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DIARY OF WRIGHT SMITH MIDSHIPMAN,1
July
14, 1803: Shiped [sic] on Board the United States Frigate Constitution, Commodore
Edward Preble, mounting 44 Guns ‑ Length of her Keel 175 feet ‑ 175 feet long on
her Berth Deck ‑ 180 feet on her Gun Deck ‑ 185 feet on the Spar
Deck ‑ 14'6" hold ‑ 6 feet high between Decks ‑ 7 feet between the
Spar and Gun Deck 43 feet Beam. August
14, 1803: Sailed from Boston, having on board Tobias Lear, Consul General from
the United State [sic] to the Barbary Powers; also his Lady. September
5, 1803: Made Cape St. Vincent, in 8:
Spoke a Moorish Cruiser of 32 Guns, ignorant of their being at War with
us, the Commodore permitted them to proceed on their Cruise. 12: Arrived at 16: Lieut. Dent came on Board as first Liut.
[sic] 18: Sailed. 19: Arrived at Tangier. 20: Sailed. 21: Arrived at 26: Sailed on a cruise. October
5, 1803: Arrived at Tangier in Company with the John Adams, New York, Adams and
Schooner Nautilus.‑ at our Quarters night. 6: The Emperor of Morocco arrived escorted
by 20,000 men. 7: Fired a Salute, which was answered from
the Fort. 10: Comodore [sic] Preble & Consul Lear
went onshore. 14: Sailed.
Spoke the Denegaul [ed: Donegal], 50 guns. 15: Arrived at 22: Sailed. 23: Arrived at November
4, 1803: Went on Shore in company with John Burchard & John Gerrard. 5: Sailed. 6: Arrived at 13: Sailed. 19: Arrived at 20: Consul Lear and Liut. [sic] went
ashore. Fresh Grub. 21: Sailed with a Fair wind. 24: Spoke the Amason [sic], an English
Frigate, who gave us the disagreeable intelligence of the capture 17 the U. S.
Frigate Philadelphia 44 Guns [sic] ‑ Capt.
Bainbridge; by the Tripolines. 26: Arrived off 28: Arrived at December
16, 1803: Sailed. 19: Arrived at 24: Arrived off Tripola [sic], captured a
small Ketch Bound to
29: Arrived at January
1, 1804: Went ashore and visited the Catacombs which are supposed to extend 50
miles under ground. Likewise Dionicious'
[sic] Ear‑‑ The Ship striped
[sic] of her
riging [sic]‑‑ Can hardly walk the Streets for Beggars and
Pickpockets. Arathusa's [sic] Fountain
and Amphitheatre ancient February
1, 1804: Lying in 8: Went on shore and saw Arathusa's [sic]
Fountain and ruins of the ancient Amphitheatres. Likewise all the principal Churches. 12: Went on shore. 15: Ashore. 20: Began to rigg [sic] the ship. March
1, 1804: Finished Riging [sic] the Ship. 2: Sailed. 3 Arrived at 16: Sailed. 18: Arrived at 21: Sailed. 26: Arrived off 27: Sent a Flag of Truce on shore. We are all kept in ignorance respecting the
result of the negociation [sic]. April
3, 1804: Arrived at 5: Sailed. 12: Arrived at 14: Arrived at 26: Sailed. 28: Arrived at 29: Sail'd. May
1, 1804: Arrived at 3: Sailed. 6: Arrived at Perlermo ( 8: Arrived at 19: Sailed. 22: At the foot of 23: Saw Fire on 24: Arriv'd at 30: Sailed. 31: Arrived at June
3, 1804: Sailed. 5: Arrived at 8: Sail'd. 12: Arrived off Tripola [sic]. 13: 15: Boating into 19: Arrived at 21: Sailed. 23: Arrived at 24: Sailed. 25: Arrive at 29: Sailed. 30: Arrived at July
4, 1804: Went on shore ‑ a
miserable set of beings. 8: Left 9: Arriv's at 12: Sailed with the 6 Gun Boats & 2
