank beneath them. Mr. Spence, who could not swim, saved himself by an oar…"
From a historical standpoint, the letter has an interest also in that it throws some light on the mystery as to the exact circumstances attending the loss of the famous Intrepid, which Spence here speaks of as an "Infernal," sent into the harbor of Tripoli on September 4, 1804, under Lieutenant Richard Somers. The vessel blew up with the loss of all on board. Commodore Preble, in reporting the results of the disaster, says in part: "One of the enemy's largest gunboats was missing, and three others were seen very much shattered and damaged, which the enemy were hauling on shore. From these circumstances, I am led to believe that the boats were detached from the enemy's flotilla to intercept the ketch, without suspecting her to be a fireship. The boat afterward missing suddenly boarded her. The gallant Somers and the heroes of his party, observing the other three boats surrounding them, and no prospect of escape from them…put a match to the train leading directly to the magazine, which at once blew the whole into the air, and terminated their existence." Evidently this report, which was written soon after the affair, was not based on any information from the shore.
Cooper in his history states that it was the general belief in the squadron that the Intrepid was boarded; but he himself inclines rather to the opinion that the explosion was accidental and not due to an actual attack. In proof he calls attention to the report of only thirteen bodies recovered, and to the entry in the diary of Captain Bainbridge (then a captive), "Was informed that the explosion that we heard last night…did no damage whatever to the Tripolitans."
Spence's story, it will be seen, is much more definite. He says the Intrepid was "within the rocks and only one-half mile distant from the Bashaws Castle," that she was "boarded by two Gunboats, fifty men each," and that "she went up, sending 100 Turks and fifteen Christian souls to eternity." His estimate of the Turks killed is no doubt based on his knowledge of the customary crews of the Turkish boats. His account differs in other details from Preble's, the latter giving the complement of the Intrepid as only thirteen, and her load of explosives as only "about 100 barrels of gunpowder and 150 fixed shells."
Although he speaks of "information from Tripoli," Spence's version may reflect merely the common belief in the fleet. It is noteworthy, however, that he is corroborated by the American ex-Consul at Tunis, William Eaton, who "a few months later met a Turk in Egypt who had been in Tripoli at the time of the explosion, and who affirmed that the Intrepid blew up 'after having been boarded by two row galleys.'"
Of Spence's later career in the service, it may be noted that he rose to the rank of captain in 1812; was highly commended by Commodore Rogers for his promptness and ingenuity in laying obstacles in the way of the British Fleet off Baltimore in September, 1814; was active against piracy in 1822 as senior naval officer in the West Indies; and built the first fort at Mesurado, in Liberia. He married Mary Carroll, daughter of Nicholas Carroll of Maryland, and died at his home near Baltimore, September 26, 1826.
The letter which follows is addressed to "Mrs. Keith Spence, Portsmouth, New Hampshire." As printed it preserves the original punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
Gibraltar, November 12, 1804
Dear Honoured and Respected Mother:
I wrote you from Malta, on the 6th ultimo, mentioning the late change thats taken place in my situation; and advis'd you of our intention to leave that place for a few days. On our arrival we found the Essex Frigate which ship I intend joining. Capt Stephen Decatur is to succeed Capt Barron, in the Command of her. This Capt Decatur is a friend of my Father's no doubt you have heard of him by fame; he Commanded the expedition in burning the Philadelphia & for which he was promoted to a post Captain although greatly out of his turn—He since has done an action, which by far exceeds the brilliancy of that; it perhaps for intrepidity & Courage equals any thing ever done; In the Action of the 3 of August he entered with his division of Gun Boats (which was only 3) the Harbour of Tripoli under the fire of 60 pieces of heavy Cannon from the Batteries & 20 pieces from their Gun Boats—boarded, himself, & brought out 2, Mounting each superior forces & carrying a greater number of men. A Circumstance were you present to see it done you could hardly conceive it credible. In this affair he lost his brothers Lieut James Decatur, who Commanded a boat of his brothers division he was shot through the head with a Dundebuss in the Act of boarding a boat—One boat more was brought out by a Lieut Tripp who received 11 dangerous wounds in boarding (he's recovered of them). The Capt of this boat died in the most Heroic Manner. Although cut all to pieces by the Assailants swords he continued to fight ; Lieut Tripp, who encounter'd him, was almost falling with weakness from the loss of Blood; when one of his sailors run him through with a Boarding Pike. He died brandishing his Sword & exhorting his men to revenge the death of their Commander. The Contest was long, 20 Turks lay weltering in their Gore, before they surrenderd to the Americans. Out of 170 men, which man'd the Boats, 50 only were captured alive. The day following we brought too a French privateer & sent her in with 25 woonded Turks; they were past recovery. The next Action, the Boat I was in. Commanded by Lieut Caldwell, was Blown up. The Lieut, with a midshipman and 14 men, out 24, were kill'd. I, astonishing to relate, & 6 men escaped. 