“… to the Shores of Tripoli”
8 MARCH 1805
“…TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI”
The Bey of Tripoli in 1795, Hamet Karamanli, was overthrown by his younger brother Yusuf. Hamet sought exile in Egypt where he remained for the next ten years. During this time the Barbary States, including Tripoli, continually harassed merchant shipping in the Mediterranean, exacting protection money and tribute from many nations transiting the area for commercial trade. US merchantmen were among those who fell victim to these extortions.
In 1801, the outspoken US Consul in Tunis, William Eaton, advocated pressuring Bey Yusuf by allying ourselves with his exiled brother. Four years later, after being appointed “Navy Agent to the Barbary States,” Eaton put his plan into action. Eaton encouraged Hamet to form a motley army of a hundred Arabs, 67 “Christian adventurers” (Greek mercenaries), and 200-odd camel drivers. This force was led by Eaton and an 8-Marine detachment from the brig ARGUS, 16, commanded by 1st LT Presley N. O’Bannon. On this date, Eaton, O’Bannon, Hamet and his army set out from Alexandria. Their 600-mile trek across the North African desert, during which they fought not only inhospitable conditions but also Hamet’s continuing suggestions to call the whole thing off, ended at Derna on the Tripolitan coast. Seven weeks later on April 26th, with gunfire support from ARGUS, the schooner NAUTILUS, 12, and the sloop HORNET, 10, they assaulted the city. The next day they reached the Derna fortifications where they turned the guns on the fleeing defenders. LT O’Bannon raised the American flag–the first American ensign to be hoisted over an enemy fort outside the Western Hemisphere. Despite several spirited counter attacks the Marines held the fort. When news of the ferocity and determination of the US Marines reached Bey Yusuf, he capitulated.
By May negotiations with Yusuf were opened. On 3 June a treaty was arranged under which peace was restored, the US evacuated Derna, and $60,000 was paid for the release of CAPT William Bainbridge and the crew of the ill-fated frigate PHILADELPHIA, who had been held captive since PHILADELPHIA ran aground in October of 1803. In turn Tripoli agreed not to exact future tribute from American shipping.
The familiar phrase above from The Marine’s Hymn was first sung by our Marines in 1847 at the close of the Mexican War. The tune is that of an old Spanish folk song and was used as a melody in the French comic opera Genevieve de Brabant by Jacques Offenbach. The reference in the Hymn to the “Halls of Montezuma” remembers the assault on Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City in 1847. “The shores of Tripoli” recalls the efforts of the US Marines against the Tripolitan Bey, which began 220 years ago today.
Watch for more “Today in Naval History” 14 MAR 25
CAPT James Bloom, Ret
Heinl, Robert Debs, Jr. Soldiers of the Sea: The United States Marine Corps, 1775-1962. Baltimore, MD: Nautical & Aviation Pub., 1991, pp. 14-16.
Millett, Allan R. Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States Marine Corps. New York, NY: Macmillan Pub Co., 1980, pp. 44-45.
Simmons, Edwin H. The United States Marines, 1775-1975. New York, NY: Viking Press, 1976, pp. 16-17.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Two of O’Bannon’s Marines died and another was injured in this action.
Following this victory O’Bannon acquired an Arab Mameluke scimitar, reportedly gifted to him in gratitude by Bey Hamet. That blade became the pattern for the distinctive Mameluke sword currently authorized for Marine Corps officers. Indeed, this was nearly the only reward O’Bannon received. Upon returning to his native Virginia, he was awarded another sword by that State, but the Thomas Jefferson administration in Washington failed to recognize his achievement in any form. After neither brevet nor promotion was forthcoming in the subsequent two years, a disgusted O’Bannon left the Corps, abandoning civilization altogether for the Kentucky frontier.