Bombards ‑ returned. 13: Sail'd at night. Anchor'd at 14: Sail'd with a fair wind. 15: Arrived at 21: Sailed with the 6 Gun Boats & 2
Bombards. 25: Made Tripola. 27: Came to Anchor. Note:
‑ Our squadron consisted of the Constitution 44. Brig Argus 18. Brig
Syren [sic] 18 ‑ Schooner Nautilus 14, schooner Vixen 14, Schooner
Enterprise 14, 8 Gun Boats, 1‑26 on Board each,
and 2 Bombards 15 Inch [illegible] August
3, 1804: At sunrise the Comodore [sic]
made a signal for the Squadron to get under way; the enemies [sic] gun Boats
got under way at the same time – out
Gun Boats commenced the fire, which was returned with spirit from their Batteries
and Gun Boats. The Brigs and Schooner
covered our Gun Boat and
we directed our shot particularly at the Bashaw's Castle.‑‑ For 5 glasses there was ]sic] 120 Guns
playing upon us; the greatest part
of their shot went over us.‑‑The 2 Bombards were at anchor sending
their shells into the town, and the 6 Gun Boats were engaged with
10 of theirs, 3 of which they took, together with 52 Prisoners, 20 Badly
wounded. Lieut. James Decatur lost his
life while Boarding a
Boat which had struck to him; when they saw this they again hoisted their
Colours [sic] and stood in; Capt. Stephen Decatur, his brother,
followed and came up with them and show'd no quarters [sic] ‑ at least 80
of the enemy were killed ‑ we had but 4 men wounded. August
4, 1804: Sent our wounded Prisoners
ashore by a French Privateer which came out of Tripola early this morning.‑‑
and [sic] came to an anchor abreast the Town ‑
Commited [sic] to the Deep, Lieut. James Decatur. 7: This morning the Comodore [sic]
sent in 9 Gun Boats together with the 2 Bombards to silence a 6 Gun Battery to
the westward of the Town ‑ The Smallest Gun
Boat of the three which was taken on the 3rd was Blown up together with 16 men,
the remainder swam to other Boats ‑ Lieut. 8: Weighed Anchor. 9: Came to an Anchor. August
24, 1804: 458 Bomb Shells were thrown into the Town. 28: At 1/2 past 2 Got under way and
attacked the Town their Gun Boats did not come outside the Rocks as before we
lay this time 2 Glasses within Pistol Shot of
their Cannon. 4 men Belonging to the
John Adams were killed and their Boat sunk from under them ‑ our Ship
received no material
Injury one shot carried away our Main Topgallant yard another our Anchor Stock,
one Remains in our main mast and another struck a Gun on the
Quarter Deck and Wounded one man ‑ The Comodore [sic] within 2 feet of
the Gun and was not hurt – September
2, 1804: Made another attack upon the
Town, which lasted 5 Glasses; sunk 3 of their Guns Boats [sic]. 3: Sent in the Ketch (our first
Prize) with 100 Barrels of Powder and
150 Bomb Shells which was Blown up close alongside the Bashaw's Castle; 8
Gun Boats and
a Gally [sic] was missing the next morning ‑ In this 7: The President 44 ‑ Commodore
Barron, and Constellation Capt. Cambel [sic] arrived off Tripola. 9: Captured 2 Greek Ships. 15: Arrived at 29: Comodore [sic] Preble left the Ship
& Capt. Stephen Decatur took the command. October 12th, 1804: Commodore Preble absent; Employed in Painting
the Ship. 28: The Ship's company very sickly ‑
Capt. Hall's Marines go on Board the President and Capt. Gales marines [sic] came
on Board here. During the absence of
