Battle of Derne
- When
- 1805
- Where
- Libyan Desert; Derna, Cyrenaica; Outpost near Derna; Tripoli
- Episodes
- 4
The Battle of Derna was fought at Derna, Cyrenaica, in April–May 1805, when a mercenary army recruited and led by United States Marines under Army Lieutenant William Eaton and Marine First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon captured the Tripolitan city. After an initial capture, the allies endured a Tripolitan siege, and the war ended when Yusuf Karamanli signed the Treaty of Tripoli on 10 June 1805, ending hostilities.
Episodes
- Desert March
Eaton led a force from Egypt across the Libyan Desert, facing supply shortages and internal tensions among the diverse mercenary groups.
- Attack on Derna
O'Bannon led Marines and mercenaries in an assault on Derna in April–May 1805, capturing the city before the allies faced a subsequent Tripolitan siege.
- Tripolitan Counterattack
Tripolitan forces launched an attack against the city, targeting an outpost garrisoned by Hamet's cavalry, resulting in a four-hour battle.
- Peace Treaty
A peace treaty was signed between Yusuf Karamanli and Tobias Lear, stipulating the abandonment of Derna and the cessation of support for Hamet.
Background and detail
Background. William Eaton, a former Army captain and Naval Agent, received permission from President Jefferson to support Hamet Karamanli's claim to the Tripolitan throne. Eaton assembled a force including seven Marines under Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon. In March 1805, they began a 500-mile trek across the Libyan Desert from Egypt, facing supply shortages and tensions among the diverse mercenary groups.
Engagement. Eaton offered peace terms to the bey of Derna in exchange for loyalty to Hamet. O'Bannon led the Marines and Greek mercenaries in an attack, forcing Tripolitan defenders to reinforce the position. The Tripolitans later launched an attack against the city on 13 May, targeting an outpost garrisoned by Hamet's cavalry. The battle lasted four hours, with American guns assisting Hamet's forces.
Resolution. A peace treaty was signed between Yusuf Karamanli and Tobias Lear on 10 June 1805, stipulating the abandonment of Derna and the cessation of support for Hamet Karamanli. USS Constellation arrived on 11 June to inform Eaton of the treaty and order immediate evacuation. To prevent a massacre during the retreat, Eaton staged a fake attack preparation on 12 June before withdrawing his forces.
People involved
- William Eaton · Naval Agent and former Army captain
- Presley O'Bannon · Marine Corps First Lieutenant
- Hamet Karamanli · Claimant to the Tripolitan throne
- Mustafa Bey · Bey of Derna
- Tobias Lear · Treaty signatory
Sources
- Battle of Derna (1805) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-26
- First Barbary War Wikipedia
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.