WRITTEN IN SAND

An interesting historical recreation that highlights a small, tragic facet of one war -- the Tripolitan War of 1904, and the part that William Eaton played. Consul for four years in Tunie, Eaton had the East despised his infant republic, what a manage the were. When the Philadelpha's 300 men were taken prisoners, he conceived the play of Tripoli from the rest and and attempting to restore the rightful heir, the Bashaw, Hamet Karamanlt, to the throne. Receiving the empty title of Navy Agent to the Barbary States, Eaton returned to Egypt, found Hamet, collected his strange army and made a 1,000 mile march across the Libyan Desert -- in spite of the loss of irreplaceable supplies, without the necessary men or money, with Hamet a fearful, indecisive companion. Arriving at Bombs, Eaton's faith held, and the brig USS Argus did meet him, taking him and his motley force to Derne, where their attack was successful, though holding the seaport demanded all his vigor and determination. As they were ready to advance on Tripoli -- orders came for him to be evacuated, later he learned that the premature, weak, inglorious peace had been concluded with the usurper. A wild, unorthodox, but feasible plan, brought to its heartbreaking conclusion by a man who reached the level of his capabilities in carrying out his dream. Fact in fiction.