THE VIRGINIA DYNASTY 1801 1825
BARBARY PIRATES
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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He stole the ship back from Pirates
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He didn’t do anything
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He gave the ships to the Barbary pirates as a trap
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He burned the ship so the Pirates could not use it
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Detailed explanation-1: -She was captured by Barbary pirates in Tripoli with William Bainbridge in command. Stephen Decatur led a raid that burned her down, preventing her use by the pirates.
Detailed explanation-2: -The USS Philadelphia ran aground in 1803 on an uncharted reef during the Barbary Wars and the ship and crew were taken captive. In February 1804, Stephen Decatur Jr. (1779-1820) led a dangerous mission to free the ship from Tripoli harbor, but ended up setting it on fire to prevent its use by the enemy.
Detailed explanation-3: -Caption: NH 56735: Destruction of USS Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor, 16 February 1804. Artwork from the collection of Mr. Stephen Decatur, depicting Philadelphia afire after she was boarded and set ablaze by a party led by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur.
Detailed explanation-4: -The Americans approached the USS Philadelphia without drawing fire from the Tripoli shore guns, boarded the ship, and attacked its Tripolitan crew, capturing or killing all but two. After setting fire to the frigate, Decatur and his men escaped without the loss of a single American.
Detailed explanation-5: -Decatur was promoted to captain with the date of rank February 16, 1804. He was promoted to captain at the age twenty-five, largely for his daring capture and destruction of Philadelphia in Tripoli’s harbor, making him the youngest man ever to hold the rank.