Confederates in a Foreign Land
In February 1862, two Confederate agents, Henry Myers and Thomas Tunstall, arrived in Tangier, Morocco. U.S. Consul James DeLong, a staunch abolitionist, swiftly moved to arrest them, enlisting Moroccan soldiers and locking the men in chains within the American Legation.
Diplomatic Chaos and a Riot
The arrest sparked outrage among the European community in Tangier, leading to a riot outside the Legation. The Europeans, many sympathetic to the Confederates, demanded the prisoners’ release. DeLong stood firm, but the situation escalated, and he called for U.S. naval support.
Marines Land in Tangier
On February 26, 1862, 40 U.S. Marines from the U.S.S. Ino landed in Tangier to escort the prisoners back to their ship. The Confederates were taken to Massachusetts, eventually released in a prisoner exchange.
Morocco’s Unlikely Stance
Despite European protests, Moroccan officials sided with DeLong and the Union, prohibiting Confederate ships from Moroccan ports. This event marked the only deployment of Union troops outside the Americas during the Civil War.
The Civil War’s Unexpected North African Episode 🇺🇸
Confederates in a Foreign Land
In February 1862, two Confederate agents, Henry Myers and Thomas Tunstall, arrived in Tangier, Morocco. U.S. Consul James DeLong, a staunch abolitionist, swiftly moved to arrest them, enlisting… pic.twitter.com/s0Ud0wlryI— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TBBOB2) September 9, 2024