THE WAR WITH ALGIERS.
When the war with Great Britain broke out in 1812, it was no longer
possible to keep ships cruising in the Mediterranean to overawe the
States of Barbary. It was true that the severe lesson which Tripoli had
received from Commodore Preble in 1804 was well remembered, and the
Pasha had no desire to have it repeated. But Algiers, the most powerful
State upon the northern coast of Africa, had always cherished a
contemptuous feeling for the United States, which was still weakly
paying tribute; and no sooner did the Dey learn that England, the
mistress of the seas, was at war with the American Government, than he
resolved to take advantage of the stress thus put upon the American Navy
to break his treaty obligations. In order that he might have some
pretext, he made complaint that the naval stores sent to him were not so
good as the treaty called for, and after extorting by savage threats a
heavy payment from the Consul of the United States, he finally expelled
him, with all the other Americans, from his dominions. He even went
beyond this, and took up again his old trade of pirate, capturing the
brig "Edwin," of Salem, and imprisoning her officers and crew, whom he
refused to release even on payment of the heaviest ransom.
So matters continued during the war, it being impossible, as we have
seen, to send out ships-of-war to the Mediterranean. But the moment that
peace was declared, all this was changed. The navy, which had for nearly
three years successfully defied the power of Great Britain on the sea,
was not likely to shrink from an encounter with the corsairs of Algiers;
and the American people, who had learned their strength, were no longer
willing to submit to the encroachments of a petty barbarian prince.
Besides, the navy, so far from having been destroyed in the war, was
stronger than at the beginning. Of the larger frigates there still
remained the "Constitution," the "United States," the "Constellation,"
and the "Congress;" and during the last year of the war others had been
built, too late, indeed, to be of service against Great Britain, but
ready now for conquests over a new enemy. There was the "Independence,"
the first American line-of-battle ship, of seventy-four guns, and there
were the splendid frigates "Guerrière" and "Java," named after the
prizes of 1812.
It was with joyful prospects that the new squadron, composed of eleven
sail, under the command of Commodore Decatur, who hoisted his broad
pennant in the flagship "Guerrière," set out from New York on the 20th
of May, 1815, bound for the Mediterranean. The squadron stood directly
across the Atlantic, making a quick passage, and heading cautiously for
the Strait of Gibraltar, arrived before any news of its departure had
reached that quarter of the globe. It was Decatur's hope to take the
Algerines by surprise while they were cruising, and his precautions were
rewarded by success.
Touching at Tangier for information, and learning that the Algerine
vessels had been heard from but a short time before, the commodore
proceeded up the Mediterranean, and off Cape de Gatt he fell in with the
enemy's flagship, the "Mezourah," commanded by the Rais Hammida, the
bravest and most skilful officer in the Algerine navy. The "Mezourah"
was a beautiful frigate, originally a Portuguese, and sailed uncommonly
fast. Hammida at first supposed that the ships were English, as no one
could dream that an American squadron of such force was in that
neighborhood; but one of the vessels having hoisted American colors by
mistake, he was undeceived, and speedily took to his heels. The
"Constellation," being nearest to him, opened fire; but Decatur could
not resist the temptation, and signalling to her to sheer off, he dashed
up in the "Guerrière" until he was alongside the enemy. Then he gave her
one of those thundering broadsides which had so many times carried
dismay and destruction to English frigates. The Rais was killed, his
body cut in two by a shot; his ship was shattered, and his people fell
on all sides about the decks. The survivors were demoralized, and hardly
returned the fire. A second broadside was discharged, and the "Mezourah"
turned to flee; but the little "Epervier," herself a trophy of the last
war, was in her path, and the Algerine surrendered.
Two days later the squadron fell in with another of the enemy's ships,
the brig "Estedio." She took to flight, and being near the Spanish
coast, ran into shallow water, where the large ships could not follow
her. The brigs and schooners were sent in after her, and attacking her
hotly, she was run ashore, and presently surrendered. She was floated
off without much delay, and was sent with the other prize to Carthagena.
Further concealment was useless; and the commodore, having now nearly
five hundred Algerine prisoners, decided to proceed to Algiers, and on
the 28th of June he entered the bay. The Dey was amazed at the sight of
the squadron, and, fearful for the safety of his cruisers, all of which
were now out, he sent the captain of the port with the Swedish
consul-general to ascertain the purposes of the American commodore.
