ANDREW STERETT

This was a very significant battle. The Barbary states had navies of corsairs who were very experienced in battle. The new United States barely had a navy and the Enterprise was just an armed schooner. When the Enterprise sighted the Tripoli, many in the crew thought that the American ship would run. The schooner was badly outgunned by the warship and just as badly outmanned. And the Tripoli sailors were battle hardened while the Americans had little battle experience. Yet Sterett not only attacked, but won one of the most one sided sea battles in which the United States has ever engaged. There were NO casualties for the Enterprise while half the Tripolitan crew was killed and the other half wounded. The Americans while not battle hardened were great sailors and they outmaneuvered the Tripoli and cut their rigging to pieces with very accurate gunnery. One reason that this quotation is so important is that it made the Americans realize that Americans could not only hold their own, but could defeat the Barbary corsairs even when outgunned and out manned. This created much confidence in President Jefferson and the other American leaders of the time. This Enterprise was the first of 4 American ships that would bear that name.

This was a very significant battle. The Barbary states had navies of corsairs who were very experienced in battle. The new United States barely had a navy and the Enterprise was just an armed schooner. When the Enterprise sighted the Tripoli, many in the crew thought that the American ship would run. The schooner was badly outgunned by the warship and just as badly outmanned. And the Tripoli sailors were battle hardened while the Americans had little battle experience. Yet Sterett not only attacked, but won one of the most one sided sea battles in which the United States has ever engaged. There were NO casualties for the Enterprise while half the Tripolitan crew was killed and the other half wounded. The Americans while not battle hardened were great sailors and they outmaneuvered the Tripoli and cut their rigging to pieces with very accurate gunnery. One reason that this quotation is so important is that it made the Americans realize that Americans could not only hold their own, but could defeat the Barbary corsairs even when outgunned and out manned. This created much confidence in President Jefferson and the other American leaders of the time. This Enterprise was the first of 4 American ships that would bear that name.