Sunday, February 20, 2011

Seafaring Sunday: Daring Decatur

February 16, 1804: In perhaps the most daring raid in U.S. Navy history, a force led by Stephen Decatur burns the USS Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor. The ship had been taken as prize by Barbary pirates the previous autumn.

Header: Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia in the Harbor of Tripoli by Edward Moran c 1897
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2 comments:

  1. Timmy!February 20, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    Ahoy, Pauline! Back when we didn't put up with pirates like we do now... Cool painting too.

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  2. PaulineFebruary 20, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    Ahoy, Timmy! That must have been so heart breaking for Philadelphia's crew, who I understand could see their ship burning from where they were being held. Different times and environment, of course, but what a bunch of butt kickers all those men were!

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