Decatur received them with due ceremony, dressed in his full uniform and
surrounded by his officers. After exchanging courtesies, he asked the
captain of the port what had become of the Algerine squadron.
"By this time," answered the wily Turk, "it is safe in some neutral
port."
"Not the whole of it," rejoined the commodore; and then he told the
story of Hammida's death, and the capture of the "Mezourah" and the
"Estedio."
This did not satisfy the official, who shook his head and smiled, as
much as to say, "That is all very well, but you don't expect _me_ to
believe your story."
"Wait a moment," said Decatur; and he sent for the "Mezourah's"
lieutenant, who, coming on deck enfeebled by his wounds, briefly recited
the circumstances of the two captures.
The captain of the port was no longer incredulous, but began to realize
the seriousness of the situation. Alarmed and anxious, he asked the
commodore what terms he offered. Decatur's reply was brief: "No tribute;
no ransom; liberation of all American captives; immunity of all American
ships and crews in future."
Hearing this answer, the captain of the port hesitated and proposed a
truce, during which the commissioners should negotiate on shore. But the
commodore declared that all the discussion should be on board his
flagship, and that he would not cease from hostilities a moment until
the treaty had been signed. With this answer the captain of the port
returned to his master.
The Dey's wrath was great when he learned the news, but his alarm was
even greater. On the next day the captain of the port returned, and the
commodore gave him a copy of the proposed treaty. Still he demurred,
seeking to gain time. He asked again for a truce, and again it was
refused. He begged for three hours to consider the terms, but the
commodore answered, "Not a minute;" and he added to the messenger, "If
your squadron or one of your ships appears in sight off the port before
the treaty is signed, I will capture it." All that he would promise was
that if the boat, returning with the treaty signed, should hoist a white
flag, hostilities should then cease. The captain of the port then took
the treaty and pulled for the landing five miles away.
Not long after his departure an Algerine corvette hove in sight at the
entrance of the bay. The flagship made signal for a general chase, and
Decatur himself bore down upon her in the "Guerrière." All this the Dey
saw from his palace, and bitterly as he felt the humiliation, he did not
long hesitate in affixing his signature and sending the treaty back.
Soon the returning boat made its appearance, with the white flag hoisted
which had been agreed upon as the signal that the treaty had been
signed; and the commodore, who had prepared to board the Algerine and
have a battle like the old contests before Tripoli, hauled off shore and
returned to his moorings.
The boat approached rapidly, her progress quickened by the anxiety with
which the captain of the port had watched the squadron's movements.
"Is the treaty signed?" asked the commodore in his peremptory way when
the Swedish consul came on deck.
"It is here," replied the consul, as he delivered the document.
"And the prisoners?" continued Decatur.
"They are in the boat."
As they were speaking, the Americans, who after three years of
confinement and suffering were now to be set free, reached the
quarter-deck, where they were warmly greeted by their deliverer.
This prompt action of Decatur at Algiers, and the treaty which resulted
from it, put an end forever to the piratical depredations of the Barbary
States upon American commerce, and the example set by the United States
was soon after followed by England, so that Mediterranean piracy in a
short time thereafter ceased to exist. On the 8th of July the squadron
weighed anchor and proceeded to Tunis. During the late war the
neutrality of this port as well as that of Tripoli had been violated by
British cruisers, which had seized within the two harbors the prizes of
an American privateer, without opposition from the authorities.
Commodore Decatur now proposed to obtain satisfaction for the outrage.
[Illustration: "ACCOMPANIED BY ABDALLAH THE DRAGOMAN, I LEFT THE
CANAL."]
The consul of the United States at Tunis, Major Noah, was waiting for
Decatur's arrival. He says:--
"On the 30th of July, about noon, we observed signals for a
fleet from the tower at Cape Carthage, and shortly after the
American squadron, under full sail, came into the bay and
anchored. Nothing can be more welcome to a consul in Barbary
than the sight of a fleet bearing the flag of his nation; he
feels that, surrounded by assassins and mercenaries, he is
still safe and protected, and an involuntary tribute of
admiration is paid by the Mussulmen to that nation which has
the power and the disposition to command respect. The flags of
all the consulates were hoisted, and I lost no time in riding
to Goletta, for the purpose of communicating with the squadron.
