Key Battles of American History

In this episode, Sean and James continue their discussion and review of The Pacific. In this episode, Sledge and the 5th Marines move into Peleliu's Bloody Nose Ridge to face the Japanese. In the ensuing battle, both Lieutenant "Hillbilly" Jones and Captain Andrew "Ack-Ack" Haldane are killed in the fighting about Hill 140. K company grieves while trying to finish securing the island.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1807 Treaty with Tripoli ended the First Barbary War, allowing American ships to sail freely in the Mediterranean without tribute payments. This victory spurred national pride, with many Americans viewing the war as a continuation of their revolutionary ideals. However, new challenges emerged in the Atlantic as the Napoleonic Wars intensified, pressuring U.S. trade. Jefferson's attempt to protect American neutrality through an embargo on Britain and France faced domestic resistance and ultimately proved ineffective. Tensions boiled over with the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, where a British warship attacked the U.S. Chesapeake, pushing the nations closer to conflict. In the Mediterranean, American withdrawals left U.S. ships vulnerable, leading to renewed pirate attacks that forced the U.S. to resume tribute payments. Jefferson's preference for a small, defensive fleet backfired, and America soon found itself unable to protect its Mediterranean interests. By 1812, escalating disputes with Britain led the U.S. to declare war, hoping British preoccupation with France would offer an advantage. American victories, particularly the USS Constitution's successes and the Battle of New Orleans, bolstered U.S. morale. The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 without territorial gains, but American resilience was solidified, and the British eventually ceased impressing American sailors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustaining heavy losses and fighting in exceedingly hot conditions with little drinkable water, the Marines move to capture Peleliu's vital airfield. Leckie is wounded by a blast concussion while trying to find a corpsman and a radio. With a face full of shrapnel and limited mobility, he is evacuated and sent to recuperate on a hospital ship. Meanwhile, Sledge and K Company of the 5th Marines prepare to attack the toughest Japanese defensive position on the island.  Join Sean and James as they discuss this incredibly intense sixth episode of The Pacific.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 6, we dive into two pivotal battles in the First Barbary War: Tripoli and Derne. It starts with  Stephen Decatur's dramatic assault on Tripoli Harbor in August 1804, where he led American gunboats against a larger Tripolitanian fleet, avenging his brother's death in single combat and shelling the city. Commodore Preble's daring attempts to destroy Tripoli's defenses are followed by the tragic loss of the USS Intrepid crew.  We then move to William Eaton’s ambitious overland march with a small band of Marines and mercenaries across the Libyan desert to Derne. Facing hunger, mutiny, and harsh terrain, Eaton's force managed to surprise Derne’s defenders, capturing the city in America’s first coordinated land-sea assault. Despite Eaton’s victory, peace talks led by Tobias Lear overshadowed Eaton’s campaign, forcing a strategic withdrawal that left Hamet Karamanli, Eaton’s ally, without power. Eaton returned home as a hero, but haunted by the treaty’s outcome. This episode captures the challenges of America’s first overseas conflict and the complicated peace that followed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Sean and James discuss Part 5 of The Pacific, in which Eugene Sledge goes into combat for the first time. Sledge is briefly reunited with Phillips on Pavuvu before Phillips departs to return home to Mobile. Sledge meets Merriell "Snafu" Shelton, R.V. Burgin, Bill Leyden, Gunny Haney, and his company commander Andy Haldane, all of whom will be his companions in the fighting come.  Later, the 1st Marine Division lands at Peleliu, where they encounter stiff resistance from the Japanese defenders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The USS Philadelphia, launched in 1799, played a crucial role in early American naval history but was captured by Tripolitan forces in 1803 after running aground near Tripoli during the Barbary Wars. Captain William Bainbridge attempted to prevent its capture by lightening the ship and destroying key materials but was ultimately forced to surrender, leading to his crew’s captivity and increased ransom demands. Commodore Preble responded by planning to destroy the Philadelphia to prevent it from strengthening Tripoli's forces, selecting Lieutenant Stephen Decatur for a daring raid to set the frigate ablaze. Decatur and his crew succeeded in a swift, covert operation that won admiration back in the U.S. and internationally, shifting the balance of the war in America’s favor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Previously limited by a heart murmur, Eugene Sledge enlists in the Marines and trains for combat, while Leckie and the 1st Marine Division are put into action at Cape Gloucester. The relentless rain and jungle environment takes its toll on the Marines. Leckie is treated for nocturnal enuresis caused by combat stress and is hospitalized for a number of weeks. The Marines (including both Sledge and Leckie) arrive on Pavuvu, which serves as a temporary base for the 1st Marine Division. Meanwhile, Basilone continues to promote war bonds in the U. S. but becomes increasingly disenchanted and longs to return to combat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The First Barbary War began in response to decades of harassment of American traders by North African pirates. Before becoming president, Thomas Jefferson faced renewed Barbary pirate attacks, with the Pasha of Tripoli threatening war unless more tribute was paid. Despite being known for his frugality and opposition to a naval buildup, Jefferson deployed a naval squadron, believing military force was cheaper and more effective than paying tribute.  In 1801, after the U.S. failed to meet the Pasha’s demands, Tripoli declared war, leading to naval skirmishes, including a decisive early victory by the USS Enterprise. Jefferson's efforts to blockade Tripoli faced setbacks, including the capture of the American frigate Philadelphia and its crew. This loss raised the stakes, with the Pasha demanding an even larger ransom, complicating efforts to resolve the conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal is relieved and arrives in Melbourne, Australia. Battle weary, many Marines go AWOL, engaging in drunken escapades. Leckie falls in love with an Australian girl of Greek descent, who invites him to stay at her parents' home. Not wanting to go through the pain of losing him, Stella breaks up with Leckie and tells him not to return. As a result, Leckie becomes belligerently drunk; when his friend Lew Juergens asks Leckie to relieve him on guard duty so he can urinate, an officer catches him, culminating in Leckie pulling a sidearm and both he and Juergens are punished and demoted. Basilone receives the Medal of Honor for his actions on Guadalcanal and is sent home to sell war bonds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Barbary States (Morocco, Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis) were the greatest thorn in the side of the young American republic after it won independence, preying on trade ships, enslaving American crews, and demanding levels of ransom that consumed much of the federal budget. But why did the Barbary states rely on piracy for economic survival and why couldn't they engage in typical commerce? In the 16th century, the Barbary States transitioned from Mediterranean trade to piracy after Spain's conquests and Ottoman expansion disrupted their economy. Algiers and other North African ports became notorious bases for corsairs, launching raids on European shipping under the protection of the Ottoman Empire. By the early 17th century, piracy became central to their economy, with hundreds of corsair vessels operating from Algerine ports, capturing ships and enslaving crews. However, by the late 1800s, the Barbary States' power had waned due to European naval interventions, reducing their fleets and influence significantly. But they were still a major threat, as the newborn United States was soon to find out. In this episode, James and Scott look at the origins of the Barbary States and understand their perspective in the Barbary Wars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.