The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805

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Hachette Books, Jun 1, 2005 - History - 400 pages
A real-life thriller -- the true story of the unheralded American who brought the Barbary Pirates to their knees.

In an attempt to stop the legendary Barbary Pirates of North Africa from hijacking American ships, William Eaton set out on a secret mission to overthrow the government of Tripoli. The operation was sanctioned by President Thomas Jefferson, who at the last moment grew wary of "intermeddling" in a foreign government and sent Eaton off without proper national support. Short on supplies, given very little money and only a few men, Eaton and his mission seemed doomed from the start. He triumphed against all odds, recruited a band of European mercenaries in Alexandria, and led them on a march across the Libyan Desert. Once in Tripoli, the ragtag army defeated the local troops and successfully captured Derne, laying the groundwork for the demise of the Barbary Pirates. Now, Richard Zacks brings this important story of America's first overseas covert op to life.
 

Contents

Cast of Characters circa 1805
Prologue
Tripoli
Washington City
American Slaves in Tripoli City
New England Roots
Decaturs Raid
Alone at
Peace at Any Cost
An American Flag on Foreign Soil
Diseased Liverand Cold Feet 17 Tripoli Fear 18 Tripoli Harbor Lear to the Rescue 19 Derne Defiance
Peace? Freedom? Honor?
From a Kingdom to Beggary?
Lear Pays
Wounded and Restless
Homecoming

Yussef
Eaton Unleashed
Hunting Hamet in Egypt
White Christmas in Tripoli
Fresh Enemies and Money Money Money
The Desert
Jefferson vs Eaton
Burr Bottle and Six Feet Under
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Copyright

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About the author (2005)

Richard Zacks is a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School, a former syndicated columnist for the New York Daily News, and a freelance journalist for Atlantic Monthly, Time, the Village Voice, London Times, Life, and other publications.

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