On April 27, 1805, something remarkable happened that forever shaped the legacy of the United States Marine Corps. For the first time in American history, the U.S. flag was raised on foreign soil after a military victory. The place: Derna, Libya. The occasion: a bold and daring mission during the First Barbary War.
While the story often gets overshadowed by more well-known conflicts, this victory at Derna marked a crucial milestone not only in the history of the Marines, but in the development of American military power abroad.
Background: The First Barbary War
In the early 1800s, the United States faced a serious challenge from the Barbary States a group of North African nations, including Tripoli (modern-day Libya), that demanded tribute payments in exchange for safe passage through the Mediterranean. When the U.S. refused to keep paying, conflict broke out.
President Thomas Jefferson authorized military action, leading to the First Barbary War (1801–1805). One of the most dramatic and successful chapters of that war unfolded in the coastal city of Derna.
A Bold March Across the Desert
The plan to capture Derna was ambitious. A small force of U.S. Marines, led by Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon, teamed up with William Eaton, a former Army captain acting as U.S. Naval Agent to the Barbary States. Together, they recruited a mixed group of Arab and European mercenaries fewer than 500 men in total.
Video:
The First Barbary War (History Channel)
Incredibly, this small force marched more than 500 miles across the Libyan desert, enduring extreme heat, food shortages, and constant risk of attack. Their goal: take Derna and force the ruling Pasha of Tripoli to negotiate.
Against all odds, they succeeded.
The Battle of Derna: April 27, 1805
The assault on Derna began with a naval bombardment from American ships offshore. On land, Eaton and O’Bannon led their small ground force in a coordinated attack. After hours of intense fighting, the city fell into American hands.
And then, for the very first time, the American flag was raised over a captured foreign city.
This moment was more than symbolic it showed that the young United States was capable of projecting power far beyond its borders, and it demonstrated the toughness and bravery of the U.S. Marines.
A Legacy That Lives On
The victory at Derna didn’t end the war immediately, but it was a turning point. The Pasha of Tripoli began to reconsider his position, and soon after, a peace treaty was signed.
Today, this campaign is memorialized in the opening lines of the Marine Corps Hymn:
“From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli…”
Those “shores” are the very beaches of Derna, Libya where American Marines once marched and fought to raise their flag for the first time overseas.
Video:
Barbary Wars | 3 Minute History
Final Thoughts
What happened in Derna on April 27, 1805, was more than a military operation it was a defining moment in U.S. history. It marked the first time America proved it could fight and win on foreign ground. It also solidified the reputation of the United States Marine Corps as a fierce and reliable fighting force.
Over two centuries later, the story of Derna continues to inspire and remind us of the courage, strategy, and perseverance that helped shape the role of the United States on the global stage.
