The Irish standard., 1905-08-05

lowed, and the six frigates were laid
down as soon as possible.
The vessels were the
Constitution "A, laid down at Boston.
President A, laid down at New York.
United States "A, laid down at Phil,
adelphia
Chesapeake IS, laid down at Ports
mouth, Va.
Constellation SS. laid down at Balti,
more, Md.
Congress IS, laid down at Ports.
mouth, N. H.
In selecting commanders
for these ships, the President very
naturally turned to those old officers
who had proved themselves fit for the
stations, during the war of the Revo,
luton.
Many of the naval captains of that
trying period, however, were already
dead, and others. again, had become
incapacitated by age and wounds, for
the arduous duties of sea-fghters. The
following is the list selected, which
took rank in the order in which their
names appear:
John Barry, Samuel Nicholson, Silas
Talbot, Joshua Barney, Richard Dale,
Thomas Truxtun; with the exception
of Captain Truxtun, all of these gentle
men had served in the navy during the
Revolution. Captain Barry was the
only one of the six who was not born
in America, but he had passed nearly
all his life in it, and was thoroughly
identified with his adopted country in
feeling and interests. He had often
distinguished himself during the pre-
ceding war, and, perhaps, of all the
naval captains that remained, he was
the one who possessed the greatest
reputation for experience, conduct and
skill. The appointment met with gen
eral appreciation, nor did anything
ever occur to give the government
reason to regret its selection.
At page 1856, 156 ib. The activity by
the administration, as we'll as by the
navy, now astonished those who had
SO long been accustomed to believe
the American people disposed to sub
nit to any insult, in preference to en-
countering the losses of war. The
United States "A, Captain Barry, went
to sea early in July, 1898, and pro-
ceeded to cruise to the eastward. The
ship carried out with her many young
gentlemen, who have since risen to
high rank and distinction in the serv-
ice. But the law of the 9th of thai
month, occurring Immediately ATTIRE
wards, the government altered it's pol
icy entirely and determined to send at
once, strong force among the West
India islands, where the enemy
abounded, and where the commerce
of the country was most exposed to
his depredations. On the 18th instruc.
tions were sent to Captain Barry, who
now hoisted a broad pennant, to go off
Cape Cod, with the Delaware 20, Capt
Decatur, where he would find the
Herald 18, Captain Sever, that officer
preferring active service in a small
vessel, to waiting for the frigate to
which he had been appointed, and
then to proceed directly to the West
Indies, keeping to the windward.
BY the close of the year the follow
ing force was at sea; most of the yes.
sells being in the West Indies, or en-
ployed in conveying between the
islands and the United States.
United States ships at sea, during
the year 1898, viz:
United States A, Com. Barry.
Constitution a., Capt. Nicholson, etc.
Page 1865 ib. The United States "a,
and Delaware 20, captured the privat
teers Sans Pareil 16, and Jalox IA, in
the course of the autumn, and sent
them in.
Page 1877 tb. At the close of the
year 1898, the active force in the
West Indies had been distributed into
separate squadrons in the following
manner.
One squadron under Commodore
Barry, who was the senior officer Of
the service, crused to the windward,
running as far south as Tobago, and
consisted of the vessels about to be
named, viz:
United States "A, Com. Barry.
Constitution "A, Capt Nicholson.
Geo. Washington "a, Capt. Fletcher.
Merrimack "a, Capt. Brown.
Portsmouth "a, Capt Mcneil.
Herald IS, Master CON- Russell.
Pickering IA, Lieut.. Com. Preble.
Eagle Is, Lieut.. Com. Campbell.
Scanned IA, Lieut.. Com. Adams.
Diligence IL, Lieut. Com. Brown.
This force was now kept actually
employed, the ships passing from
point to point, with orders to make a
general rendezvous at Prince Rupert s
Bay. This squadron made several cap
lures, principally Of privateers, and
| as none of them were accompanied by
incidents deserving of particular men,
ton, they may be recorded together,
though occurring at different periods:
The United States A, Commodore
| A