Jefferson's War

by Joseph Wheelan

  72. “Then Knox also made”: Hagan, pp. 32-3.

  72. “Finally, he had insisted”: Fowler, pp. 24-5.

  73. “The Constitution, ‘Old Ironsides’”: Tucker, pp. 82-7.

  73. “The unlucky Chesapeake”: David S. and Jeanne T. Heidler, ed., Encyclopedia of the War of 1812 (Santa Barbara, Denver, Oxford: ABC-CLIO, 1997), p. 296.

  73. “Not able to afford”: Hagan, p. 34.

  74. “The carronade was”: Tucker, p. 84.

  74. “Copper bottoms repelled”: Ibid., p. 33.

  74. “The British Royal Navy”: William N. Fowler, Jr., Rebels Under Sail: The American Navy During the Revolution (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1976), pp. 253—4.

  74. “The 44-gun super frigates”: Fowler, Jack Tars, pp. 127—30.

  74. “Each day, they stood”: Ibid., pp. 133—6.

  75. “Quitting watch before relief”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, pp. 482—3.

  75. “David Humphreys and Joel Barlow”: Tucker, 91-4.

  75. “The dey opened”: Michael L. S. Kitzen, Tripoli and the United States at War: A History of American Relations with the Barbary States, 1785-1805 (Jefferson, N.C., London: McFarland & Company Inc., 1993), p. 19; Tucker, p. 91.

  76. “The Fortune was”: Foss, p. 66.

  76. “the British replied”: Kitzen, pp. 21—2.

  76. “On top of everything”: Allen, p. 53.

  77. “A Spanish privateer”: Foss, pp. 66—70.

  Chapter V: “Will Nothing Rouse My Country?”

  78. “The Senate ratified”: Hagan, pp. 36—7.

  78. “Another reason for”: Robert J. Allison, The Crescent Obscured: The United States and the Muslim World, 1776—1815 (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), p. 23.

  79. “Knowing that the Republicans”: Hagan, p. 37.

  80. “In just one year”: Ibid., p. 30.

  80. “A naval power‘”: Ibid., pp. 38—9.

  80. “The French envoys”: Carruth, p. 172.

  81. “Pinckney’s forceful reply”: Hagan, p. 40.

  81. “a French privateer”: Tucker, p. 88.

  81. “Congress created a”: Hagan, pp. 41—3; Fowler, Jack Tars, p. 36; Moskin, p. 27.

  82. “During the Revolutionary War”: Moskin, p. 33.

  82. “Congress amended the”: Schachner, p. 602.

  82. “Then came the Sedition”: Carruth, pp. 173—4.

  83. “The 20-gun Montezuma”: Fowler, Jack Tars, pp. 36—7.

  83. “Two squadrons cruised”: Ibid., p. 39.

  84. “In the Leeward Islands”: Fowler, pp. 44—5.

  84. “In February 1800”: Ibid., pp. 54—7.

  84. “France captured 159”: Ibid., p. 52.

  85. “The Navy had 33 ships”: Ibid., p. 43.

  85. “‘He was like’”: Samuel Edwards, Barbary General: The Life of William Eaton (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1968), pp. 68—9.

  85. “O‘Brien had arrived:” Allen, p. 21; Whipple, pp. 52—3.

  86. “Bobba surely was cheered”: Tucker, p. 110.

  86. “Bobba, however, was”: Tucker, pp. 102—3.

  86. “Betsy Robeson, the twenty-year-old”: Kitzen, pp. 25—7.

  87. “Described in later years”: Tucker, p. 24.

  87. “He said later in”: Whipple, p. 177.

  88. “‘He endured fatigue’”: Tucker, pp. 247—8.

  88. “Wayne assigned Eaton”: Edwards, pp. 27—39.

  89. “Eaton trapped and arrested”: Ibid., pp. 52—3.

  90. “Eaton raised the”: Tucker, p. 113.

  91. “‘Not much shall be feared’”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 317.

  92. “Snatching a whip”: Edwards, p. 76.

  92. “The articulate Eaton”: Tucker, p. 115.

  92. “The bey sent away Famin”: Edwards, p. 76.

  92. “O‘Brien and Cathcart”: Allison, p. 185.

  92. “‘The United States set out’”: Wright and Macleod, p. 41.

  92. “Congress must ‘send a’”: Ibid., p. 47.

  93. “Bobba Mustapha expected”: Edwards, p. 63.

  93. “‘I don’t pray often’”: Wright and Macleod, p. 45.

  93. “The shadow fell on Denmark”: Ibid., pp. 66—7.

  93. “Eaton came to”: Allen, p. 71.

  93. “But the Danes got”: Wright and Macleod, pp. 66—7.

  94. “At Cathcart’s first meeting”: Tucker, p. 118.

