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To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines
Here is the extraordinary story of an important, prophetic, yet often neglected event in U.S. history: America's first war against an Arab despot.
For centuries, four nations along the northern rim of Africa, then known as the Barbary Coast—Tripoli, Tunis, Algeria, and Morocco—had been terrorizing merchant shippers, capturing and looting their vessels and imprisoning their crews for ransom. With a vital lifeline of the infant United States threatened by the Barbary pirates, President Thomas Jefferson faced one of the first major challenges to U.S. foreign policy. He could continue trading arms for hostages with the Barbary Coast rulers or he could meet force with force. Jefferson decided to send a squadron of warships to the Mediterranean while Congress was in recess, and in doing so prompted the first major U.S. debate on the war-making powers of the president. Though faced with a fait accompli, Congress voted not for a formal declaration of war but authorization for the president to use force if he found it necessary—which he promptly did.
What became known as the Barbary War forced Americans who had disbanded the Continental Navy to establish a new U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The war included a blockade of Tripoli, followed by sustained bombardment by the high-tech weapons of the time, America's powerful new frigates. the ground war that followed, with an army captain and eight U.s. marines leading a motley coalition of Christians and Arabs to invade Tripoli, was successful beyond expectations. But President Jefferson settled for a peace treaty that left the bashaw on the throne, whereupon the other Barbary Coast tyrants renewed their harassment of American shipping in intermittent hostilities that lasted for nearly two more decades.
The Barbary War throngs with fascinating personalities: Jefferson, the lonely widower pacing the echoing room of the unfinished White House; hot-tempered Commodore Edward Preble, whose iron discipline made his Mediterranean squadron the "Nursery of the Navy"; Yusuf Karamanli, the tyrannical bashaw who boasted, "I do not fear war; it is my trade," and continued to bluster even in defeat; U.S. Army Captain William Eaton, an early-day Lawrence of Arabia, who by sheer willpower kept his starving, feuding foreign legion marching 500 miles across the desert to invade Tripoli; Marine Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon, the tough, raw-boned frontiersman, who brought along his violin; and a host of potentates and politicians, sailors and soldiers of fortune, hostages and harem women.
A.B.C. Whipple has written a rousing narrative of a significant but little-remembered war; it is also a cautionary tale, the lessons of which are valid nearly two hundred years later.
For centuries, four nations along the northern rim of Africa, then known as the Barbary Coast—Tripoli, Tunis, Algeria, and Morocco—had been terrorizing merchant shippers, capturing and looting their vessels and imprisoning their crews for ransom. With a vital lifeline of the infant United States threatened by the Barbary pirates, President Thomas Jefferson faced one of the first major challenges to U.S. foreign policy. He could continue trading arms for hostages with the Barbary Coast rulers or he could meet force with force. Jefferson decided to send a squadron of warships to the Mediterranean while Congress was in recess, and in doing so prompted the first major U.S. debate on the war-making powers of the president. Though faced with a fait accompli, Congress voted not for a formal declaration of war but authorization for the president to use force if he found it necessary—which he promptly did.
What became known as the Barbary War forced Americans who had disbanded the Continental Navy to establish a new U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The war included a blockade of Tripoli, followed by sustained bombardment by the high-tech weapons of the time, America's powerful new frigates. the ground war that followed, with an army captain and eight U.s. marines leading a motley coalition of Christians and Arabs to invade Tripoli, was successful beyond expectations. But President Jefferson settled for a peace treaty that left the bashaw on the throne, whereupon the other Barbary Coast tyrants renewed their harassment of American shipping in intermittent hostilities that lasted for nearly two more decades.
The Barbary War throngs with fascinating personalities: Jefferson, the lonely widower pacing the echoing room of the unfinished White House; hot-tempered Commodore Edward Preble, whose iron discipline made his Mediterranean squadron the "Nursery of the Navy"; Yusuf Karamanli, the tyrannical bashaw who boasted, "I do not fear war; it is my trade," and continued to bluster even in defeat; U.S. Army Captain William Eaton, an early-day Lawrence of Arabia, who by sheer willpower kept his starving, feuding foreign legion marching 500 miles across the desert to invade Tripoli; Marine Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon, the tough, raw-boned frontiersman, who brought along his violin; and a host of potentates and politicians, sailors and soldiers of fortune, hostages and harem women.
