Our Flag Victorious in the Old World

The only town in the Old World ever captured by the United States is the town of Derne, in Tripoli, on the northern coast of Africa.

The inhabitants were chiefly Moors, Turks, and Arabs, of the Mohammedan religion. The ports of the Barbary States--Algiers, Morocco, Tunis, and Tripoli--were infested with pirates, who darted out upon vessels which sailed up and down the Mediterranean Sea, and, after plundering them, either murdered the crew, or sold them into slavery. These pirates became the terror of Europe; and some mercantile countries had to pay a yearly tribute, in order to secure safety for their vessels.

England was the only nation feared by these pirates; and, so long as American vessels sailed under the English flag, they were reasonably secure: but, when the United States became a separate nation, the pirates demanded tribute.

For a time the government paid the tribute, as the easiest way to secure her commerce; but in 1801 the Dey of Tripoli grew so bold as to declare was against the United States, being dissatisfied with the payments of the tribute.

For four years a series of fights took place, until, in 1804, the American navy having been increased in the Mediterranean Sea, a vigorous attack was made upon the pirates. Gen. Eaton succeeded in taking Derne, one of their ports, and raised the American flag over it: this was the first and the last time our flag was unfurled in victory over a foreign town. A treaty of peace was made, prisoners were exchanged, and piracy for a time came to an end.