  94. “McDonough bargained the bashaw”: Ibid., pp. 124—5.

  94. “Cathcart paid, borrowing”: Allison, p. 169.

  94. “O‘Brien and Eaton wisely”: Ibid., pp. 170—2.

  95. “In a letter to President Adams”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, pp. 322—3.

  95. “In July 1800”: Ibid., p. 372.

  95. “But in unmistakable language”: Ibid., pp. 394—5.

  96. “The George Washington’s cargo”: Allison, p. 175.

  97. “Besides its 130 crewmen”: Allen, pp. 75—80.

  97. “The Americans took pleasure”: Ibid.

  98. “Throughout the meal”: Tucker, pp. 34—5.

  98. “Two months after leaving”: Allen, pp. 75—80.

  98. “‘The sending to Constantinople’”: Hagan, pp. 55.

  98. “‘I would have lost”’: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 398.

  99. “Tunis’s bey, Hamouda Pacha,”: Ibid.

  99. “‘He seldom robs’”: Ibid., p. 431.

  99. “Bainbridge returned to the”: Wright and Macleod, p. 61.

  99. “‘He was a large’”: Edwards, p. 84.

  100. “One of Bobba’s officers”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 411.

  100. “Sweden had agreed”: Ibid., p. 404.

  100. “‘I have every reason’”: Ibid., p. 420.

  101. “Consuls and agents”: Papers of James Madison, pp. 3—5.

  Chapter VI: War and Early Triumph

  102. “The bashaw set the”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 420.

  102. “In two years”: Kola Folayan, Tripoli During the Reign of Yusuf Pasha Qaramanli (Ile-Ife, Nigeria: University of Ife Press, 1979), p. 27.

  103. “America’s $60,000 treaty”: Ibid., p. 29.

  103. “More aggravating than”: Ibid., pp. 33—4.

  104. “In letters to”: Ibid., p. 35.

  104. “‘If the United States”’: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 430.

  104. “‘.. . it would strike’”: Papers of James Madison, p. 92.

  105. “But the fact was”: Jefferson Notes on Cabinet Meetings, The Thomas Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress, May—June 1801.

  105. “Off Sicily, Tunisian pirates”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 479.

  106. “The squadron was to”: Ibid., p. 463.

  106. “‘It is hopeful that’”: Papers of James Madison, pp. 199—200.

  107. “Moslem absolutism, the literature”: Allison, p. 37, pp. 48-9.

  107. “Moreover, Europeans believed”: Ibid., pp. 61—4.

  108. “‘One great object”’: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 463.

  108. “The cruise, Madison said”: Papers of James Madison, p. 209.

  108. “Sterrett was said”: Alexander Laing, American Sail: A Pictorial History (New York: Dutton, 1961), p. 42; Tucker, p. 142.

  109. “Even while readying”: Schachner, p. 688.

  109. “The Reduction Act also”: Fowler, Jack Tars, p. 60.

  110. “Truxtun, however, wanted”: Ibid., pp. 65—6.

  110. “The three-year delay”: Jefferson letter to Congressman Wilson Cary Nicholas, June 11, 1801, Jefferson. Papers at the Library of Congress.

  111. “From the quarterdeck”: Tucker, pp. 133—4; Edwards, p. 97.

  111. “Already friction had”: Whipple, p. 74.

  112. “Dale gave Sterrett”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 497.

  112. “Three days after Sterrett‘s”: Ibid., p. 501.

  112. “Murad Reis was actually”: Tucker, pp. 121-2.

  113. “The
American flag”: Wright and Macleod, p. 89.

  113. “No, he told Dale”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 501.

  113. “Dale gave Bobba Mustapha”: Papers of James Madison, p. 213.

  114. “‘The squadron under my”’: Naval Documents, vol. 1, pp. 531-3.

  114. “‘The shore along’”: Ibid., p. 587.

  115. “Flowering hibiscus, olives”: Tucker, pp. 221—4

  115. “Hamet the Great”: Ibid., pp. 225—8.

  116. “He led a revolt”: Folayan, pp. 17-20.

  117. “When Hamet returned”: Tucker, pp. 225—8.

  117. “Eaton sent a circular”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 528.

  117. “Murad unbent his”: Ibid, pp. 541-2.

  117. “Murad, happily rid of”: Tucker, p. 147.

  118. “Commodore Richard Dale’s first”: Ibid., pp. 546—7.

  118. “The furious bashaw”: Donald Barr Chidsey, The Wars in Barbary: Arab Piracy and the Birth of the United States Navy (New York: Crown Publishers Inc., 1971),

  p. 76; Naval Documents, vol. 1, p. 539 (National Intelligencer).

  119. “Sterrett was awarded”: Naval Documents, vol. 1, pp. 539—40.

