Hortatio Nelson, himself one of naval history's boldest actors, called the burning of the frigate Philadelphia by the United States Navy in 1804 "the most bold and daring act of the age." It is one of the classic examples of a naval raid, a cutting-out action intended to deprive the enemy of a ship. It made Stephen Decatur a household name, both in Europe and the United States.

This Raid title describes the mission to retake the Philadelphia, providing the necessary background to understand the raid and following Decatur and his party on a minute-by-minute account as he approached, took, and burned the Philadelphia. It is a worthy supplement to Osprey's other books about the Federal Navy, making it of interest to both serious collectors and new readers.