Battle off Cape Gata
Encyclopedia
The Battle off Cape Gata, which took place June 17, 1815, was the first battle of the Second Barbary War
. A squadron of vessels under the command of Stephen Decatur met and engaged the flagship of the Algerian Navy, the frigate Meshuda under Admiral Hamidou. After a sharp action, Decatur's squadron was able to capture the Algerian frigate and win a decisive victory over the Algerians.
n vessels and bring the Dey of Algiers to terms for attacking American shipping. He reached the Strait of Gibraltar
on the 15th of June and began his mission. After learning that several Algerian cruisers had crossed the Strait of Gibraltar
shortly before he did, Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr. decided to give them chase and cut them off before they could reach Algiers.
(also spelled 'Mashuda' or 'Meshuda') of forty-six guns off Cape Gata, Spain. Being heavily outnumbered the admiral Rais Hamidou
decided to try to flee to the port of Algiers
, but was overtaken by the American squadron. After receiving damage from the and the admiral himself being wounded, the Algerians instead decided to change course and try for the safety of a neutral port along the Spanish coast.
Unfortunately for the Algerians the Constellation and the sloop were able to close in and hammer the Algerian frigate. The Algerians resorted to replying with musket fire at close range, but Decatur was able to get his flagship the alongside the Algerian frigate. Firing a devastating broadside, the Guerriere crippled the enemy and killed the Algerian admiral. Decatur ceased firing, expecting the Algerian ship to surrender. Instead the Algerians continued to fight hopelessly with muskets as long as they were able. As a result Decatur had the sloop fire nine broadsides into the Meshuda with disastrous effect. The bloodied Algerians then struck their colors
and ended the battle.
Decatur continued to cruise towards Algiers, but his squadron encountered another Algerian cruiser off Cape Palos. After engaging and capturing the cruiser
Decatur was finally able to make it to Algiers. The loss of the Meshuda and Admiral Hamidou greatly weakened Algerian morale as well as their naval capabilities. Once the American squadron reached Algiers they met no further opposition and by a mere show of force were able to bring the Dey to terms, thus ending the war.
Second Barbary War
The Second Barbary War , also known as the Algerine or Algerian War, was the second of two wars fought between the United States and the Ottoman Empire's North African regencies of Tripoli, Tunis, and Algeria known collectively as the Barbary states. The war between the Barbary States and the U.S...
. A squadron of vessels under the command of Stephen Decatur met and engaged the flagship of the Algerian Navy, the frigate Meshuda under Admiral Hamidou. After a sharp action, Decatur's squadron was able to capture the Algerian frigate and win a decisive victory over the Algerians.
Background
Stephen Decatur's squadron left New York on May 20th with orders to destroy AlgeriaAlgeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n vessels and bring the Dey of Algiers to terms for attacking American shipping. He reached the Strait of Gibraltar
Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa. The name comes from Gibraltar, which in turn originates from the Arabic Jebel Tariq , albeit the Arab name for the Strait is Bab el-Zakat or...
on the 15th of June and began his mission. After learning that several Algerian cruisers had crossed the Strait of Gibraltar
Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa. The name comes from Gibraltar, which in turn originates from the Arabic Jebel Tariq , albeit the Arab name for the Strait is Bab el-Zakat or...
shortly before he did, Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr. decided to give them chase and cut them off before they could reach Algiers.
Battle
Commanding a fleet of nine vessels, he encountered the Algerian flagship MashoudaMashouda
The Mashouda or Mashuda was the Algerian fleet flagship during the Second Barbary War. It was captured by Stephen Decatur, leading to a favorable American position from which to bargain with the Dey of Algiers....
(also spelled 'Mashuda' or 'Meshuda') of forty-six guns off Cape Gata, Spain. Being heavily outnumbered the admiral Rais Hamidou
Raïs Hamidou
Raïs Hamidou is a suburb of the city of Algiers in northern Algeria....
decided to try to flee to the port of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, but was overtaken by the American squadron. After receiving damage from the and the admiral himself being wounded, the Algerians instead decided to change course and try for the safety of a neutral port along the Spanish coast.
Unfortunately for the Algerians the Constellation and the sloop were able to close in and hammer the Algerian frigate. The Algerians resorted to replying with musket fire at close range, but Decatur was able to get his flagship the alongside the Algerian frigate. Firing a devastating broadside, the Guerriere crippled the enemy and killed the Algerian admiral. Decatur ceased firing, expecting the Algerian ship to surrender. Instead the Algerians continued to fight hopelessly with muskets as long as they were able. As a result Decatur had the sloop fire nine broadsides into the Meshuda with disastrous effect. The bloodied Algerians then struck their colors
Striking the colors
Striking the colors is the universally recognized indication of surrender, particularly for ships at sea. Surrender is dated from the time the ensign is struck.-In international law:# "Colors. A national flag . The colors . ....
and ended the battle.
Aftermath
Four hundred and six Algerians were captured, with most being wounded as well as thirty killed. The American losses were remarkably light losing only four dead and ten wounded all on the Guerriere. Most of the American casualties were due to a gun explosion, but a few were due to enemy action. After sending the captured frigate off to CartagenaCartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
Decatur continued to cruise towards Algiers, but his squadron encountered another Algerian cruiser off Cape Palos. After engaging and capturing the cruiser
Battle off Cape Palos
The Battle off Cape Palos was the last battle of the Second Barbary War. The battle began when an American squadron under Stephen Decatur attacked and captured an Algerian brig.-Background:...
Decatur was finally able to make it to Algiers. The loss of the Meshuda and Admiral Hamidou greatly weakened Algerian morale as well as their naval capabilities. Once the American squadron reached Algiers they met no further opposition and by a mere show of force were able to bring the Dey to terms, thus ending the war.
Sources
- "Victory in Tripoli", by Joshua E. London pgs, 237-239
- Dictionary of American Fighting Ships:Epervier