During the First Barbary War, on Oct. 31

During the First Barbary War, on Oct. 31, 1803, the frigate USS Philadelphia ran aground on a reef two miles off Tripoli Harbor, while chasing a pirate ship. Her captain, William Bainbridge, jettisoned and destroyed material useful to the pirates before surrendering the ship, and crew into slavery. The corsairs refloated the ship and took it to Tripoli harbor. In February, 1804, Stephen Decatur and eighty seaman, entered Tripoli harbor in a small sailboat named the USS Intrepid, recaptured, and set the Philadelphia on fire to prevent her use by the corsairs. Bainbridge and his crewmen remained in captivity for nineteen months

Picture No

13125037

Media ID

45373088

Size

2400px x 1866px (1.1MB)

Credit

Mary Evans / The Everett Collection

Source

Courtesy Everett Collection