jbowman 's review for:

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History by Don Yaeger, Brian Kilmeade

adventurous informative

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🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences 

1. US economic ship trade is interrupted by Tripoli pirates attacking and taking prisoners. 

2. Thomas Jefferson and the US establish the US Navy to fight the Tripoli Pirates off the coast of North Africa. 

3. The US Navy through a combination of naval might, land forces, and diplomacy establish a peace with the Tripoli countries. 

🎨 Impressions 

This was the first history novel I have every read and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The book does a good job of laying the background for the US during that time. The country was still in its infancy and there was a quite a bit of deliberation as to what to do with the Tripoli Pirates. 

The book has heroes, villains, and unfortunate mishaps. It did a great job telling the history while keeping the reader engaged in the narrative of it all. 

☘️ How the Book Changed Me 

Hard to say how I was “changed”, overall, it has me more interested in reading history and a greater appreciation for the social and political nuances that people faced even in those times. It was interesting to see that things like image, publicity, and pride maintained such a central place in leadership back then, even as it still does today. 

✍️ My Top 3 Quotes 

“I hope I shall never again be sent to Algiers with tribute unless I am authorized to deliver it from the mouth of our cannon.” —Captain William Bainbridge, USS George Washington 

“When the Americans boarded the enemy’s vessel, they saw a scene of terrible carnage. Thirty men had been killed, another thirty wounded. Bodies lay in pools of blood, as rivulets of red poured through the ship’s hatches. An amazed Sterett found that, in comparison with the slaughter aboard the Tripoli, the Americans had sustained no casualties, with no one either killed or injured. He ordered his surgeon to minister to the enemy wounded, as the Tripolitan surgeon was among the dead.” 

“The bashaw was as humiliated as the Americans were proud. “So strong was the sensations of shame and indignation excited [at Tripoli],” reported the National Intelligencer on November 18, 1801, that Bashaw Yusuf “ordered the wounded captain to be mounted on a Jack Ass and paraded through’ the streets as an object of public scorn.”14 Wearing a necklace of sheep entrails, the admiral was bastinadoed—beaten with five hundred strokes of a switch delivered to the soles of his feet.” 

📒 Summary + Notes 

1.      Americans Abroad 

·        I can’t imagine leaving one of my daughters in another country for my new job. I know the health concerns of sea travel, but I think I would’ve risked it anyway 

2.      Secretary Jefferson 

·        It is admirable the Jefferson felt conviction (rightly so) that it would take military action to stop the pirates. His foresight is a driving force that themes in the entire book. 

3.      The Humiliation of the USS George Washington 

·        Captain Bainbridge has a bad reputation, and it was expounded on heavily in this book. 

·        When he allowed the natives to guide his ship into the harbor (which effectively trapped them as hostages), this was a huge error that cost the US resources and reputation 

4.      Jefferson Takes Charge 

·        Very cool to see the US Navy be established 

5.      A Flagpole Falls 

6.      The First Flotilla 

7.      Skirmish at Sea 

·        Dale holding Murat Rais captive in the port while his other ships set up the blockade and engaged the enemy is one of the coolest things in the book. 

·        This was such a great introduction to the marines as well as lieutenant Steratt; they are so bad ass here. Sustaining no casualties. 

8.      Patience Wears Thin 

9.      The Doldrums of Summer 

·        Captain Morris bringing his wife and kids on the voyage and essentially taking a long vacation is so pathetic. No wonder none of his men respected him. 

10.   The Omens of October 

11.   The Philadelphia Disaster 

·        Although not as much his fault, Bainbridge losing this second ship cements his incompetence in my mind. 

·        Thinking it runs aground, abandoning it, getting captured, and then the enemy getting it unstuck and having it at their disposal is a massive embarrassment. 

12.   By the Cover of Darkness 

·        He was only modestly introduced in different parts of the book, but this is really Stephen Decatur’s moment of glory. Sneaking aboard and setting the Philadelphia on fire is simply incredible. They did a good job showing his exploits because of his prominence later in the War of 1812 

13.   The Battle of Tripoli 

·        This is my most memorable part of the chapter. A great battle here excellently told, I will think of Stephen Decatur’s exploits when I remember this book and the tragedy of his brother James. 

14.   Opening a New Front 

15.   Win in the Desert or Die in the Desert 

·        The capturing of Derne is also an awesome moment in this book. The trifold attack from the front, sea, and the back shows Eaton’s tactics and bravery. 

16.   Endgame 

·        Hard to end a book this way but I think about the deception of Lear who was only looking out for his own political gain. Which ended up costing the US money that the Bashaw would’ve have freely given up. 

17.   Fair Winds and Following Seas 

18.   Afterword