Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1891 — The American Flag Victorious. [ARTICLE]

The American Flag Victorious.

The only town in the old world ever captured by the United States is the town of Derne, in Tripoli, on the north 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 ordei to secure safety for their vessels. England was the only nation feared by those 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 te secure her commerce, but in 1801 the Dey of Tripoli grew so bold as to declare war against the Unlte’d States, being dissatisfied with the payment 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 ] orts and raised the American flag over it. This was the first and 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.