The most obvious immediate solution to Tripoli’s mercenary and economic problem was to make the city a center of an expanded campaign. Briggs and the U.S. Navy would operate out of the harbor of Tripoli (complicated harbors and silting were problems along the entire North African coast from Alexandria to Algiers, save for perhaps the … More Empire of Liberty: Carthage
Excerpt from “Bald Eagles in Arabia: A Brief History of the U.S. Middle East” Originally founded by Greek colonizers and called Euesperides, the port of Bengazi far surpassed Derne as the leading harbor and chief center of commerce in Cyrenaica [1]. Briggs’ desired it for naval purposes. Eaton desired it as the next step in … More Empire of Liberty: To The Shores Of Tripoli
Excerpt from Lt. Thomas Barron’s “Adventures of the Company of General Eaton in Barbary”, Philadelphia 1819. “Early in the morning we sighted a sliver of red on the horizon; the coast of Egypt. As we approached the city unveiled itself dominated by the Pompey’s Pillar, a Roman column from centuries past that has towered above … More Empire of Liberty: Cyrene Song
“The board is set, the pieces are moving. We come to it at last… The great conflict of our time.” ~ Tsar Alexander I of Russia Excerpt from “Bald Eagles in Arabia: A Brief History of the U.S. Middle East” William Eaton was a consummate patriot and ardent Federalist. Hailing from New England, he … More Empire of Liberty: Strange Bedfellows
“Millions for defense, but not a cent for tribute!” ~ headline in the National Intelligencer Excerpt from “Bald Eagles in Arabia: A Brief History of the U.S. Middle East” Even before the Louisiana Alliance between France and the United States, America’s relations with North Africa could best be described as mixed. Morocco was the … More Empire of Liberty: The Barbary War
