<P> The turning point in the war was the Battle of Derna ( April -- May 1805 ) . Ex-consul William Eaton , a former Army captain who used the title of `` general '' , and US Marine Corps 1st Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led a force of eight U.S. Marines and five hundred mercenaries -- Greeks from Crete , Arabs , and Berbers on a march across the desert from Alexandria , Egypt , to capture the Tripolitan city of Derna . This was the first time the United States flag was raised in victory on foreign soil . The action is memorialized in a line of the Marines ' Hymn -- `` the shores of Tripoli '' . The capturing of the city gave American negotiators leverage in securing the return of hostages and the end of the war . </P>
<P> The turning point in the war was the Battle of Derna ( April -- May 1805 ) . Ex-consul William Eaton , a former Army captain who used the title of `` general '' , and US Marine Corps 1st Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led a force of eight U.S. Marines and five hundred mercenaries -- Greeks from Crete , Arabs , and Berbers on a march across the desert from Alexandria , Egypt , to capture the Tripolitan city of Derna . This was the first time the United States flag was raised in victory on foreign soil . The action is memorialized in a line of the Marines ' Hymn -- `` the shores of Tripoli '' . The capturing of the city gave American negotiators leverage in securing the return of hostages and the end of the war . </P>
how did the us win the war against the barbary states
how did the us win the war against the barbary states
capture the Tripolitan city of Derna
capture the Tripolitan city of Derna