Preble, Edward (1761-1807) to General Forteguerra re: extract of letter requesting loan of gunboats
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02794.062 Author/Creator: Preble, Edward (1761-1807) Place Written: [s.l.] Type: Letter Date: 1804/12/15 Pagination: 1 p. + docket 33 x 20 cm Order a Copy
"In consequence of the situation of the City & harbour of Tripoli it is necessary, in order to carry on our operations against that Regency with the greatest effect, that we should have Bomb-vessels & Gun-boats."
In consequence of the situation of the City & harbour of Tripoli it is necessary, in order to carry on our operations against that Regency with the greater effect, that we should have Bomb-vessels & Gun-boats, and as they cannot with safety be navigated across the Atlantic, Commodore Barron my successor in the command of the American Squadron employ'd against Tripoli, has therefore requested me, in the name of the United States, to solicit his Majesty the King of the Sicilies [sic], for the further assistance of that description of vessels. Should his Majesty be please to grant our request, Commodore Barron will want 12 Gun-boats & 6 bomb-vessels, to be ready for service by the 1st of May next & the Bomb-vessels to be furnished with Mortars & Shells, and the Gun-boats with their proper Cannon, small arms & shot suitable for the Calibre of the Cannon, as we have none of that calibre. Commodore Barron will furnish all the boats with Masts, spars, rigging & sails to be fitted out as Cutters, and will, if agreeable to his Majesty, take into our service fifteen Neapolitans for each boat, who shall receive double pay.
The United States will compensate for the expenditure of ammunition, and for the use of the boats in any way that his Majesty shall think proper.
The Neapolitans employed in the Gun-boats & Bomb-vessels last Summer have been all paid & satisfied at Messina, and I request to be made acquainted how, or in what manner we are to compensate for the expenditure of ammunition on board the boats, during our last operations against Tripoli.
Your Excellency will greatly oblige, by endeavouring to procure me an answer as early as possible, that I may be able to leave this bay, as/for want of anchors/the situation in our Frigate would be rather unsafe in a heavy gale of wind.
I have the honor to be
Yours-
/Signed/ E Preble
[docket]
Extract of Comm'd. Preble's
Letter to Genl. Fortguerra
Requesting load of
Gun-boats &c.-
Dated Decbr 15th. 1804
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.