The painting "To the Shores of Tripoli" is a large 48"x 30" canvas which captures part of the conflict between the United States Squadron under Commodore Edward Preble and the fortifications of Tripoli which took place on August 4th 1804. In this view I have tried to capture some of the thunder and awe of the massive bombardment as canons on both sides were brought to bear.

The USS Constitution is shown in the middle distance as she engages the round fort with her broadside. On the right, gunboat number 3, under the command of Lieutenant Blake, is being turned so as to aim her 24 pounder canon at the Tripolitan ships beginning to sally out of the harbor. Meanwhile on the left the USS Siren lets loose a broadside as her guns begin to bear on other Tripoli ships venturing out from the safety of the harbor.

The Constitution ventured in close to the Tripoli forts a number of times that day and suffered much damage to her rigging and spars. Tripoli had some 115 heavy cannons mounted on her walls, a garrison of 25,000 Arabs and Turks and 19 gunboats, two galleys, two schooners of 8 guns, and a brig of 10 guns.

The Tripoli gunnery was so intense that the splashes from the many cannon balls hitting the water around one of the bomb vessels was such that the ship could hardly be seen for the spray. It was described thus by Commodore Preble, "The Bombs kept their stations which were well chosen by Lt. Dent and Lt. Robinson who commanded them, and threw a number of shells into the town although the spray of the sea occasioned by the enemy shot almost covered them."

Richard O'Brien, adds this, "The Batteries and gun boats of Tripoli commenced a very severe firing at the 2 bombards, and Constitution - it seemed then as if it was impossible but the shot of Tripoli would sink the two bombards, all round them and under the starboard bow of the Constitution the water was kept entirely in a foam from the enemies shot."

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