On the northern coast of Africa, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, are
four countries known as the Barbary States. These are Tunis, Algiers,
Tripoli, and Morocco.
For more than four hundred years, these countries had been making a
business of sea-robbery. Their pirate vessels had seized and plundered
the ships of other nations, and the captured officers and men were sold
into slavery.
Instead of resisting these robbers, most of the nations had found it
easier to pay vast sums of money to the Barbary rulers to obtain
protection for their commerce.
The Americans had begun in this way, and had made presents of money and
goods to Algiers and Tunis.
Then the ruler of Tripoli, called the Bashaw, informed our government
that he would wait six months for a handsome present from us. If it did
not come then, he would declare war against the United States.
[Illustration: COMMODORE CHARLES MORRIS.]
This did not frighten the Americans at all. Their only reply was to send
a fleet of four ships to the Mediterranean. The intention was to force
the Bashaw to make a treaty which should insure safety for our ships.
This squadron did not do much but blockade the ports of Tripoli.
A year later, in 1802, a larger squadron was fitted out to bring the
Bashaw to terms. Commodore Morris was the commander. On one of the
vessels, the _Adams_, was Oliver Perry as midshipman.
Soon after the arrival of his ship in the Mediterranean, Oliver
celebrated his seventeenth birthday.
The captain of the _Adams_ was very fond of him, and succeeded in having
him appointed lieutenant on that day.
For a year and a half, the squadron of Commodore Morris cruised about
the Mediterranean. No great battles were fought and no great victories
were won.
The _Adams_ stopped at the coast towns of Spain, France, and Italy.
Through the kindness of the captain, Oliver was often allowed to go on
shore and visit the places of interest.
Commodore Morris, being recalled to America, sailed thither in the
_Adams_; and so it happened that in November, 1803, Oliver Perry arrived
again in America.
His father was then living in Newport, and Oliver remained at home until
July of the next year.
He spent much of his time in studying mathematics and astronomy. He
liked to go out among the young people, and his pleasing manners and
good looks made him a general favorite.
He was fond of music and could play the flute very skillfully. When not
studying, he liked most of all to ride horses, and fence with a sword.
While Lieutenant Perry was spending this time at home, the war in the
Mediterranean was still being carried on. Commodore Preble, who had
succeeded Commodore Morris, had won many brilliant victories.
The most daring feat of all this war was accomplished by Stephen
Decatur, a young lieutenant only twenty-three years old.
One of the largest of the American vessels, the _Philadelphia_, had, by
accident, been grounded on a reef. Taking advantage of her helpless
condition, the whole Tripolitan fleet opened fire upon her.
Captain Bainbridge, the commander of the _Philadelphia_, was obliged to
surrender. The Tripolitans managed to float the vessel off the reef, and
towed her into the harbor.
Captain Bainbridge, although a prisoner, found means to send word of his
misfortune to Commodore Preble, who was then at Malta, and the American
fleet at once sailed for Tripoli.
At the suggestion of Captain Bainbridge, the Americans determined to
burn the _Philadelphia_, rather than allow the Tripolitans to keep her.
This was a very dangerous undertaking, as the vessel was anchored in the
midst of the Tripolitan fleet. It was also within easy range of the guns
of the fort, commanding the harbor.
The task was given to Stephen Decatur. In order to deceive the enemy, he
took a small boat which had been captured from them a short time before.
Its crew was made up of volunteers, for the chances of escape were very
few.
[Illustration: STEPHEN DECATUR.]
Under cover of night, the little vessel sailed into the harbor, and, as
if by accident, ran into the _Philadelphia_. Before the Tripolitans
realized what had happened, Decatur and his men were climbing over the
sides of the vessel and through the port holes.
[Illustration: BURNING OF THE PHILADELPHIA.]
Decatur had ordered his men to use no firearms. He did not wish to
attract the attention of the Tripolitans who were in the fort and on the
other vessels in the harbor.
A desperate hand to hand fight ensued. In a few minutes the Americans
were in possession of the vessel. Some of the Tripolitan crew had been
killed; others had jumped into the sea.
The Americans then set the _Philadelphia_ on fire and jumped into their
boat to escape. Lieutenant Decatur was the last one to leave the burning
ship.
The situation of the little band was now desperate. The _Philadelphia_
was a mass of flames, lighting up the harbor for miles around.
Decatur's little boat could be plainly seen, and all the vessels and
forts opened fire on it. But the Tripolitans were too much excited to do
serious damage.
In a short time the fire reached the magazine of the _Philadelphia_ and
she blew up with a tremendous crash, leaving the harbor in darkness.
Decatur and his men escaped with but one man wounded.
This is only one of many deeds of bravery done in this war, but we can
not tell of them in this story. Lieutenant Perry, in his home in
America, heard of them, and longed to be on the scene of action.
He was very glad when, in the following September, he was ordered to
return in the _Constellation_ to the Mediterranean.
The American fleet in the Mediterranean was by this time so large that
the Bashaw was convinced that the Americans were in earnest.
He was glad to make a treaty of peace and release the prisoners on
payment of a small ransom.
In October, 1806, Oliver Perry returned to America. He was greatly
disappointed that he had not been able to take a more active part in the
war.
He spent most of the next two years in Newport, dividing his time
between study and his many friends.