4 of the men in so wounded a condition that their lives, at first, were despair'd of. It was my Conduct on this occasion that got me my Promotion. I, at the time the shot struck, was forward, taking sight at the Gun; though not a minute before I had been aft, assisting in binding up the woonded It being a red hot shot, she instantly exploded; I went up some distance in the air, & lighted by the Gun again; the only part remaining was that on which the Gun stood. I found by my side, one man only. Around me lay arms, legs, & trunks of Bodies, in the most mutilated state; though a little confused & bewilder'd by things tumbling on my head, & by the prospect of death before me; for I cannot swim, I had presence of mind sufficient to know my duty, & not to quitt while there was a part remaining. I fired the Gun, & loaded her again. When she went down from under me I gave a cheer and went down—came up again; when I was taken up by one of the other Gun Boats—I cannot describe my sensations, on this meloncholy Occassion—I felt as though I wish'd to die, because I should die Nobly—This accident will distress my Father much, as Mr. Caldwell he look'd on as a Son, & loved him equally as well as he does me; in fact I never knew so pure, and so strong a friendship to subsist between any two men. He certainly was the most honourable little fellow I ever knew, & the most respected of any young man in the Navy—My Father in a letter from Washington to me says thus, "Remember me to my oldest of all Modern Friends Mr. Caldwell." You may judge from this language how fond he was of him. Young Dorsey was a man of great Merit & highly esteem'd by me. I saw Mr. C. after he came down, without arms, or legs; his face so mutilated that I could not discriminate a feature—by his dress only, I recognized him; he was not dead although he sank instantly—I made another escape as astonishing as this. I made application, as well as Capt Stew't for me, to go in to the Harbour of Tripoli, in an Infernal, containing 150 Barrels of Powder & 300 shells, for the purpose of blowing the Bashaws Castle up; this expedition was Commanded by Capt Sumers— I received no direct answer, from the Commodore. & of course, expected to go; but a favorite of the Commodores, persuaded him, to allow him to go. Capt Decatur then made Application for me; But the Commodore reply'd he had already selected the officer, that was to go with Capt Sumers; the Night came—She went in, all were anxious with expectation when Cannon announced her near approach to the Castle. Cannon were fired from all parts of the town. In a few moments she went up—How awfully Grand! Every thing wrapp'd in Dead silence, made the explosion loud, and terrible, the fuses of the shells, burning in the air, shone like so many planets, a vast stream of fire, which appear'd ascending to heaven portrayed the Walls to our view 20 minutes elapsed, without seeing the signal agreed on, between Capt S & the Commodore. Guns were fir'd from the Commodores ship; signals repeated by the different vessels—our small schooners sent to reconnoiter the Harbour—but no Boat appear'd. Poor Sumers a Lieut & a midshipman were gone, no more to return! We conjectured the explosion to have been premature; it has since been confirm'd by information from Tripoli. He was within the Rocks, & only ½ mile distant from the Bashaws Castle, when he was boarded by two Gun Boats, 50 men each,—He might have escap'd; but he started with a determination never to let so seasonable a supply fall into their Hands; & never to return alive unless he had, satisfactorily, executed his mission. He touched fire himself to match & she went up, sending 100 Turks and 15 Christians souls to eternity. What a Noble Death, & truly characteristic of that Noble Sumers. He certainly was an extraordinary man. He united every thing that made the man, or the officer—possessing more firmness & determination than any man I ever saw—sought danger in every shape—dangerous undertakings were the most pleasing ones to him. In loosing him we were deprived of one of the Navys most valuable officers. The Lieut with him was a schoolmate of William's his name was Wadsworth, of Portland.
Much will be done the ensuing Summer. Our force will be formidable. I shall expect the command of a Gun Boat. I hope an opportunity may offer that I may do something conspicuous. It's impossible to conceive that spirit of emulation which prevails among officers & men; danger is sought for, & the most daring intrepidity has been discover'd, in officers. Commodore P. has been succeeded by Commodore Barron, a senior officer; But in the most delicate manner. The letters from the President, to him, are of the most flattering kind, pointing out the necessity of this Act. He returns to America soon, to receive the grateful applause of his Countrymen. He certainly deserves all the Honours they can pay him, & more too. His conduct in Bombarding Tripoli with so pitiful force has astonished all Europe.
Your affec son.
R. T. Spence.