The National tribune., 1903-06-18
BIRTH OF AMERICAN PRESTIGE ABROAD.
Where Our Yankee Tars First Gained Recognition and Respect
for the Flag of the American Republic.
By H. M. RlSELEY.

which occurred during this war:
BATTLE OF THE ENTERPRISE AND TRIPoLI.
"The Enterprise carried off the honors
of fighting the first and on.y pitched battle
of the first year of the war. While on
the way to Malta, whittier she had been
ordered to accompany the President to Al
giers, she fell in with the Tripoll, no.
torious corsair, well known for the con-
slant and merciless warfare she waged
upon the American merchantmen. The
Stars and Stripes floating at the peak of
the American man-Of-war alarmed the
Moors, and they opened fire without wait
ing for a hail. The Enterprise took up
position alongside, and at 4 distance of less
than n pistol shot. Broadside succeeded
broadside in rapid succession. The aim
of the Americans was better than that OF
the enemy, and the effect of their fire was
observable whenever the breeze cleared
away the dense smoke that hid the vessels
from each other. They were quite equally
matched. The Enterprise carried II guns
and 30 men, while the Tripoli mounted Ii
guns and had crew of 50 men. For two
hours the battle coptsnued, and the roar
of the cannon and the rattle of small-arms
were incessant. The day was calm and
clear, with the still, warm air prevalent
in the Mediterranean. Hardly was the
breeze strong enough to carry away the
only blot on the fair surface of the fair
est of seas. At last the Americans noticed
that the fire of the enemy had ceased, and
when the smoke lifted they noticed thai
tn Tripolitan flag waved no longer in its
place. Leaving their guns the Americans
were preparing 10 board the prize, when
they were astonished to receive another
brOa dsidc and see the colOrs of their ad
versary again hOisted. With cries of rage
the Yankee seamen returned to their guns,
and, if they had fought boldly before, they
now fought viciously. The Tripolitans in
their turn eNerted every energy to con
quer. Bringing their vessel alongside the
Enterprise they strove repeatedly to board,
only 10 be beaten back again and again.
Finally, after receiving two raking broad
sides from the Enterprise. she again
struck her flag. This time Capt. Sterrett
was in no haste to consider the combat
ended. Keeping his men at the guns, he
ordered the Tripo,itan to come under the
quarter of the Enterprise. But no sooner
had the enemy done so than she renewed
the conflict for the third time, by attempt
ing to board. No quarter for the treacE-
erous dogs was then the cry on the Amer
lean vessel. The rest of the battle was
wholly in favor of the Enterprise. Sew
eral times she raked her antagonist. doing
great execution. Bitterly were the Tripod
itans punished for their treachery. Their
decks ran red with blood, half of their
officers We're shot down, the cries of their
wounded rose shrill above the thunder of
the cannon. Her flag was struck, but to
this the American gunners now paid no
heed. But. enraged though they were,
the Americans could not wholly cast aside
their feelings of humanity. Though they
had been twice deceived, they could not
keep up their attack upon vessel so
sorely stricken as to be unable to respond
to their fire. And when at last the COM
mander of the TripOlitan. venerable old
man with flowing beard, appeared in the
waist of the ship, sorely wounded, and,
bowling submiSsively, cast the cOlOrs of his
vessel into the sea, then the fire of the
Enterprise ceased, although the usages of
war would have justified the Americans in
exterminating their treacherous foe. Hav-
ing captured his enemy, Capt. Sterrett was
in some uncertainty as to what to do with
it. The instructions pnder which he sailed
gave him no authority to take prizes. After
some deliberation, he concluded to rob the
captured vessel of her power for evil. Ac-
cordingly he sent Lieut.. David Porter on
board the prize. with instructions to dis
mantle her. Lieut.. Porter carried out his
instructions admirably. With immense sat
isfactiOn the jackies he took with him
forced the TripOlitans TO cut away their
masts. throw overheard all their cannon,
cutlasses, pistols and other arms. and all
ammunition into the sea. Lieut. Porter
then pointed out to the crestfallen Tripoli-
tan Captain that the Enterprise had not
lost man in the action, while on board
the corsair not less than so were either
killed or wounded. Co. said he stern!v
to the covering Musselman, Go tell the
Bashaw of Tripoli. and the people of your
country, that in future they may expect
only tribute of powder and ball from the
sailors of the United States
''The battle between the Enterprise and
the Tripoli alone saved the first year of
the war from being entirely puerie Ger
tain it is that the distinguished naval Of
hcerS who accompanied the fleet to the
Mediterranean were so hedged about with
political red tape that they We're pOweress
to take n step in defense of the honor of
their. country. Foreign nations were be-
ginning to speak scornfully of the antics
OF the United States fleet in the Mediter-
ranean, as they were pleased to character.
lZe IT.. 1t is hard even at this late day to
regard the policy Of the United States Gov
ernment toward the Barbary Powers with
feelings other than of modification. Tu-
mis-. Tripoli, Algiers and Morocco con-
stantly preyed on our commerce, and en-
shaved our sailors. Commodore Dale,
however, through diplomacy, managed to
free few of the enslayed Americans.
Having blockaded the harbor of Tripoli
with the frigate President, he captured a
Greek vessel having a score or more of
Tripolitan soldiers on board. He then
sent word to the Bashaw that he would
exchange these prisoners for an equal mum.
Der of Americans; but the monarch appar.
emily cared little for his subjects, for he
replied that he would not give one Amer
lean slave for the whole lot After much
argument, however. an exchange was made
upon the basis Of three Tripolitans to one
Yankee.
THE SITUATION GROWS RAPIDLY WORSE.
"But the continued aggressions and ex-
tortionate demands of the Barbary Powers
became at last unbearable The first ey-
pedition TO the Mediterranean, under Com.
modore Dale, was but the premonitory
muttering before the storm. Commodore
Dale returned to the United States in De-
| cember. 1901, and his report led to the Or
ganiZation of the naval expedition tha.
was TO finally crush the piratical powers of
Barbary. And when the New Nation s'
war was done the American flag, from the
Strait Of Gibraltar to the Bosphorus, was
very highly respected indeed.
I'm 1872 another squadron was ordered
into commission for the purpose of chas.
tising the corsairs, and was put under the
command of Commodore Morris. The yes
sells detailed for this service were the
Chesapeake. 3S; Constellation. 3S: New
York, 36; John Adams. %: Adams. oS
and Enterprise. II. The Philadelphia and
| Essex, of Dale's snuadron had hoon 10,