Background
Stephen Decatur's squadron left New York on May 20th with orders to destroy Algerian vessels and bring the Dey of Algiers to terms for attacking American shipping. He reached the Strait of Gibraltar on the 15th of June and began his mission. After learning that several Algerian cruisers had crossed the Strait of Gibraltar shortly before he did, Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr. decided to give them chase and cut them off before they could reach Algiers.
Read more about this topic: Battle Off Cape Gata
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