While the United States was engaged with France during the Quasi-War, Barbary States troubles were boiling, subdued only by a payment of tribute to keep American merchant ships from being harassed and seized. However, in 1801 Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli became displeased with the tribute amount, citing that Algiers received more, and demanded to be paid a sum of $250,000 immediately. Thomas Jefferson responded by sending a squadron of frigates to keep the American merchant ships protected. One of the squadrons, President, commanded by Richard Dale, was to escort merchant ships through the Mediterranean to pursue peace discussions with the Barbary States leaders. A second squadron, the Chesapeake, commanded by Richard Valentin Morris, was dismissed from the Navy in 1803 due to Morris’s lousy performance.
USS Constitution became recommissioned on May 13, 1803, as Captain Edward Preble’s flagship. USS Constitution needed new copper sheathing on the hull, which was supplied by Paul Revere. Once USS Constitution was up to par, she departed Boston on August 14, and by September 6 she encountered an unknown ship that would test the mettle of both captains. Preble hailed the ship in the darkness, and was hailed back in return. Preble complied and identified his ship as the United States frigate Constitution. When the other ship did not respond, a fed up Preble stated, “I am now going to hail you for the last time. If a proper answer is not returned, I will fire a shot into you.” The unknown ship responded, “if you give me a shot, I’ll give you a broadside”. Finally, the unknown ship identified itself as “His Britannic Majesty’s ship Donegal, 84-guns, Sir Richard Strachan, an English commodore”, and commanded USS Constitution to “send your boat on board”. Preble fired back by saying “This is United States ship Constitution, 44-guns, Edward Preble, an American commodore, who will be damned before he sends his boat on board of any vessel.” At this, he prompted his crew to get their guns ready, but before the incident could escalate, the British ship sent a lieutenant to relay the Captain’s apologies. As it turned out, the ship that identified itself as the Donegal was in fact HMS Maidstone, a 32-gun frigate. Preble’s defiance of what he thought was an 84-gun ship of the line formed a bond between him and his crew, who became dubbed “Preble’s boys”.
On September 12, Preble awaited orders in Gibraltar, which arranged for him to make a treaty with the Sultan of Morocco, Slimane, who had American ships in his possession. The Sultan was holding these ships in order to insure the safe return of two ships of his the Americans had captured. On October 3, Preble took the USS Constitution and Nautilus to Tangiers, and was met the next day by Adams and New York. The Sultan, seeing the strength of the Americans, was more than pleased to arrange the transfer of the ships.