A.B.C. Whipple has written a rousing narrative of a significant but little-remembered war; it is also a cautionary tale, the lessons of which are valid nearly two hundred years later.
357 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1991
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About the author
A.B.C. Whipple
28 books8 followersAddison Beecher Colvin Whipple was an American journalist, editor, historian and author. Before his retirement he was editor of Life's International Editions and executive editor of Time-Life Books.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 26, 2016
An excellent book on the fledgling US Navy and the first actions after the Revolution. Ironically it was against Muslim powers terrorizing our vessels and imprisoning the crews. Some may say that nothing has changed since the 1790s except the might of the US Navy. Today's fleet commanders need the same qualities of Preble and Decatur...wisdom, courage, tenacity, and improvisation. The treaties negotiated were never sufficient unless they were backed by warships with broadsides ready and decks cleared for action. Paying ones enemies only emboldens them to demand more. Many can argue again that nothing seems to have changed again. One thing is for certain, the Navy must always be ready. That Navy must always have the Marines as well.
February 19, 2024
Proof that neither man nor war ever changes.
July 25, 2011
Great book about a little-known area of American history. The Barbary Wars were one of America's first foreign conflicts (excepting the naval Quasi-War with France) and have decided echoes today, as they marked the first time the United States found itself dealing with what would be today referred to as "rogue states" and hostage situations. The politicking, diplomacy (both straightforward and shady) and saber-rattling all sound quite familiar, though vastly complicated by the creeping pace of communications at the turn of the 19th century.
A.B.C. Whipple's writing is clear and interesting, and it's well-annotated; another quality title from Bluejacket Books (a subsidiary of the US Naval Institute).
A.B.C. Whipple's writing is clear and interesting, and it's well-annotated; another quality title from Bluejacket Books (a subsidiary of the US Naval Institute).
October 3, 2018
History of the Barbary Wars. Describes the political fights to build up a national navy, the initiative or lack there of in it's naval captains and the friction between diplomats and war fighters.
Why I started this book: Found a copy in our paperback exchange and since it's on my professional reading list I grabbed it. Turns out that it was easier to get the book than to get into it.
Why I finished it: Desperation. I ended up skimming the last couple of chapters just to proclaim that I had finished it... kind of like when the U.S. Navy declared themselves the winner and then stopped sailing in the Mediterranean. (Mostly because the Napoleonic Wars were heating up and the increased British impressment of American sailors.)
Why I started this book: Found a copy in our paperback exchange and since it's on my professional reading list I grabbed it. Turns out that it was easier to get the book than to get into it.
Why I finished it: Desperation. I ended up skimming the last couple of chapters just to proclaim that I had finished it... kind of like when the U.S. Navy declared themselves the winner and then stopped sailing in the Mediterranean. (Mostly because the Napoleonic Wars were heating up and the increased British impressment of American sailors.)
February 8, 2008
Pretty interesting account of U.S. affairs in the Mediterranean during the first years after Washington's presidency. While it drags in some areas, I think, overall, the foreign policy approach then is extremely relevant to today's political climate.
July 18, 2008
Whipple's book comes from the Naval Institute Press and is really an excellent analysis of the Barbary Wars when read in conjunction with the bio of Edward Preble and the Story of the Essex. The amalgam of writing for this timeframe provides unique insight into the life of our fore fathers.
April 4, 2009
The first Barbary War is really interesting...and to think I wasn't aware of its existance before reading this book. The chapter chronicling the burning of the US Philadelphia which has run aground in a Tripolitan harbor is especially vivid. Viva Decatur!
July 22, 2013
Whipple addresses how the US Navy and Marine Corps were re-established during the Barbary Pirate Wars and the sea power grew for the infant nation doing a job that the major powers ignored.
October 19, 2013
A good read but, having been written in 1991, its views on Muslims and their religion are a bit dated.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews