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Rh known, plans were made by Commodore Preble to destroy her before the Tripolitans could complete her salvage. The Americans had captured a small lateen-sailed ketch, sailing to Constantinople with the bey's present to the sultan of a cargo of female slaves. This vessel was renamed the Intrepid, under command of Stephen Decatur, and manned by a crew of volunteers. She looked like any one of the ordinary Mediterranean craft commonly seen along the coast of Algiers and Tripoli. Decatur's orders were to sail her into the harbor of Tripoli and up alongside the Philadelphia. The crew was to board the Philadelphia, drive the Tripolitan prize crew overboard or below, set the frigate afire, and then cast off from the burning vessel and row out of the harbor away from the fire of the bey's forts and men-of-war. It was a bold plan, and executed as boldly. Lord Nelson, no bad judge of naval exploit, called it the most daring act of the age.

Now we come to Dr. Heermann, the surgeon aboard the Enterprise. Lieutenant Decatur told the doctor: "The brig Siren will accompany us to give succor if required, and to cover our retreat if necessary. I shall want you, Doctor, to go with me. But before I go into the harbor, I shall put you on board the brig."

Dr. Heermann begged for permission to remain on the ketch — an idea which Lieutenant Decatur discouraged, saying: "The expedition is too dangerous to expose surgeons. Suppose, sir, you should be killed or wounded it would reflect on me." But the doctor persevered: "My life, sir, is not more valuable than that of any of the other brave officers and men who are to accompany you. Should I be killed or wounded, the officers and crew would be as well provided for after their achievement by Dr. Marshall alone as by him and myself united." He went on to urge the lieutenant with the argument: "The presence of a professional man to assist the wounded might save you many valuable lives that may be sacrificed from loss of blood for want of a surgeon conversant with the most effectual means of stanching it. And