Since Monday is Memorial Day, thought I'd pay tribute to one of the earliest military engagements dealt with by the fledgling United States gov't. There were two separate engagements none the less our young men engaged the enemy w/ such tenacity it forced the signing of a peace treaty.
The significance, this was the first time the United States engaged in warfare on foreign soil. If you consider the logistical & communication capability of today comparative to back then, these battles could very well have been suicide missions. Yet, the US, by way of our brave men of its fledgling U. S. Navy & Marines, the United States were victorious.
These battles are where the first stanza of the Marine Battle Hymn is taken. "From the shores of Tripoli to the halls of Montezuma"!
Battle of Tripoli Harbor, 3 August 1804
Selected Naval Documents
On August 3rd, 1804, Commodore Edward Preble's Mediterranean Squadron launched the first of a series of bombardments on the harbor of Tripoli. Designed to destroy the defending batteries and sink enemy ships, the bombardments were a part of the blockade that Preble had established in 1803, as part of which the frigate Philadelphia ran aground and was captured. Prebles siege warfare was intended to force Pasha Yusuf Karamanli to sue for peace and release the crew of Philadelphia, which had been destroyed in February 1804 by Captain Stephen Decatur. During the course of the day-long bombardment, US forces also engaged Tripolitan gunboats which were harassing the blockading squadron. The US casualties suffered during the boarding of the enemy gunboats came to Lt. James Decatur (Captain Decatur's brother) killed, two other officers wounded and ten seamen and Marines wounded. The bombardment itself was ineffective, as were the follow-up attacks, and the campaign was not decided until 1805, when a force of Marines and mercenaries captured Derna, forcing the Pasha to sue for peace.
My Grandson becomes a Marine on 2nd June, 2023 @ Parris Island. "OOH-RAH"!
To all who've served & to those who are serving & especially the families of our brave warriors who've given their all for our freedoms. You have my sincere appreciation & affection for the sacrifices all of you have made to keep us safe & keep our country the most envied country the world has ever known. Yes, our country is envied by others because we enjoy & often take for granted, freedoms they can only dream of. We live the way we do, in freedom, because of the sacrifices made by our sons & daughters who love us & fiercely love our country in a way many will never understand, voluntarily give of themselves & willfully make sacrifices on our behalf.
May God bless all of you!
The significance, this was the first time the United States engaged in warfare on foreign soil. If you consider the logistical & communication capability of today comparative to back then, these battles could very well have been suicide missions. Yet, the US, by way of our brave men of its fledgling U. S. Navy & Marines, the United States were victorious.
These battles are where the first stanza of the Marine Battle Hymn is taken. "From the shores of Tripoli to the halls of Montezuma"!
Battle of Tripoli Harbor, 3 August 1804
Selected Naval Documents
On August 3rd, 1804, Commodore Edward Preble's Mediterranean Squadron launched the first of a series of bombardments on the harbor of Tripoli. Designed to destroy the defending batteries and sink enemy ships, the bombardments were a part of the blockade that Preble had established in 1803, as part of which the frigate Philadelphia ran aground and was captured. Prebles siege warfare was intended to force Pasha Yusuf Karamanli to sue for peace and release the crew of Philadelphia, which had been destroyed in February 1804 by Captain Stephen Decatur. During the course of the day-long bombardment, US forces also engaged Tripolitan gunboats which were harassing the blockading squadron. The US casualties suffered during the boarding of the enemy gunboats came to Lt. James Decatur (Captain Decatur's brother) killed, two other officers wounded and ten seamen and Marines wounded. The bombardment itself was ineffective, as were the follow-up attacks, and the campaign was not decided until 1805, when a force of Marines and mercenaries captured Derna, forcing the Pasha to sue for peace.
My Grandson becomes a Marine on 2nd June, 2023 @ Parris Island. "OOH-RAH"!
To all who've served & to those who are serving & especially the families of our brave warriors who've given their all for our freedoms. You have my sincere appreciation & affection for the sacrifices all of you have made to keep us safe & keep our country the most envied country the world has ever known. Yes, our country is envied by others because we enjoy & often take for granted, freedoms they can only dream of. We live the way we do, in freedom, because of the sacrifices made by our sons & daughters who love us & fiercely love our country in a way many will never understand, voluntarily give of themselves & willfully make sacrifices on our behalf.
May God bless all of you!
