United States Joint Operations during the Tripolitan Campaign of 1805
Abstract
In 1801, Yusef Caramanli, ruler of Tripoli, declared war on the United States. Yusef expected the United States to agree to pay tribute in exchange for protection from Tripolitan corsairs. Instead, President Thomas Jefferson sent the navy. Four years later, the war continued. When a former consul to Tunis named William Eaton proposed using Yusef's brother Hamet in a campaign against Tripoli, Jefferson agreed to let him try. Eaton sought out Hamet in the Egyptian desert and assembled a mixed army of U.S. Marines, mercenaries, and Arabs. Eaton and his army then marched 500 miles across North African to the Tripolitan town of Derne. With assistance from the navy, Eaton captured Derne in America's first joint and combined military operation since the Revolutionary War. Alarmed by the fall of Derne, Yusef quickly agreed to a peace settlement in which the U.S. paid Yusef $60,000. Eaton protested that if the U.S. negotiator had not agreed to such shameful terms, Eaton could have captured Tripoli and enforced a more favorable peace. An examination of the evidence shows that Eaton's chances of success were poor and that the U.S. negotiator was correct in ending the war. Tripolitan war, Barbary wars, William Eaton, U.S. Navy--History, U.S. Marine Corps--History, Joint Operations-- History
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 03, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA284501
Entities
People
- David M. King
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College