Page "Second Barbary War" Paragraph 3

At the conclusion of the War of 1812, however, America could once again turn its sights on North Africa.

On March 3, 1815, the U. S. Congress authorized deployment of naval power against Algiers, and two squadrons were assembled and readied for war.

The squadron under the command of Commodore William Bainbridge was ported in Boston while Commodore Stephen Decatur's squadron was at New York.

Decatur's squadron was ready to set sail first and departed May 20, 1815.

It comprised the frigates USS Guerriere, the flag ship, with 44 guns, commanded by Captain William Lewis ; Constellation, with 36 guns, commanded by Captain Charles Gordon, and Macedonia with 38 guns, under the command of Captain Jacob Jones ; the sloops-of-war Eperyie, commanded by Captain John Downes, and Ontario with 16 guns, commanded by Captain Jesse D. Elliott ; the brigs Firefly, Spark and Flambeau, each with 14 guns, commanded by Lieutenants George W. Kodgers, Thomas Gamble, and John B. Nicholson ; and the schooners Torch and Spitfire, both with 12 guns, commanded by Lieutenants Wolcott Chauncey and Alexander J. Dallas.

Mr. William Shaler.