  119. “The victory inspired a play”: Allison, p. 187.

  119. “In a congratulatory letter”: Christopher McKee, Edward Preble, A Naval Biography, 1761—1807 (Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1972), pp. 91—2.

  120. “Sterrett’s promotion, however”: Jefferson Presidential Papers, Microfilm, Reel 33.

  Chapter VII: The War That Wasn’t

  121. “Dale perversely interpreted”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 54.

  122. “The Essex convoyed”: Ibid.

  122. “Dale complained there”: Ibid., vol. 1, p. 553, 560.

  122. “‘I don’t expect”’: Ibid., vol. 1, pp. 603—4.

  122. “As early as August”: Ibid., p. 560.

  123. “‘There never was’”: Ibid., pp. 610—11.

  123. “En route to Toulon”: Ibid., p. 620.

  123. “He sailed from Malaga”: Ibid., vol. 2, pp. 27, 44.

  124. “But before his recall”: Ibid., pp. 142—3.

  124. “Thinking ahead to when”: Ibid., vol. 1, pp. 565—6.

  125. “Richard Valentine Morris”: Tucker, pp. 153—4.

  125. “Navy Secretary Smith”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 103.

  126. “Smith disliked ultimatums”: Ibid., p. 76—83.

  126. “The bashaw was sending”: Ibid., p. 66.

  126. “Algiers had sent twelve”: Ibid., pp. 155, 173.

  127. “‘I never was at Sea’”: Ibid., pp. 161—2.

  127. “‘Holding out the’”: Ibid., p. 130.

  128. “Soliman now announced”: Ibid., pp. 179—83.

  128. “He invited Simpson”: Ibid., p. 276.

  129. “Morris put a watch”: Ibid., pp. 275—6, 280.

  129. “Handwritten letters and”: Tuchman, p. 7.

  129. “The Navy Department sent”: Ibid., p. 136.

  129. “Belying his unyielding”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 309.

  130. “Congress, which supported”: Schachner, pp. 711—2.

  130. “Two corsairs had slipped”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 176.

  130. “Firing cannon salutes”: Ibid., pp. 176, 201.

  131. “Eaton tried to open”: Ibid., p. 201.

  131. “On October 11”: Ibid., pp. 279, 288.

  131. “Richard O‘Brien, the U.S.”: Ibid., p. 349.

  131. “‘Let me at this time”’: Ibid., p. 232.

  132. “It was so late”: Ibid., pp. 296—7.

  132. “Morris confided to Cathcart”: Ibid., p. 291.

  132. “O‘Brien had learned”: Ibid., p. 289.

  132. “‘This year has proved’”: Ibid., p. 213.

  132. “Sweden made peace”: Ibid., pp. 305—6.

  133. “Young Wadsworth thought”: Ibid., pp. 273—4.

  133. “The forecastle captain’s wife”: Ibid., p. 387.

  133. “It was so widespread”: Whipple, p. 309.

  133. “Lawson, who had never”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, pp. 293—5.

  134. “He displayed his”: Ibid., pp. 293-95, 299.

  135. “Carmick was returning”: Ibid., p. 300.

  135. “‘Yesterday we left Livonine’”: Ibid., p. 310.

  135. “Cochran tried to pick”: Ibid., p. 362; Whipple, p. 90.

  136. “Congress empowered the president”: Edwards, p. 111.

  136. “Congress also authorized”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, pp. 51—2.

  136. “Early in 1803”: Ibid., p. 346, 362, 366.

  137. “‘Sunday: One and a’”: Ibid., pp. 49—50.

  137. “‘Government may as well”’: Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 229.

  137. “He also was angry”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, pp. 166—9.

  138. “‘I belieive you’”: Ibid., p. 145.

  138. “‘Our operations of the’”: Ibid., pp. 248—9.

  139. “The United States risked”: Ibid., pp. 196—7.

  139. “‘intolerable abuse and”’: Ibid., pp. 248-9.

  139. “A Barbary consul:” Ibid., p. 353.

  139. “‘Nothing of importance”’: Ibid., p. 327.

  139. “Finally, in February 1803”: Ibid., p. 306.

  Chapter VIII: Frustration

  140. “Morris’s squadron delivered”: Ibid., pp. 86—7.

  140. “The bey instructed Eaton”: Ibid., pp. 134—5.

  141. “He told Eaton”: Charles Prentiss, Life of the Late William Eaton (Brookfield, Mass.: Merriam & Co., 1813), pp. 214—5; Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 354.

  141. “The brief rapprochement”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 163, 166.

  141. “The frigate, he said”: Ibid., p. 269.

  141. “‘It is false’”: Ibid., p. 305.

  142. “‘I will indemnify myself’”: Ibid., pp. 344—6.

