Myrmidonisia
06-05-2005, 13:53
Last week was the 200th anniversary of the United States victory at Derne, Tripoli. The pirates, I mean, the government of Tripoli, no I mean pirates, were holding approximately 300 U.S. sailors as hostage. The sailors were from commercial ships that were intercepted by Barbary Coast corsairs, then ransomed for tribute. Jefferson, having the backbone of a politician, refused to pay tribute, but did pay a ransom of $60,000 to get these hostages released.
The military part was more interesting. An agent of the Navy named Eaton, a Marine Lieutenant name O'Bannon, eight Marines, and a mercenary force of Christian and Muslim Arabs marched from Alexandria to Derne. When they got to Derne, Eaton, O'Bannon, and the Christian Arabs, numbering about 80, charged and defeated the main defending force of about 800. O'Bannon raised the U.S. flag over the fort.
They had planned to march to Tripoli and free the hostages, but Jefferson paid the ransom before that could happen. So Eaton and O'Bannon had to be satisfied with setting the precedent of kicking Arabs butts to achieve national policy goals. Also, they participated in the first ever foreign campaign by the United States.
The military part was more interesting. An agent of the Navy named Eaton, a Marine Lieutenant name O'Bannon, eight Marines, and a mercenary force of Christian and Muslim Arabs marched from Alexandria to Derne. When they got to Derne, Eaton, O'Bannon, and the Christian Arabs, numbering about 80, charged and defeated the main defending force of about 800. O'Bannon raised the U.S. flag over the fort.
They had planned to march to Tripoli and free the hostages, but Jefferson paid the ransom before that could happen. So Eaton and O'Bannon had to be satisfied with setting the precedent of kicking Arabs butts to achieve national policy goals. Also, they participated in the first ever foreign campaign by the United States.