@venivedivici thread about the Marines’ birthday this week got me thinking about one of the most fascinating stories in Marines history, and it was one of the first — Gen. William Eaton‘s 1805 expedition to Tripoli to force the Barbary pirates to stop raiding American merchant ships. It’s a “Lawrence of Arabia”–type tale, better than fiction. In fact, it should be a movie. I have a recollection that Russell Crowe was pursuing production of this story a few years ago. From the U.S. Navy Library:
Battle of Derna, 27 April 1805
With the unsatisfactory result of the bombardments of Tripoli in 1804 the Tripolitan War had languished in a stalemate. In early 1805 the US Navy Agent for the Barbary Regencies, William Eaton, resolved to combine diplomacy with a land campaign to bring stronger pressure on the Bashaw, Yususf Karamanli. An unlikely opportunity arose from the dynastic squabbles that characterized the monarchies of the Barbary States in the form of Bashaw Yusuf's exiled brother, Hamet Karamanli. Eaton approached Hamet with the proposal for an alliance. In return for his assistance in mounting a land expedition against Tripoli, Hamet would compensate the United States for its expenses in the war and further promised to make no more demands for tribute.
As a result of these negotiations, Eaton, assisted by US Navy Lieutenant John H. Dent (later replaced by Midshipman George Mann), was able to assemble a mixed force of some 400 men, composed of 38 Greek mercenaries, 25 mostly European artillerists, 90 men serving under Hamet Karamanli directly, 190 camels and their drivers, a small force of Arab cavalry, and eight US Marines commanded by First Lieutenant Presley Neville O'Bannon.
This force began its march in Egypt on 8 March 1805, and after six weeks of mutiny, hunger, thirst, Arab intransigence and religious tension arrived on 25 April before Derna, the eastern-most fortified town under Tripolitan control. Eaton, despite the fact that the garrison consisted of 945 cavalry and 1,250 infantry, called on Governor Mustapha Bey to surrender, a summons that was contemptuously rejected. Supported by gunfire from the brig Argus, sloop Hornet and schooner Nautilus, Eaton began an assault on the town on 27 April. Despite the heavy odds, a redoubled effort led by First Lieutenant O'Bannon and Midshipman Mann succeeded in taking the town.
