#second barbary war

[ltwilliammowett]

The Battle of Cape Gata 17 June 1815 by Patrick O’Brien

The battle off Cape Gate took place on June 17, 1815, and was the first battle of the Second Barbary War (1815-1816). The American squadron, under the command of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr., had orders to destroy Algerian vessels and bring the Dey of Algiers to terms for attacks on American shipping. The American squadron met and engaged the frigate Meshuda, commanded by Admiral Hamidou and the flagship of the Algerian Navy, off the coast of Cape Gate, Spain. The Algerian forces were outnumbered and tried to flee, but the American vessels quickly overtook them. The victory was secured with few American casualties: 4 killed and 10 wounded, compared to the 30 killed, numerous wounded, 406 prisoners of war, and one captured frigate from the Algerian Navy. This victory enabled the American commander to fulfill his orders to bring the Day to terms, and helped secure the eventual end of the war.

[ltwilliammowett]

Fighting Ladies of 1815 by Duncan Gleason 1930                                              

The first squadron of the second Barbary War 1815. The flagship of Commodore Stephen Decatur the USS GUERRIERE of 44 guns, the USS CONSTELLATION of 36 guns and the USS MACEDONIAN of 38 guns along with seven smaller warships- Sloops of War EPERVIER and ONTARIO, Brigs FIREFLY, SPARK and FLAMBEAU and Schooners TORCH and SPITFIRE.