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Stewart's Report of the Burning of the Philadelphia [16 February 1804] To Captain Edward Preble, U. S. Navy, from Lieutenant Charles Stewart, U. S. Navy U S Brig Syren Sir, Pursuant to your orders of the 31st January 1804 we sailed on the 3rd of February in company with the Intrepid Lt Commandant Decatur, and arrived off Tripoly the 8th Inst having employed ourselves in the intermediate time, in preparing every thing for executing the intended object - at 9 P M we Anchored in 6 fms. Water near the Rocks, got out the boats and prepared them for cooperating with the Intrepid at 11 we observed the Intrepid by her light standing off shore a very heavy sea from the North, and a strong wind hauling to that quarter obliged us to get our Boats in immediately, and get under weigh, at 4 AM finding it impossible to weigh our Anchor having had the Men several times knocked down by the Capstan Bars and several much injured. Daylight approaching to expose our designs to the Enemy we cut and got an offing of 10 Miles, when the gale and sea having encreased so much that we could scarcely show any sail, which continued until the 11th. It then abated, and I sent for Lieut Commandant Decatur, and we fixed on the following plan for the next attempt Viz. he to proceed in the Intrepid about 5 miles ahead of the Brig, and anchor at night abreast of the Eastern Rocks that form the Harbour until the Syren got into that station or her Boats had joined him - After Midnight he to proceed in the Intrepid to the Ship, the Boats to keep at a considerable distance astern of him, until he effected a lodgment in the Frigate, they were then to board the Intrepid, and reinforce him, or proceed on such other service, as he might direct. We were driven so far to the Eastward by the gale that we did not regain our Station off Tripoly until the 15th when considering the possibility there was of the Tripolitans having some suspicions of our intentions, I reinforced Lt Decatur with an Officer and Nine Volunteers from the Syren. The necessary arrangement of his Men not leaving more than 50 to support him in boarding. We stood into 8 fathoms Water that night, but could not determine our position not having seen the town, We were therefore obliged to stand off again, on the 16th at 11 AM the Intrepid stood in for the Harbour, and when she had got her distance we tacked and stood after her, with a light breeze from the Nd & Westward, at dark we hoisted out the Boats and prepared them. At 8:30 P M the wind left us, and a light air from the land succeeded, we anchored with our stream in 20 fms, water the town of Tripoly bearing S W about 3 Miles distant. We immediately dispatched the Boats with 30 Men and Officers under the command of Lieut Caldwell who was ordered to proceed to the Eastern Rocks where he would find the Intrepid, and to place himself under the command of Lt Commt Decatur. At _ past 10 the Frigate Philadelphia was in a blaze fore and Aft, when the Batteries commenced a fire on the Intrepid as she retreated. At 11 the Frigate's tops fell, and several of her Guns going off, the shot made a considerable rattling in the town; shortly after her cables parted and she drifted under the Castle at 1 AM the Intrepid & Boats joined us, at 6 the light could still be seen from the Deck, we being about 40 Miles distant from her.
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