Combat· First Barbary War
Battle of Derne
After an extraordinary overland march from Egypt, William Eaton's small force reached Derne on the Tripolitan coast, and on 27 April 1805 attacked the city under the bombarding guns of the USS Argus, Hornet, and Nautilus.
The land assault was led by Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon and a detachment of Marines, alongside a company of cannoniers, a company of Greeks, Hamet Karamanli's followers, and a few Arabs on foot. They stormed the defenses and raised the American flag over Derne, the first time American colors flew over a captured fortification in the Old World. Of the Christians in the assault, three were Marines killed or wounded: Private John Whitten was killed, Private Edward Steward was wounded and died at Derne on 30 May, and Privates David Thomas and Bernard O'Brien were wounded. Eaton warmly praised O'Bannon's gallantry. The victory rattled the Pasha at Tripoli and helped bring the war to a negotiated close.
Podcast episodes on First Barbary War
Record no. 15