  142. “Morris insisted the Paulina”: Ibid., pp. 351—4.

  143. “Yet it was true”: Prentiss, pp. 238—9.

  143. “Eaton had added”: Wright and Macleod, pp. 102, 122.

  144. “The torrent of vituperation”: Prentiss, p. 241; Edwards, p. 122; Tucker, p. 167.

  144. “Cathcart reported what happened”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 369.

  144. “Eaton found a buyer”: Ibid., pp. 354—5.

  144. “The commodore sent the bey”: Ibid., p. 369.

  144. “‘Had I commanded”’: Ibid.

  145. “‘It is unprecedented’”: Prentiss, p. 239.

  145. “‘I presume it would’”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 396.

  145. “‘His character does not’”: Ibid., p. 301.

  145. “The snub prompted”: Ibid., pp. 379—81.

  146. “Given sailing orders”: Ibid., p. 387.

  146. “Dale, the Navy’s senior”: Ibid., pp. 330, 337.

  147. “He was ordered to”: Ibid., p. 405.

  147. “Over Cathcart’s protests”: Ibid., pp. 398-9.

  147. “While the New York”: Allen, p. 125; Tucker, p. 171.

  148. “‘Twelve months pass’d‘”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, p. 417.

  148. “While dining at a”: Tucker, pp. 182—3.

  149. “Rodgers displayed the same”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, pp. 408—9.

  149. “Days later, the Enterprise”: Ibid., p. 416.

  150. “Five days after”: Ibid., pp. 425—6.

  151. “A few days later”: Ibid., p. 430.

  151. “Thirty-five miles northwest”: Ibid., pp. 530-1.

  151. “At 8:00 P.M., Porter”: Ibid., pp. 435—7.

  152. “Fifty officers, sailors”: Ibid., pp. 435—7, 530—1.

  153. “Yusuf boasted to Nissen”: Ibid., pp. 439—40.

  153. “Sailing into Tripoli harbor”: Ibid., p. 449.

  154. “the squadron spotted a 22-gun”: Ibid., pp. 465—6.

  155. “The New York pulled”: Ibid., p. 495.

  155. “The trigger-hap
py French”: Ibid., pp. 509, 521—2.

  156. “‘You will upon receipt’”: Ibid., p. 457.

  157. “Jefferson and his”: Edwards, pp. 128—30.

  157. “Eaton had observered”: Prentiss, p. 244.

  157. “The Cabinet met”: McKee, pp. 112—4.

  157. “Morris was court-martialed”: Naval Documents, vol. 2, pp. 528—31.

  158. “Algerian corsairs attacked”: Whipple, p. 311.

  158. “In February 1803, he”: Ray W. Irwin, The Diplomatic Relations of the United States with the Barbary Powers, 1776—1816 (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1931), pp. 129—30.

  Chapter IX: The Philadelphia Disaster

  160. “The commodore had teamed”: Naval Documents, vol. 3, pp. 61—2.

  161. “Unfortunately for Bainbridge”: Ibid., p. 174.

  161. “Born a year”: H. A. S. Dearborn, The Life of William Bainbridge, Esq., of the United States Navy (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1931), pp. vi—7.

  162. “He evidently could be”: Allen, p. 86.

  162. “He got within”: Dearborn, p. 55; Naval Documents, vol. 3, p. 172.

  162. “A boat was lowered”: Naval Documents, vol. 3, p. 172.

  163. “Wind and waves”: Ibid.

  163. “At 4:00 P.M., after attempting”: Ibid., p. 174.

  164. “Cannon, arms and ammunition”: Ibid., pp. 171—2.

  164. “The sailor manning”: William Ray, Horrors of Slavery: Or, The American Tars in Tripoli (Troy, N.Y.: Oliver Lyon, 1808), p. 77; J. Robert Moskin, The U.S. Marine Corps Story (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1977), pp. 56—7.

  164. “Bainbridge sent an officer”: Ray, p. 77.

  165. “The practical-minded sailors”: Ibid., p. 78.

  165. “The greedy Tripolitans”: Naval Documents, vol. 3, p. 529.

  165. “the Tripolitans shoved”: Ray, p. 78.

  165. “Seated on a small”: Ibid., pp. 81—2.

  165. “‘He counted us’”: Naval Documents, vol. 3, pp. 529—30.

  166. “The crew was marched”: Ray, pp. 84—5.

  166. “they witnessed a melancholy”: Naval Documents, vol. 3, pp. 529—30.

  166. “An even more demoralizing”: Ibid., pp. 14, 173.

  166. “but only a few hundred”: Whipple, p. 315.

  167. “‘Had I not sent”’: Naval Documents, vol. 3, pp. 171—4.

  167. “‘A just comparison’”: Ibid., p. 177.