Statement of the Circumstances attending the destruction of the Frigate Philadelphia with the names of the Officers and the number of Men employed on the occasion as laid before the President by the Secretary of the navy, November 13—1804.—

On the 31′ January 1804 Commodore Preble lying with his Squadron in the Harbour of Syracuse, gave orders to Lieut. Charles Stewart, commanding the Brig Siren of 16 Guns, and to Lieutenant Stephen Decatur jr commanding the Ketch Intrepid of 4 Guns & 75 Men, to proceed to Tripoli and to destroy the Frigate Philadelphia of 44 Guns, then lying in the harbour of Tripoli. Lieut. Decatur had orders to enter the Harbour in the night, board and set fire to the Philadelphia and Lieut. Stewart was ordered to take the best possible position without the Harbour to cover the retreat.—

Under these orders they proceeded immediately to the Coast of Tripoli but owing to the very heavy gales of wind that usually prevail there in the winter Season, the Enterprize could not be undertaken until the 16′ February when Lieut. Stewart having taken the best possible position to effect the object of his Instructions, Lieut. Decatur at 7 o’clock in the night, entered the Harbour of Tripoli, boarded and took possession of the Philadelphia. This Frigate at the time she was boarded had all her Guns mounted and charged, and was lying within half Gun shot of the Bashaw’s Castle and of his principal Battery—Two Tripolitan Cruisers were lying within two Cables length on the starboard quarter and several Gun Boats within half Gun shot on the Starboard bow—and all the Batteries on shore were opened upon the Assailants. About 20 Men of the Philadelphia were killed, a large Boat full got off, many leapt into the water, and one Man was made prisoner. After having gained possession of the Frigate, Lieut. Decatur set fire to the store-rooms, gun-room, Cock-pit & birth deck, and with a firmness highly honorable to him, his Officers and Men, they remained on Board until the flames had issued from the ports of the gun Deck and the Hatchways of the Spar Deck, and they continued in the Ketch along side the Frigate until the fire had communicated to her Rigging and Tops. Lieut. Decatur did not lose a Man and had but one slightly wounded.—

The following is a list of the officers, & the number of Men employed in the destruction of the Philadelphia.—

Lieut	Stephen Decatur jr.		Lieutenants.
	Jas. Laurence
	Joseph Bainbridge
	Jonathan Thorn
	Louis Heerman		Surgeon.
	Ralph Izard		Midshipmen.
	John Rowe
	Charles Morris
	Alexr. Laws
	John Davis
	Ths. Macdonough
	Thos. O. Anderson
	Mr. — Salvador.		Pilot

62 Men.—

Lieut. Decatur has stated that all his Officers and Men behaved with the greatest coolness and intrepidity, and Commodore Preble, has informed me that Lieut. Stewart’s conduct was judicious and meritorious.

Respectfully submitted.