Today In History................

In 1804............

Lt. Stephen Decatur U.S.N. in a captured ketch sailed into Tripoli harbor, recaptured the frigate U.S.S. Philadelphia from the pirates who had captured it when she ran aground in the harbor. Unable to get her out of the harbor, Decatur put her to the torch to keep her out of the pirate's hands.

No less than the greatest fighting man of the age of fighting sail, Horatio Nelson when told of the incident said: " It was the most bold and daring act of the age"