Bravest of the Brave
The Adventures of Captain David Porter, USN, 1796-1843
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October 31, 1803 - Tripoli
From his position at the port rail David could see the faint outline of the shore, a colorless ripple in the pre-dawn light. “Tripoli is in sight, Captain,”he said.
William Bainbridge strolled over from the helm and stood beside David, who handed him the telescope. Bainbridge scanned the horizon. David liked the short, stocky Captain. At twenty-nine years old he was already in command of his third frigate. Although David had only been on the new, forty-four gun frigate Philadelphia for three months, he sensed that Bainbridge was a warrior.
Bainbridge lowered the glass. “We’ll move in a little closer. I would welcome the opportunity to catch a Tripolitan vessel entering or leaving the port.” He paused. “Three years ago I was ordered to bring the George Washington as tribute to the pirates.” His face reddened. “It was the most humiliating moment of my life. The Tripolitans treated me like a servant. I’ve not forgotten that. Thank God we have Edward Preble commanding the squadron now. Dale and Morris were a disgrace to the flag. They had no desire to push ahead. Preble wants to fight and we are fortunate to have this fine vessel to fight with.”
David agreed with his captain about the ship. The New York had been a good ship, but now that he was first officer of the Philadelphia he felt he was on the best frigate in the fleet. A new vessel gave him a feeling of strength. She showed none of the ravages from the sea that had aged her sister ships.
“Sail ho on the port beam!” came the call from one of the lookouts.
Bainbridge raised his telescope again. “It’s a three master coming out of the harbor sailing under topsails only.” He lowered the glass. “She’s a Tripolitan cruiser. Prepare for action, full sails.”
Her sails grabbed at the brisk easterly wind and the Philadelphia leaped ahead. Blue water parted in white waves as she rushed toward the enemy at ten knots. David watched the coast take shape, the rising sun reflecting off the sand of the beaches. At the far end of the bay he could discern the city encircling the shoreline and the Bashaw’s castle, a protective sentinel on the hill behind it.
Back at the helm of the ship David and Bainbridge watched the Tripolitan cruiser speeding toward them. David glanced toward the stern of the Philadelphia, then back at Bainbridge. “We are coming at them directly out of the sun. They must not see us. I cannot believe they would challenge us."
"Lieutenant Porter, take them under fire with the bow chasers as soon as we are in range,” Bainbridge ordered.
David moved forward to join the gun crews of the two, twenty-four pound cannons located at the bow of the ship. These guns had a shorter range than the twenty-four pound, long cannons, but were accurate at one thousand yards. Watching through his telescope he called out the range, “Two thousand yards, ........................... fifteen hundred yards.” When he estimated they were in range he shouted, “Fire!”
Charging ahead toward the enemy the ship barely wavered as the two guns fired.
White smoke from the cannons washed over David, temporarily clouding his telescope lens. When it cleared he saw water spray up on both sides of the approaching ship. “We have her in range. Reload and fire when ready.”
Bainbridge saw the enemy ship heel to port. “They are turning, adding more sails. They are going to try to outrun us,” he said to the Boatswain standing beside him.
“Sir, the waters here are uncharted,” the Boatswain answered.
Bainbridge ignored him. His eyes were on the Tripolitan vessel.
The Philadelphia’s bow guns fired, one blast right after the other. David saw one shot splash in the water on the far side of the cruiser. He saw no sign of the other shot. The enemy ship was halfway through her turn. “We have her broadside, men. Reload quickly, fire at will!” he shouted.
Both guns fired again. Chunks of wood flew up from the stern area of the cruiser. At the helm Bainbridge saw the hit. “Good shooting!” he shouted.
The Boatswain repeated his warning, “Captain, we don’t know these waters.”
"Damn it, man, we can’t let them get away.”
A cry came from the bow of the ship, “Rocks, rocks dead ahead!”
Bainbridge hesitated, but only for a moment. “Back the mainsail!” he yelled as he rushed to the port railing. Sailors yanked at the ropes controlling the sails, bringing the sails against the wind. At the bow, David hurried to the railing as well. He felt a stab of alarm. He could see rocks sliding under the hull.
With a terrible grinding and screeching, a sound known only to sailors, the Philadelphia shuddered from bow to stern. Several of the top spars snapped, their sails spilling the wind as they twisted in an awkward dance. All the men on board unable to grab something for support fell to the deck. Two men fell from the mainmast topsail. One caught himself on a lower spar, the other fell on the mainsail, sliding down the sail as though on a snowy slope, crashing to the deck. Both of the forward lookouts went over the bow into the ocean. David was thrown against the wood railing, but managed to grab hold of the rope railing to keep from falling overboard.
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About the Book
<i>Bravest of the Brave</i> is a chronicle of the life and adventures of David Porter, whose career spanned the formative years of the U.S. Navy, 1796-1843. He rose through the ranks from Midshipman to Commodore. He fought in the Quasi-French War, in the Tripolitan War and against the pirate, Jean Lafitte. During the War of 1812 he took his ship, the frigate <i>U.S.S. Essex</i>, around Cape Horn. It was the first time an American warship entered the Pacific Ocean. There he fought the British and also the Typees in the Marquesas Islands. The voyage ended with a major battle with two British warships at Valparaiso, Chile.
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After the war he became on of the three Commissioners of the Navy. He was assigned to rid the Caribbean of pirates. During this endeavor he became involved in a controversial decision that resulted in his court-martial.
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The novel, based on his own writings as well as other historical documents about the period, transports the reader through the tumultuous times of the early Republic. America faced perils not unlike today, aggression abroad from pirates and even attacks at home on American soil. David Porter's courage and bravery at a time of great danger to his country were instrumental in the successful termination of the threats and the development of the U.S. Navy.
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Porter summarizes his life in an excerpt from a letter he wrote shortly before his death. "There was a time when there was nothing that I thought too daring to be attempted for her (my country); but those times are past, and appear only as a confused and painful dream. A retrospect of the history of my life seems a highly-colored romance, which I should be very loath to live over again; and it would not be believed, if it was written."
About the Author
H. Alden Fletcher graduated from Syracuse University with a major in American history. A native New Englander growing up in historical Concord, Mass., the former Army officer has a deep interest in military history, particularly the founding years of the America. Much has been written about the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, but little about the years in between. These were the years of uncertainty regarding the survival of the nation. One of the most important factors assuring the success of this survival was the growth and development of the U.S. Navy. Having been aboard the U.S.S. Constitution, (Old Ironsides) as a child the author was intrigued by the exploits of the ship and her crew. Fourteen years ago he started writing his first novel, Sails of Glory, about the ship. He says, “While researching material for my first novel I kept coming across the name of David Porter. As he seemed to be involved in much of the action and controversy of the era I decided to investigate further. The more I dug into the records the more I became fascinated by his adventures. It became apparent to me that his was a story worthy of a novel.”