"To the Shores of Tripoli"

It Was the Unites States Marines' First Battle. Seven of Them Won It.

U.S. Marine Lieutenant Presley Neville O’Bannon leading an attack against Barbary Coast pirates in 1805.

We’ve all heard that phrase from the Marine Corps Hymn countless times but few know what actually happened on the shores of Tripoli. Where is Tripoli, anyway? Why were the Marines there in the first place?

Well, read on.

At first, President Thomas Jefferson did not want to build an extensive navy. He thought a seagoing force capable of overseas conflicts would cost taxpayers way too much. He was content with the nation being limited to the defense of her coastal waters.

But Muslim pirates off the shores of north Africa changed his mind. For many years, these pirates along the Barbary Coast had been capturing unarmed European and American trading vessels and holding their cargoes and crews for ransom or selling the crews into slavery. They called it a “tribute”. For a long time it seemed easier for the commercial shipping nations just to pay off this very expensive nuisance tax until Jefferson became President.

There was only so much depredation, insult and extorted money the proud new nation could take and Jefferson felt we had taken enough

Thomas Jefferson and the two-volume edition of the Koran from which he gained the insight that Muslim predation in the waters around north Africa could not be dealt with through diplomacy.

From his understanding of the Koran, Jefferson realized that these criminal acts would never end without the application of force. He saw that Islam demanded such behavior of its followers. So President Jefferson put his dukes up and ordered the expansion of the United States Navy. Our warships would go over there and apply that necessary force.

The scene of troubled waters. Muslim chieftans ruled the Barbary Coast by capturing the ships of any and all non-Muslim states and holding their crews for ransom. When President Thomas Jefferson realized that this practice was demanded by the pirates’ religion he put a stop to it. (Tripoli can be seen in the lower right of the map).

Bear in Mind that these pirates were not colorful, peg-legged characters with a patch over one eye and a tamed parrot on one shoulder. No, they were fanatical, bloodthirsty zealots following the dictates of their religion. They were ordered by their holy writ to steal from everybody in the world who was not a Muslim or to kill them “wherever they could find them” and they were very effective at it. (This is still going on today in the waters off Somalia).

Repeated attempts were made to negotiate with Yusuf Karamanli, the illegitimate Pasha of Tripoli, to reduce ransom money and return captives to America. Those attempts failed. Yusuf responded by doubling down and demanding an increased ransom of two million dollars. Jefferson said no deal. In a fit of defiance, Yusef cut down the flagstaff in front of the US Consulate resulting in a declaration of war by the United States.

Yusuf Karamanli, who earlier had murdered one of his brothers and then usurped the throne from his other brother, Hamet, who then went into exile in Egypt. Also a map of the harbor at Tripoli at the time of the Barbary wars..

In 1803, the US Navy frigate, Philadelphia, had run aground in Tripoli Harbor and had been seized by agents of the traitorous Yusef. They imprisoned the American crew members in the adjacent fortress of Derna and gloated over their prize. (More about this amazing story in a subsequent issue).

Marine Lieutenant Presley Neville O’Bannon (L) and US Army General William Eaton. Together, these men won a concerted victory at the Battle of Derna in Tripoli in 1805.

But then US Army officer, William Eaton, hatched a daring plan to get Hamet out of Alexandria and put him back on his throne. He would lead a contingent of troops to to Tripoli and kick brother, Yusef, out. He went to Alexandria and presented his idea to Hamet who enthusiastically endorsed it.

Eaton was joined there by Marine Lieutenant, Presley O’Bannon and six of his fellow Marines. They were fired up and ready to roll.

“Wherever General Eaton leads, we will follow. If he wants to march us to Hell, we’ll gladly go there,” wrote O’Bannon.

On the 27th of April, 1805, after 52 days of marching across the desert from Alexandria, O’Bannon, his six Marines and 50 hastily recruited Greek mercenaries opened fire on Derna. O’Bannon and the Marines pushed forward through a shower of musketry from the walls of houses, took possession of the battery, planted the American flag on the ramparts and turned its artillery pieces upon the enemy.

Marines attacking the fortress at Derna, Tripoli, and Lieutenant O’Bannon raising the American Flag on the fort’s ramparts after its capture. It was the first time that the American flag was raised in the Old World. (That flag was the one identical to the original “Star Spangled Banner.”)

The fight lasted two and a half hours but Derna was in American hands. There were fourteen casualties, including four Americans. O’Bannon had taken a musket ball through his left wrist limiting his ability to fire his weapon. Marine John Wilton was killed in action and Marines David Thomas and Bernard O’Brian were wounded. O’Brian later died of his wounds.

General Eaton called O’Bannon an “intrepid, judicious and enterprising officer.” His action resulted in the freeing of all the American prisoners from the Philadelphia.

So there you go. That’s how that phrase got put into the Marine Hymn.

Today, the talented cooks of Tunisia (the location of Tripoli), Algeria and Morocco in northern Africa serve up some of the most delicious cuisine found anywhere. One of my favorites is Moroccan Chicken but it takes way too many ingredients, too much time, and too much preparation for my impatient self to make the real thing. So I cheat by inventing something totally different.

Fake Moroccan Chicken

You Can Do This

• Get the following together: 4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, an onion, 2 cloves garlic, rice or couscous, chicken base paste, one can coconut milk a jar of ras el hanout (or substitute with garam masala), olive oil, honey, one can diced tomatoes, salt (I use Lawry’s Seasoned Salt) red pepper flakes as desired for heat, raisins or dried cranberries.

• Rub the chicken thighs in finely chopped garlic, a little seasoned salt, black pepper and olive oil then marinate for 30-40 minutes while caramelizing the onions.

• Slice one onion and gently fry it on medium-low heat in a little olive oil until it is lightly caramelized. (about 30 minutes). Remove and set aside.Be careful not to burn it. Just take it slow.

• Cut the browned chicken into bite-sized chunks then add to the skillet.

• Add the tomatoes, the caramelized onion slices, a tablespoon of the ras el hanout or garam masala, a level tablespoon of the chicken base paste, a tablespoon of honey, a handful of raisins (or dried cranberries) enough coconut milk to cover and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add a little water if it gets too thick.

• Remove from heat and serve with hot rice or couscous.

Old Yusef Karamanli had a good scam running for a while. Unarmed merchant ships in the Mediterranean were low-hanging fruit from which he cowardly exacted millions of dollars in “tribute” while selling innocent sailors into slavery.

He made the grave mistake of poking Thomas Jefferson in the eye once too often. Then it was he who paid the price. His criminal career was suddenly terminated by United States Marines. Sadly, his political career was allowed to continue thanks to secret negotiations in which Yusef agreed to stop the terror. This infuriated General Eaton but it did end the piracy and Eaton played a big role in that.

So did Presley O’Bannon and six Marines …on the shores of Tripoli!

So hit those buttons!