Com. Preble to November
1, 1805: Sailed. 2: Arrived at 5: Capt. Rodgers came on Board with
all his Officers. Capt. Decatur takes
Command of the Congress. 16: The John Adams sailed with
Commodore Preble. 28: Sailed. December
1, 1804: Off 2: Took our departure from Goza
[sic]. 11: off [sic] 17: off [sic] 18: Hove too in the 19: Sent a Boat ashore at Tangiers. 20: Commenced a Heavy Gale which
continued until the [unfinished] 29: Arrive at January
16, 1805: Lord Fitzgerald of February
3, 1805: Had a grand Ball on Board. 9: Sailed. 12: Arrive at Tangiers & send a
Boat ashore. 14: Arrived at the Rock ‑ Saw a
smart engagement Between the English and Spanish Brigs and Gun Boats. 17: Sailed. 29: Arrive at March
2, 1805: Sailed. 4: Arrived at Tripola. 12: Manned our Boats and sent them in
with an intention, it seems, of Cutting out a Brig; this Ship and the
Constellation discharged one Broadside each & did
not succeed. 16: Arrived at April
3, 1805: Sailed. 6: Arrived off Tripola. 7: James Ervin, a marine was floged
[sic] by the Ship's Company for theft. 15: A small Boat arrived from Gerba
with Letters for the Commanding Officer of the Blockade. 16: Watered the Brig Vixen. May
1, 1805: Off Tripola in a Gale of Wind. 9: Boarded a Ketch mounting 10 Brass
Guns [?] out of Tripola. Bro't their men
on Board & put them all in Irons 49 in number. 10: Discharged them all. Proved to be Tunecian [sic].
Gall. qt. 20: Commenced drawing my Grog Due
me 7
3 26: The 27: A Gale of wind. 28: Standing in for Land. 29: Hoisted the Broad Pennant ‑
Consul Lear came on Board ‑ The Essex again hoisted the White Flag ‑
Spanish Consul came on Board ‑ at sunset went on shore. May
30, 1805: Thursday the Vixen hoisted the
White Flag. The Spanish Consul came off
and continued on Board all night‑‑ 31: Friday this morning the Spanish
Consul went on Shore. Afternoon the Schooner
Nautilus joined us & Bro't Dispatches from June
1, 1805: Saturday At Sun Rise the Vixen
hoisted the white Flag ‑ At 10 oclock within 20 Rod of the Batteries ‑
At half past one Capt Bainbridge came on board ‑
at half past 6 Capt Bainbridge Left the Ship and went on shore. 2: At Sun Rise the white flag was
hoisted on the Bashaw's Castle which was answered from the Vixen. At 9 A.M. Sunday the Danish Consul came on Board with
the Bashaw's Prime Minister ‑ At 2 P.M. the consul & P. Minister went
on shore - At 5 came on Board ‑ at 1/2 past 6 went on shore ‑
A sparrowmarrow [sic] arrived with Fruit from 3d: Monday. At Sun Rise Danish consul came on Board. at [sic] 9 returned on shore with Consul Lear
‑ at 11 oclock came to an anchor.
At 1/2 past 4 Danish
Consul came on Board ‑ At 5 a
sallute [sic] of 21 Guns was fired from the Bashaw's Castle and answered from
this Ship with an equal
number. June
4, 1805: Tuesday 9 oclock The American
Flag was displayed on the Bashaw's Castle with A salute of 21 Guns ‑
answered from this ship ‑ 10 oclock Shiped [sic] our
anchor ‑ 1 oclock a sallute [sic] of 9 Guns fired from ashore and
answered from this ship. This afternoon
Officers & Crew of the Wed.
5: Several of our officers went
on shore today. Thurs
6: Constellation arrives ‑
at 1/2 past 10 Weighed our day anchor
and left the Coast. Friday: had [sic] the N E Side of the 7
Sat.
