Description
THE TRUE STORY OF WILLIAM EATON AND THE UNITED STATESโ FIRST ATTEMPT AT REGIME CHANGEApril 27, 1805. The impasse in the four-year war between the Barbary pirate state of Tripoli and the United States is about to be broken. William Eaton has led his ragtag army of Greeks, Arabs, and U.S. Marines across five hundred grueling miles of sun-scorched desert from Alexandria, Egypt, to Tripoliโs heavily defended port fortress of Derna. Outnumbered ten to one, the exhausted, thirsty men carry out Eatonโs daring charge on the pirate fortressโand enter the history books and anthem of the U.S. Marines.
David Smethurst vividly chronicles Americaโs Barbary War and the pivotal role of William Eatonโfirebrand, soldier, and statesman. From the former army captainโs appointment as consul to the Barbary Coast in 1799 to the enemyโs capture of the USS Pennsylvania and her three hundred sailors to Eatonโs valiant attack and its stunning aftermath, Tripoli is a fascinating tale of polished diplomacy, raw heroism, and a man as fearless and independent as the young nation he represented. ISBN:9780891418597
