Today In U.S. Military History - 16 February 1804

This Day in U.S. Military History ^

[ConorMacNessa]

Commdr. Stephen Decatur, USN



From Today in U.S. Military History:

16 February 1804 – Tripoli – Barbary Coast

During the First Barbary War, U.S. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur leads a military mission that famed British Admiral Horatio Nelson calls the “most daring act of the age.”

In June 1801, President Thomas Jefferson ordered U.S. Navy vessels to the Mediterranean Sea in protest of continuing raids against U.S. ships by pirates from the Barbary states–Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripolitania. American sailors were often abducted along with the captured booty and ransomed back to the United States at an exorbitant price. After two years of minor confrontations, sustained action began in June 1803 when a small U.S. expeditionary force attacked Tripoli harbor in present-day Libya. In October 1803, the U.S. frigate Philadelphia ran aground near Tripoli and was captured by Tripolitan gunboats. The Americans feared that the well-constructed warship would be both a formidable addition to the Tripolitan navy and an innovative model for building future Tripolitan frigates. Hoping to prevent the Barbary pirates from gaining this military advantage, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a daring expedition into Tripoli harbor to destroy the captured American vessel on February 16, 1804. After disguising himself and his men as Maltese sailors, Decatur’s force of 74 men, which included nine U.S. Marines, sailed into Tripoli harbor on a small two-mast ship. The Americans approached the USS Philadelphia without drawing fire from the Tripoli shore guns, boarded the ship, and attacked its Tripolitan crew, capturing or killing all but two. After setting fire to the frigate, Decatur and his men escaped without the loss of a single American. The Philadelphia subsequently exploded when its gunpowder reserve was lit by the spreading fire. Six months later, Decatur returned to Tripoli Harbor as part of a larger American offensive and emerged as a hero again during the so-called “Battle of the Gunboats,” a naval battle that saw hand-to-hand combat between the Americans and the Tripolitans.

[Wizdum]

Our first encounter with the Mohammedans. We knew what had to be done then, after a number of atrocities.

When will find that courage, again?

[Hugin]

It’s worth noting that Jefferson didn’t bother asking Congress for a Declaration of War before sending them.

[Ax]

Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.

[ConorMacNessa]

January 20, 2017?

[wtd]

Also related to the beachside beheadings of Christians...mentioned at The Conservative Treehouse by Aslans Girl:

"I think this is the first time ISIS has murdered on the shore… it made me think of the Marine hymn’s line “to the shores of Tripoli”. I did some research and found out that Derna, where these murders took place today, is a Tripolitan city and it’s where the US won their first military victory on foreign soil. I know today ISIS was sending a message to Egypt, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s a message to America due to the location."

[archy]

Also related to the beachside beheadings of Christians...mentioned at The Conservative Treehouse by Aslans Girl:

Are you at all familiar with the background of the dress sword carried by U.S. Marine officers, known to them and others as the Mameluke Sword

Mameluke Sword

[wtd]

Good to know ...thanks!

[ConorMacNessa]

I was familiar with it in very general terms, but your postings and the link re the Mameluke Sword were very informative, most apropos to the thread and very much appreciated.

Islam Delenda Est!