On my way, a Mameluke on horseback presented me a letter from
Commodore Decatur, announcing peace with Algiers, and desiring
to know the nature of our differences with Tunis. I had already
prepared the documents and arranged the plan of procedure which
I intended to suggest to the commodore. On my arrival at
Goletta the Minister of Marine ordered the Bey's barge of
twelve oars to be prepared for me, and arranged the silk
cushions in the stern, and, accompanied by Abdallah the
dragoman, I left the canal.
"The squadron lay off Cape Carthage, arranged in handsome
order; the 'Guerrière,' bearing the broad pennant of the
commodore, was in the centre, and the whole presented a very
agreeable and commanding sight. In less than an hour I was
alongside the flagship, and ascended on the quarter-deck. The
marines were under arms, and the Consul of the United States
was received with the usual honors. Commodore Decatur and
Captain Downes, both in uniform, were at the gangway, and most
of the officers and crew pressed forward to view their
fellow-citizen."
After an interview with the consul, Commodore Decatur wrote a letter to
the Bey demanding an indemnity for the captured prizes. This was duly
delivered, and the consul, going ashore, had several interviews with the
Tunisian minister. Next day Captain Gordon and Captain Elliott were
presented to the Bey, who consented, much against his will, to pay the
money.
Three days later the squadron sailed for Tripoli, where a similar demand
was made. The Pasha hesitated; but on learning what had happened at
Tunis and Algiers, and remembering what this same Captain Decatur had
done ten years before in his own harbor, he concluded that it would be
wiser for him to yield. So he paid the money, and in addition released
ten Neapolitan captives, whom Decatur desired to restore to their native
country, as a return for the favors which the King of the Two Sicilies
had shown the squadron in the earlier war.
Thus was accomplished the whole object of Decatur's mission in fifty
days after his arrival in the Mediterranean. Since that day there has
been no trouble with the States of Barbary. The effect of Decatur's acts
was rendered tenfold greater by the appearance of another squadron a
month later, under Commodore Bainbridge, with his broad pennant on the
new line-of-battle ship "Independence," and having with him besides the
frigate "Congress" and three other vessels. The three ports of Barbary
were visited in succession; and great was the astonishment of the Turks
at this second display of naval strength. "You told us," said the
Algerine Prime Minister to the British Consul, "that the Americans would
be swept from the seas in six months by your navy; and now they make war
upon us with some of your own vessels!"
Late in September the frigate "United States" with four sloops in
company arrived at Gibraltar, and here all the squadrons assembled in
one great fleet under Commodore Bainbridge,--the grandest fleet which
had ever been gathered under the flag of the United States. There was
the great seventy-four the "Independence;" five frigates,--the captured
"Macedonian," the "United States" which had captured her, the new
"Guerrière," the "Congress," and the "Constellation;" the sloops "Erie"
and "Ontario;" the brigs "Firefly," "Flambeau," "Saranac," "Boxer,"
"Enterprise," "Spark," and "Chippewa;" and the schooners "Torch,"
"Lynx," and "Spitfire,"--in all eighteen sail. And it was no slight
satisfaction to the officers of the American squadron, when in this
British port, that its two commodores were Bainbridge and Decatur, each
of whom had taken a British frigate, and that the "Macedonian" and the
"Boxer" were in the squadron, and flying the stars and stripes of the
country that had captured them.[3]
[Footnote 3: It is an interesting fact, and one which, as far as I know,
has never before been published, that when the practice squadron under
Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Luce, sailed in 1865 to Europe, having on
board the midshipmen from the Naval Academy, a singular rencontre took
place in the English Channel. Meeting an English frigate, Captain Luce
hailed from the quarter-deck,--
"Ship ahoy! What ship is that?"
"Her Majesty's ship 'President,'" came the answer. "What ship
is that?"
"The United States ship 'Macedonian,'" replied Captain Luce;
for, strangely enough, the two vessels which half a century
before had changed sides as prizes in the War of 1812 were now
exchanging peaceful greetings under the flags of their
respective conquerors.]