The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-09-24
OUR FIRST CONQUEST.
It Was the Capture of Derne in Tripell
in 1906.

It Was the Capture of Derne in Tripoll
in 1906.
The United States have not been
long in the conquering business, but
they have an excellentrecord. Amer
lean victories in Mexico at once sug-
gest themselves, but Mexico was not
the first of American conquests, and
the marines who fought so we'll at
Guantanamo have record of courage
far outdating the Mexican war.
The first place over the water above
which the American flag was hoisted
in conquest was the Tripolitan town
of Derne, the name Of which is in
scribed to this day on the rolls of the
marine corps. The story of the cap
ture of that town Is revived every
now and then and it is especially
worth retelling now, observes the New
York Sun. In 1897 President Wash
ington sent as consul to Tunis one
William Eaton, sergeant of the Rev.
dictionary army and graduate of
Dartmouth, who is said to have saved
Washington's life on one occasion.
Eaton had served in the New Hamp-
shire legislature and was q man of
ability and energy. He served nearly
six years as consul at Tunis. He was
more than consul in reality; he was
the American diplomatic agent, and in
that capacity, by his boldness and
acuteness, secured for American YES
sells immunity from the attacks of the
Tripolitan pirates exceeding that O.
any other power. In 1903 he wal
recalled; but the next year he returned
to act as United States naval agent
while Mr.. or Colonel Tobias Lear
President Washington's private secle
tary, became consul at Tunis.
Whatever may have been the dutie
of the naval agent in those piratica
times and places; Mr.. Eaton, at al
events, had some leisure on his hands
which he employed in aiding the de
throned sultan of Tripoli, Hamet
against the usurping duke, as Shakes
peare would have put it, the usurpin
duke being Jusuf Caramalli, Hamet'
} brother. To help along Hamet, Eato
went to Egypt, and thence marche
with 500 men against Derne. Tn
capital of the richest province of Tr
poll. His march lasted from "earl
| in 1905" until April 81, on which do
he and his army reached the city
There he was joined by a body
marines and sailors contributed b
Commodore Hull, who had come alon
in the Argus and Hornet.
On the morning of April 81, $780,
then, the army of the banished sultal
consisting of few hundred American
] and few thousand Arabs, attacke
3 the city. They bombarded it wit
! Commodore Hull's guns, and after
G hour of work the "blamed thing su
: rendered." as Jack Marlinspike is b
:, lieved to have said at the time.
all events, Commodore Hull raised tt
9 American flag over the city of Derne,
: the first time that it had ever foatt
over captured town. AS at Qua
5 tanamo, the mariuAs- distinguish
: themselves for bravery and aIl-arou,
2 abilities.
Eaton and Hull were congratulate
7 themselves on their exploit, the form
u being especially pleased because t
y possession of Derne would help hi
u in getting further concessions fre
~ either brother who happened to be 81
70 70 tan of Tripoli, when the news cal
u that Lear, the consul, had effected
i treaty with Jusuf Caramalli, by viii
i peace was to be made at once, and t
~ United States agreed to pay $4,000
~ certain American captives. Eaton "
u very angry. He had not been in t
VI conquering business for his heal
IL and now, just as he was about
: make good thing for the country a
~ himself out of what he had dol
d d comes along an outsider and NAL
" peace over his head before he had L
~ time to do anything with the inst
I'll men5 he had been so long gettl'
ar ar But it couldn't be helped Tobias L
III the,upper hand, the treaty was sign
or and Uncle Sam had to haul down
10 flag and see Derne return to Its p
u yious condition Of servitude.
Nh. Eaton (he got the title OF 6
eral because of his exploits return
~ to this country shortly after Lear
W W cut him out, and died on June l, i
he without having forgiven Lear.