Survey of St. John River and British Settlements of New Brunswick
Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
Letter from Commodore Preble to the Secretary of the Navy
- 9/18/1804
Description
Commodore Edward Preble wrote this letter to the Secretary of the Navy on September 18, 1804. This letter records the actions Preble took to free captured American sailors held by the pasha of Tripoli. On August 3, 1804, several Tripolitan ships sailed out of their protected harbor and Preble sought to engage them. This page outlines the Preble’s plan and the opening shots of the engagement.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate.
National Archives Identifier: 1685433
Full Citation: Letter from Commodore Preble to the Secretary of the Navy; 9/18/1804; Records of the U.S. Senate, Record Group 46. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/letter-from-commodore-preble-to-the-secretary-of-the-navy/, April 5, 2026]
Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
