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On 3 August 1804, Commodore Edward Preble’s Mediterranean Squadron launched the first of a series of bombardments on the harbor of Tripoli. Designed to destroy the defending batteries and sink enemy ships, the bombardments were a part of the blockade that Preble had established in 1803.  During the course of the day-long bombardment, US forces also engaged Tripolitan gunboats which were harassing the blockading squadron. The US casualties suffered during the boarding of the enemy gunboats came to Lt. James Decatur (Captain Decatur’s brother) killed, two other officers wounded and ten seamen and Marines wounded. Captain Edward Preble, USN (1761-1807).  Oil on canvas, 24" by 36", by an unknown 19th Century artist.  Painting in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum Collection. Transferred from the U.S. Naval Lyceum, 1869.  National Archives Photograph, KN-10902 (Color). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/127906254@N06">National Museum of the U.S. Navy</a></div>
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Unknown author<span style="display: none;">Unknown author</span></div>
19<sup>th</sup> century <div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127906254@N06/16947226630/">KN-10902</a>