On 27 August 1816, a combined Anglo-Dutch fleet of over twenty-five ships, under the command of Admiral Lord Exmouth, attacked the North African city of Algiers. Its objective was to destroy the power of the Barbary Corsairs based ther and also to release those christian slaves held in captivity in the fortress. The bombardment lasted ten hours and only after the city had been extensively damaged did the Bey agree to a surrender. Casualties on both sides were extremely high, but the seaborne assault was a complete success and about 1,650 enslaved prisoners were liberated from Algiers and the surrounding area.