Combat· First Barbary War
Boat Landing East of Tripoli
On May 14, 1804, boats from the U.S. brig Siren and the schooner Vixen went ashore about 20 miles east of Tripoli and exchanged fire with Turks on shore. The Siren's barge, carrying its crew and 4 well-armed Marines, went in company with the Vixen's boats in order to plunder. A few minutes before the boats landed, Turks on shore fired a few musket shots at them. The boats returned the fire, and the Turks retreated into the bushes. At 7 o'clock, with the inhabitants gathering in numbers and night approaching, the party returned on board. The barge was back at 10 o'clock, and the brig stood to the north with the Scourge in company. The day before, the Siren had fired on a fort west of Tripoli while the squadron fired on the town, and 10 gunboats came out to attack. On May 11 the Siren's barge had gone out with 4 armed Marines after a brig, which proved to be the U.S. brig Scourge.
Podcast episodes on First Barbary War
Record no. 897