Combat· First Barbary War
John Adams and Enterprise vs Meshouda and gunboats
On 22 June 1803 the USS Adams, USS John Adams, and USS Enterprise located the corsair Meshouda and nine Tripolitan gunboats anchored near the beach.
After a bombardment of about forty-five minutes, the enemy abandoned the Meshouda and the gunboats escaped into shallow water. Some of the Tripolitans returned to the Meshouda, struck her colors, and partially blew her up before she was boarded and taken as a prize of the John Adams. The Marines aboard the American ships were at their stations through the action. The engagement showed the widening reach of squadron operations as American strength in the Mediterranean grew, and it removed one of Tripoli's larger cruisers from the war just as Commodore Preble was arriving to take command and press the campaign harder.
Podcast episodes on First Barbary War
Record no. 196