Editing USS Constitution (section)

===Battle of Tripoli Harbor===
[[File:Burning of the uss philadelphia.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A painting of a ship on fire. It floats in the water with flames reaching high over its masts|{{USS|Philadelphia|1799|2}} burning in Tripoli Harbor]]
{{Main|Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor}}

{{USS|Philadelphia|1799|2}} ran aground off Tripoli on 31 October under the command of [[William Bainbridge]] while pursuing a Tripoline vessel. The crew was taken prisoner; ''Philadelphia'' was refloated by the Tripolines and brought into their harbor.<ref name="Hollis8889">Hollis (1900), pp. 88–89.</ref><ref name="MaclaySmith248;250">Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 248, 250.</ref> To deprive the Tripolines of their prize, Preble planned to destroy ''Philadelphia'' using the captured ship ''Mastico'', which was renamed {{USS|Intrepid|1798|2}}. ''Intrepid'' entered Tripoli Harbor on 16 February 1804 under the command of [[Stephen Decatur]], disguised as a merchant ship. Decatur's crew quickly overpowered the Tripoline crew and set ''Philadelphia'' ablaze.<ref name="Allen05-167172">Allen (1905), pp. 167–172.</ref><ref name="MaclaySmith264267">Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 264–267.</ref>
[[File:Bombardment of Tripoli, 3 August 1804.tif|left|thumb|USS ''Constitution'' participating in the bombardment of [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], 3 August 1804; painting by [[Michele Felice Cornè]] (1752–1845)]]
Preble withdrew the squadron to [[Syracuse, Sicily]], and began planning for a summer attack on Tripoli. He procured a number of smaller [[gunboat]]s that could move in closer to Tripoli than was feasible for ''Constitution'', given her deep draft.<ref name="Martin99">Martin (1997), p. 99.</ref> ''Constitution'', {{USS|Argus|1803|2}}, {{USS|Enterprise|1799|2}}, {{USS|Scourge|1804|2}}, {{USS|Syren|1803|2}}, the six gunboats, and two bomb ketches arrived the morning of 3 August and immediately began operations. Twenty-two Tripoline gunboats met them in the harbor; ''Constitution'' and her squadron severely damaged or destroyed the Tripoline gunboats in a series of attacks over the coming month, taking their crews prisoner. ''Constitution'' primarily provided gunfire support, bombarding the shore batteries of Tripoli—yet Karamanli remained firm in his demand for ransom and tribute, despite his losses.<ref name="Allen05-184197">Allen (1905), pp. 184–197.</ref><ref name="MaclaySmith272284">Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 272–284.</ref>

Preble outfitted ''Intrepid'' as a "floating volcano" with {{convert|100|ST|MT|abbr=on}} of gunpowder aboard in a final attempt of the season. The ship was to sail into Tripoli harbor and blow up in the midst of the corsair fleet, close under the walls of the city. ''Intrepid'' made her way into the harbor on the evening of 3 September under the command of [[Richard Somers]], but it exploded prematurely, killing Somers and his entire crew of thirteen volunteers.<ref name="Hollis111112">Hollis (1900), pp. 111–112.</ref><ref name="Allen05-206209">Allen (1905), pp. 206–209.</ref>

''Constellation'' and ''President'' arrived at Tripoli on the 9th with [[Samuel Barron (1765–1810)|Samuel Barron]] in command; Preble relinquish his command of the squadron to Barron, who was senior in rank.<ref name="Allen05-199">Allen (1905), p. 199.</ref> On 11 September Barron ordered Capt. Stephen Decatur to relieve Preble as Captain so Preble could return to the US.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_barbarywars_v05p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume V Part 1 of 3 September 7 1804 through April 1805 |pages=15 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=27 March 2025}}</ref> ''Constitution'' was ordered to Malta on the 11th for repairs as she was very leaky, and, while en route, on 12 September,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_barbarywars_v05p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume V Part 1 of 3 September 7 1804 through April 1805 |pages=17 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=27 March 2025}}</ref> captured two Greek vessels attempting to deliver wheat into Tripoli.<ref name="Hollis115">Hollis (1900), p. 115.</ref> Also on the 12th, a collision with ''President'' severely damaged ''Constitution''{{'}}s bow, stern, and [[Figurehead (object)|figurehead]] of Hercules. The collision was attributed to an act of God in the form of a sudden change in wind direction.<ref name="Martin115116">Martin (1997), pp. 115–116.</ref><ref name="Toll250251">Toll (2006), pp. 250–251.</ref>