The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-10-02

fnllauelphla CathOllcS Qld the duties or
patriots and heroes in the strife that
ton. engagements which. says Frederick
won the victories Of Trenton and Prince
the Great of Prussia. were the greatest
recorded in military annals"
At Port Penn, Barry spied large
schooner, mounting ten guns and flying
the British flag. With he, were four
transport ships. loaded with provisions
for the enemy. Though the sun had
risen, Barry succeeded in running his
boats alongside the schooner, and be-
fore the British suspected their pres
ence, Barry's brave men were Chamber
sistance; the English threw down their
arms and rushed below. The victor!
GUS Americans battered down the
matches. ordered the four transports to
surrender. and. on pain of being fired
into, triumphuntly carried all five prizes.
Thus thirty brave patriots. under the
guidance OF the gallant Irish American
captain, captured one schooner. four
of ammunition and merchandise, and
$50 English soldiers.
The English angerei, and mortified at
this daring and successful exploit of the
dashing Irish American. Immediately
sent frigate and sloop-of war after
Barry. Fearing that he might be
robbed of the fruits of his victory, Barry
put the transports in charge Of Capt.
Middleton, while he with the schooner,
made for the Chrlstiana River. in the
hopes of taking her into shallow water
WHITTIER the heavier British vessels could
not follow. But, unluckily for his plans,
the wind favored the frgatc: and she
gained OH him so rapidly that only by
the greatest expedition could Barry run
the captured vessel ashore and escapc'
Two Of her guns were pointed down
the main hatch, and few rounds OF
round shot were fired through the
schooncr's bottom. She sank quickly
shore in safety.
Barry's conduct in this enterprise won
for him the admiration of friends and
foes alike. Sir William Howe. COM
mandcr-in chief of the English forces,
offered the daring Irish hAmcrican co.
600 and the command of British
squadron If he would desert the service
of the United States. TO this base pro-
posal the Father of the American
Navy" replied Mot the value and
| command OF the whole British fleet can
sednce me from the cause Of my adoptcd
country"
For this and the many other success.
ful raids on the cncmy's ships, Wash.
| ington wrote to Barry, saying: II con.
elatulate you on the success which has
crowned your gallantry. Although cir
cumstances have prevented you from
reaping the full benefit Of your con-
quests. yet there lis ample consolation In
the degree Of glory which you hav. ac
quired" "FOr buldnnss of design and
dexterity of execution" says Frost, "it
was not surpassed, If cqualcd during
| the war"
In June. 1880. Barry was given COM
| mnnd of the Alliance. SO named in honor
of the treaty of alliance concluded with
| Catholic France. On Feb. II. 1881, the
Alliance sniled from Boston to France
! carrying as passengers Col. I.aur .na, the
F., special commissioner of the United
| States to the court Of I.o'Iis, XVI "at
| that infinitely critical posture OF our
nTr ni In, I,.
ton in IL letter to Franklin. On the way
! to France she captured the ALERT, of
| twelve guns. On March % tn" Alliance
| left the French port OF IOncrt for
America, loaded with clothing for the
! suffering patriots.
The following Will serve to give an
| idea how the gallant Irish American an, +,
poycd his time: "On April .. I1%l," says
the log, eve captured two brigs.-the
Mars and the Minerva. 'rhe former vcs-
sci was one that had previously been
captured from the Americans. May 3,
captured the brig kesslcr. May %,
after Il severe engagement forced the
Atlanta and Trcpnssy {" lower their
| ttIOrS. frDSt IN ms naval BIO
graphy." referring to this engagement,
| says: at was considered II mos, brilliant
exploit and an uncIuivncnl evidence of
the unconqucrablc lrmncss and intrepid :
| ty of the victor
While The ship was undergoing repairs
the victory of Yorktown hId been won
and Corvallis army captured This
glorious victory required the Alliance TO
be employed in another way. Accori-
| ingly, Barry was instructed by congress
to carry the gallant Marquis de- Lafay-
cite To France. On Dec. 23, 1871 the Al
lance set sail from Boston, and arrived
al LOricnt, on Jan. IS, 1882. On March
lG Barry left France and on May I3. ar
rived at New London, CT. On Aug T.
1852, Barry left New London for a
cruise. Within the space of three weeks
Barry added to his record th" capture
OF eight vessels belonging to tho enemy
In December. l7%2, Barry was ordered
to the West Indies to procure specie for
congress- On March Z, l7S.:, the Alliance
with his cargo, sailed from Havana to
the United States. A few days from