U.S. Frigate POTOMAC Bombarding Malay Forts of Qualla Battoo, Sumatra in Retaliation for the Pirate Assaults on the Salem Vessel FRIENDSHIP in 1832

oil on panel, 25" x 40"

$48,000

On February 5, 1832, the most powerful and technologically advanced frigate in the U.S. Navy, USS POTOMAC arrived off the Malay settlement of Qualla Battoo on Sumatra disguised as a merchant ship flying the flag of Denmark. Under cover of darkness, a landing party of 282 Marines and armed Sailors attacked and captured four of five palace forts defending Qualla Battoo. Taken by surprise, the Malay warriors nevertheless fought fiercely, including suicide charges, and none surrendered, preferring to fight to the death (wives would take up their fallen husbands’ arms and were also killed). The Malays’ arms were no match for those of the landing force, and an estimated 150 Malays were killed in the forts. U.S. casualties were three dead and about 10 wounded. After withdrawing the landing force the next day, Potomoc pulled in close to the shore and fired several devastating broadsides into the fifth fort and town, by some accounts killing 300 more Malays.

Under the command of Commodore John Downes, the mission of Potomac was President Andrew Jackson’s answer to the plunder and murder of several crewman of the American-flag merchant ship Friendship off Quallah Ballou a year earlier. Downes was authorized to negotiate with a government, if he could find one, for restitution and punishment of guilty individuals. Failing that (he made at best a cursory attempt), his orders were to inflict such “chastisement” so as to ensure no further attacks would be made on U.S.-flag ships. It worked for six years, and the “First Sumatran Expedition” is one of the first actions by the United States that would come to be known as “gunboat diplomacy.” (From https://www.history.navy.mil/)