8: Arrived at 10: Sailed 11: Arrived at 12: Sailed evening, took 70 Tripolitan
Prisoners on Board June
14, 1805: Off the harbor of Malta 80,000
Dollars Came on Board ‑ made Sail Arrived at Tripola, the American Flag
displayed on the Bashaw's Castle. 18: a [sic] quantity of Money was sent
on shore 19: Came to an anchor ‑ Commodore
Rodgers went ashore, a salute of 21 Guns Fired from ashore, answered with an
equal number 20: Commodore Rodgers went ashore, on
entering the Castle he was Saluted with 21 Guns ‑ answered ‑ 21: Col. Lear came on Board accompanied
by the Danish Swedish and Spanish consuls ‑ also the High Minister's Son,
a Beautiful Boy ‑ 6 oclock returned on
shore. June
21 [sic]: 9 oclock Weighed anchor and
left the coast. Same day took on Board 2
Penelopes [sic: antelopes]‑ 2 Astriges [sic: ostriches] & several
African Sheep ‑‑‑ 24: Anchored in 26: Sailed 27: Anchored in July
3d, 1805: Congress sailed 4th: Eight oclock dressed Ship in
colours At 12 the whole Squadron Fired a
Salute in honor of the Day ‑ Commodore Rodgers & Consul Lear Dined ashore
together with all the Principal officers of the Squadron. At night had an elegant Ball on our Quarter
Deck: Capt Hall's Band attending 39 in
number. Brig Argus sailed for 5th: Exchanged Ship's companies with the
President ‑ Commodore Rogers [sic] refused to let me go. July
7th, 1805: The President Sailed for 8th: 6 other Gun Boats arrived. ‑‑
Went on shore. 9th: Schooner Nautilus arrived this
evening. 12th: Schooner 13th: This morning the following U.S. Vessels
sailed from July
15th 1805: The whole Squadron Anchored
in 18: 40 English Transports with Troops
arrived at 30: Spoke the Brig Vixen off 31st: Came to an Anchor in a Line ‑
talk of War The Congress had sailed 3 days before we
arrived in search of us ‑‑ Expect a war with September
1, 1805: Consul Davis came on Board The 2: A Court Marshal [sic] was held on
Board 3: John Fording a Marine this day
received 30 lashes by sentence of a Court Marshal [sic], for sleeping on his
Post also Samuel Peacock, Marine, received 100 lashes by
C.M. for writing a mutinous Letter directed to any of his Majestys Officers
Commanding in the Mediterranean 20 to be given on Board each
Ship ‑ 5: Letters continually Passing
between the Bey & the Commodore expectation of War with 8th: Consul Davis came off with his
effects Aug
8th, 1805 [sic]: Great probabillity
[sic] of war with the Bey. This
afternoon a Brig attempting to come out of the harbor was fired at by the
Commodore and made to
return.‑‑ Made a Signal for
Nautilus to get under way. The Com. ordered
Capt. Dent to Board all Vessels bound in or out, those coming from Sea
to remain out & those from the harbor to return in Port again until the Business
was adjusted 11: 10 oclock this evening a Boat came
off from ashore with dispaches [sic] from the Bey ‑ Col. Lear & Davis
went ashore. 13: Brig Argus arrived from August
14, 1805: The Brig Vixen came round Cape
Carthage in full chase of a large Tunician [sic] Gun Boat which, to gain the
harbor was obliged to pass close between the
Essex & the Land;‑ when within Gun Shot the 15: Consul Lear came on Board from
ashore 16: Consul Lear went on shore 18: returned [sic] on Board 19: All the men who were Shiped [sic] in
Lisbon embarked on board the John Adams ‑ the Commodore gave me leave to
go home to America, I accordingly left
the Ship and embark'd on Board the John Adams ‑ thus ends my Journal kept
while on Board the Constitution. 1. Wright Smith, in official documents, is
listed as a Seaman. This material copied
from a transcript of the original, which continues until 22 December 1805, by
which time JOHN ADAMS had returned to the
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