Loss of USS Philadelphia

31 October 1803, Kaliusa reef, off Tripoli

Tripolitan success; Philadelphia and her crew captured

Blockading Tripoli alone, William Bainbridge chased a blockade runner close inshore east of the harbour and ran Philadelphia onto the uncharted Kaliusa reef. She stuck fast. Bainbridge threw guns overboard and cut away the foremast to lighten her, but she would not come off, and with Tripolitan gunboats firing into her from where her own guns could not bear, he surrendered. Her crew of 307 were taken prisoner. Two days later a storm lifted her off, and the Tripolitans brought her into the harbour.

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