The Barbary War - the first American war against Libya - was the first war waged by the United States outside national boundaries after gaining independence and unification of the country. The four Barbary States of North Africa - Morocco; Algiers; Tunis; and Tripoli - had plundered seaborne commerce for centuries. This was piracy on an extraordinary scale: they controlled all trading routes through the Barbary waters and North Africa: demanding ransom and booty for safe passage. In 1801 the newly elected President Jefferson ordered a naval and military expedition to North Africa in order to put down regimes that endorsed piracy and slavery. The Pasha of Tripoli declared war on the United States. Under the leadership of Commodores Richard Dale and Edward Preble; the US Navy blockaded the enemy coast and engaged in close; bitterly contested gunboat actions. On 16 February 1804 LT Stephen Decatur led 74 volunteers into Tripoli to burn the captured American frigate The Philadelphia. British Admiral Lord Nelson called the raid "the most daring act of the age". In 1805 Marines stormed the Barbary pirates' harbor fortress stronghold of Derna (Tripoli); commemorated in the Marine Corp Hymn invocation "To the Shores of Tripoli."The US Navy troops were recalled before they could secure their gains; but returned after the War of 1812. Their success then won worldwide admiration for the Americans and their Navy. They marked the way for the European nations to finally quash the Barbary States and end the piracy.This event marks the true birth of the US Navy and Marines and is ever remembered in the Marines' battle hymn.
#2769944 in Books 2009-06-30 2009-07-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x 6.25 x 1.00l; 1.58 #File Name: 1844159213352 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. I enjoy this book because it is easy to read include ...By Indra GunadiI enjoy this book because it is easy to read include battle maps;historical perspective and modern day photographs. It is impressive.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A ground-level view of the war...By HMS WarspiteAndrew Rawson's "The Peninsular War" does double duty as a concise survey of this phase of the Napoleonic wars; wrapped around a battlefield guide. The narrative of the war itself is short but serviceable; and braced up by an interesting collection of period illustrations. However; the best parts of the book are the diagrams; photographs; and maps showing the actual battlefields; from Rolica in Portugal in 1808 through Bayonne in France in 1814. The annotated photographs are a vivid reminder of the varied and often difficult terrain of the Iberian Peninsula; and the constraints it imposed on the combatants. This viewer particularly enjoyed the views of the battlefields at Fuentes de Onoro and Vittoria; where terrain played a key role in how the battles developed. There seems to be more robust photographic coverage of the later battles in the Pyrenees. The author has thoughtfully included driving directions for those interested in their own exploration of the Peninsular battlefields. Recommended to students of the conflict.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. ImpressiveBy RickI am not a fan of the Peninsular War; but this book is really impressive. It is a wargamer's dream come true. It has OOBs; battle maps; historical perspective; advice for visiting the battlefields and modern day photographs showing what happened where it happened and who did it. A great find indeed!
