Thomas Jefferson Papers

Robert Smith to Thomas Jefferson, 30 August 1805

From Robert Smith

Balt. Augt. 30. 1805.

Sir,

I am extremely happy in informing you that the Transport Frigate the John Adams and all the Gun Boats excepting the one that put back into New-York have safely arrived at Gibralter and that after mounting their guns there they proceeded thence to join the Squadron. Although the frigate’s passage was short Vizt. 30 days yet the guns boats notwithstanding their having been in several very severe gales of wind arrived first at Gibralter. I mean those that sailed with her from New-York. The result of this experiment cannot but give pleasure to every honest American. It will make a powerful impression upon all the Barbary powers and the Europeans will consider it as a specimen of our enterprising genius. I cannot now entertain a doubt of the favourable issue of our affair with Tripoli. The Commodore was in due season apprised by me that the gun boats would join him about the 1st of July. Of course he must have postponed all serious Operations until their arrival. As they left Gibralter in time to reach the squadron about the time appointed every thing has been done on our part that could have been expected. And I confidently expect that the Squadron have well performed their part.

The Bomb Ketches equipped under the superintendence of Preble at Boston sailed on the 19 and 23 of June. They of course could not have been before Tripoli until about the first Week of August. And in case Tripoli should not have been previously reduced they will then be very useful.

Believing that the gun boats could not with safety return to our Coast in the winter Season I have sent to the Commodore an order of which the enclosed is a Copy. They would in case of peace with Tripoli be useless in the Mediterranian1 and might possibly be of some use at New Orleans. To this port they can securely go at any season of the year. And this being our most vulnerable point ought to be the best guarded. This letter went by a Vessel whose time of sailing would not allow me to submit it to your inspection before it was sent. Any additional instructions upon this subject which you may be pleased to suggest I will be very happy in Communicating to the Commodore. If circumstances should render it necessary to send the Gun Boats under a stronger Convoy the Commodore under his general powers will not neglect such an additional precaution.

As the gun boats that have arrived in the Medn have proved themselves such good Sailers we need have no fears about the one that was forced to put back into New-York. She will join the Squadron probably about the same time the two Bomb Ketches will.

Enclosed you have a Copy of the instructions to Capt Murray Capt Chauncey and the Commanding Officer of gun Boat No. 1. Any amendments which you may deem necessary can be easily communicated. The two gun boats we have been building at Portland under the superintendence of Preble are almost completed. You will be pleased to inform me in what manner you wish them to be at present employed.—Would it not be well that they like No. 1 should be assisting in scouring our Coast until it should be deemed proper to send them to New-Orleans?

The Brig of War the Hornet built at this place does us great honour. She is more admired than any vessel of war the U. States have produced. She has in the estimation of all of our best judges raised the professional character of Mr. Fox very high. And the Brig the Wasp we are building at Washington will, I think, be yet more admired.

Mrs. Madison’s indisposition has unhappily detained Mr Madison longer than he had imagined. I am from his last letter hourly expecting to have the pleasure of seeing him.

Respectfully & truly your Obed Servt.

Rt Smith

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 5 Sep. and “gun boats. Barron. Murray” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures: (1) Smith to Samuel Barron, 5 Aug., authorizing him, “when peace with Tripoli shall have been effected,” to send to the United States any vessels that may be spared, to have repairs made to any vessels not in condition for an immediate return, and to provide for the convoy of gunboats to New Orleans if the season is safe for them to cross the ocean (NDBW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, Washington, D.C., 1939-44, 6 vols. and Register of Officer Personnel and Ships’ Data, 1801-1807, Washington, D.C., 1945 description ends , 6:207). (2) Smith to Alexander Murray, the captain of the frigate Adams, 31 July, consisting of orders for cruising off the eastern coast; similar instructions to Isaac Chauncey, the captain of the Hornet, and James Biddle, commanding officer of Gunboat No. 1, went out on 23 Sep. and 11 Oct., respectively (same, 199; see TJ to Smith, 4 July, and Notes on a Cabinet Meeting, 8 July).

put back into New-York: Gunboat No. 7 returned to port with a sprung mast. The boat was subsequently lost at sea attempting to reach the Mediterranean (NDBW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, Washington, D.C., 1939-44, 6 vols. and Register of Officer Personnel and Ships’ Data, 1801-1807, Washington, D.C., 1945 description ends , Register, 82-3).

two gun boats: Gunboat No. 11 was constructed at Portland and No. 12 at Newburyport, Massachusetts (Spencer C. Tucker, The Jeffersonian Gunboat Navy [Columbia, S.C., 1993], 184-5).

does us great honour: on 20 Oct., Chauncey reported to Smith that the Hornet “sails fast, works well, is remarkably stiff, and I presume will prove an excellent Sea Boat” (NDBW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, Washington, D.C., 1939-44, 6 vols. and Register of Officer Personnel and Ships’ Data, 1801-1807, Washington, D.C., 1945 description ends , 6:294).

1Preceding three words interlined.

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