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United States naval officer (1761–1807) who commanded the USS Constitution during the First Barbary War, leading the American attacks on Tripoli. War-dated LS signed “Edward Preble,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 7 x 9, June 1, 1804. Letter to James Leander Cathcart, sent from the "United States Ship Constitution, Syracuse Harbor," as he prepares to attack Tripoli. In full: "I arrived here yesterday with the six gunboats which I mentioned in my letter from Messina and am honored with your several communications of the 17th, 18th, 22nd, and 24th of April with their enclosures. I sincerely thank you for your exertions with the Neapolitan government in the procuration of gun and mortar boats, but regret that your journey has been attended with so many unpleasant circumstances as you mentioned. The six gunboats which I have here, carry each a long French 24 powder, and I will have 40 men. The mortar boats are repairing and will be ready in three weeks. As soon as they are completed for service, I shall commence an attack on Tripoli and hope by exertion to bring the Bashaw to terms of peace honorable to the United States, for be assured, to no other terms shall I consent.
Mr. O'Brien [the Consul to Algiers] is not authorized (as you supposed) to beg or to negotiate a peace with Tripoli. That power was delegated to Col. Lear, who has delegated it to me. Mr. O'Brien came up for the purpose of affording me what assistance the knowledge he has of the Barbary language can give me, as in case of negotiation, a person who will faithfully interpret whatever I may be disposed to make known to the Bashaw is of the first consequence. This I am confident Mr. O'Brien will do, and I can assure you that you mistake that part of his character which leads you to believe he wishes us to purchase or beg a peace, as he is as anxious that we should beat them into it as I am myself.
I value the national character of my country too much to consent to a peace which the most powerful nation in Europe would blush to make. It is to be regretted that any circumstance should have deprived us of your services. I thank you for the Tripolitan Treaty and for the cypher, both of which may be useful. I shall attend to the key with you which you request, but I request you by no means to write to Captain B—, as it will create suspicion, and cause him to be ill used, and deprive him of any future correspondence. All letters to or from the prisoners are opened. The officers are all confined in one large room in the center of the Bashaw's Castle, and none of the Consuls allowed to see or speak to them. I do not allow any officer of the squadron to write to them at present, for fear of some imprudent communication. I shall attend to the enquiry and investigation of the affairs you wish me to should I land at Tripoli; and be assured, I have no doubt of your goal to serve our country on every occasion.
It will be well for you to forward the invoice of the 14 bales of clothing as soon as possible, as the Pursers cannot distribute any until it arrives. The clothing shall be attended to. The money I shall not want; you will, therefore give your orders to Mr. Degen [provisioner of supplies to the military in Italy] respecting it. I wish it was in my power to send a vessel to take you to Gibraltar, but it is not at present.
I am expecting a reinforcement of two or three frigates, but whether they arrive or not, I shall make the attempts to subdue the stubborn temper of the Bashaw. I wish you a prosperous and pleasant passage to the United States." In fine condition, with minor paper loss to the hinge affecting none of the handwriting.
The First Barbary War (1801-1805) was a conflict between the United States and the Barbary States of North Africa—Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis, and Morocco. The war stemmed from the Barbary pirates' practice of seizing American merchant ships and demanding tribute from the U.S. government to prevent attacks and the enslavement of captured seamen. Interestingly, the recipient of this letter, James Leander Cathcart, had been enslaved by Barbary captors in 1785 for a period of eleven years. During that time, he served as chief clerk to the Dey, became conversant in Arabic and Turkish, and acted as a mediator during negotiations for the 1796 Treaty of Algiers—an accord that resulted in his own freedom.
When Thomas Jefferson became president, he refused to pay the increased demands for tribute, prompting Tripoli to declare war on the United States. The U.S. Navy, still in its infancy, embarked on its first major overseas conflict, leading to significant naval battles and a notable land campaign. Preble, put in command of the Mediterranean Squadron by President Jefferson, sailed for Tripoli on August 14, 1803, establishing a blockade upon his arrival. His position toward the Bashaw—the Pasha, or leader of Tripoli—was an uncompromising one. Preble intended to secure victory, and refused any attempts at negotiation or further tributes, believing them to be a national dishonor. His tactics were brash and bold—in one instance, he sent Stephen Deactur to burn the captured USS Philadelphia in order to deprive the pirates of their prize, which had been turned against the American forces. Horatio Nelson called this operation 'the most bold and daring act of the age.'
After the burning of the Philadelphia, Preble retired his fleet to Sicily's Syracuse Harbor to prepare for a summer attack on Tripoli. For support, he asked Cathcart to procure additional ships from Naples, as he discusses at the beginning of this letter. He also informs him of plans to launch the first full-scale attack on Tripoli, designed to pound the Bashaw into submission and secure an honorable peace. The attack materialized on July 14, 1804, when Preble finally attacked Tripoli outright. Though it sparked a series of inconclusive battles, it was the precursor to ultimate victory in April-May of 1805. The war ended with a negotiated peace treaty, establishing America's commitment to defending its interests abroad and marking a significant step in the development of U.S. naval power.
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