The Irish standard., 1905-08-05


delphia. The Etflngham was one of
the vessels that had been taken up the
delaware, to escape from the British
army; and this gallant officer, wearied
with life of inactivity, planned an
expedition down the stream, in the
nope OF striking blow at some of the
enemy's vessels anchored off, or below
the town. Manning four boats, he
pulled down with the tide Some alarm
was given when opposite the town, but
dashing ahead two of the barges got
past without injury. on Port Penn
lay an enemy's schooner of ten guns,
and thirty-two men, and four trans
ports, with freight for the British
army The schooner was boarded and
carried without loss, and the trans.
ports fell into the hands Of the Ameri-
cans also. Two cruisers appearing
soon after in the river, however, Cap.
tain Barry destroyed his prizes, and
escaped by land, without losing man.
On this occasion, the force actually
present with Barry consisted of only
twenty-eight men.
Pages 80, SO and "a lib. In conse-
quence of the investigation connected
with the loss of the Alfred, Captain
Thompson was relieved from the COM
mand OF the Raleigh, SO, as has been
said already, and that ship was given
to Captain Barry. Under the orders of
this new commander the Raleigh sail
ed from Boston ON the 25th of Septem-
Der, l77S, at six in the morning, hav-
ing brig and a sloop under convoy.
The wind was fresh at NJ W., and the
fr1gate ran off N. E. At twelve, two
strange sails were seen to leeward,
distant fifteen or sixteen miles Orders
were given to the convoy to haul
nearer to the wind, and to crowd all
the sail it could carry, the strangers
in chase. After dark, the Raleigh
lost sight of the enemy, as by this
time the two ships were ascertained to
be, and the wind became light and
variable The Raleigh now cleared for
action, and kept her people at quarters
all night, having tackled towards the
land. In the morning it proved to be
haZy, and the strangers were not to
be seen. The Raleigh was still stand
ing towards the land, which she short.
ly afterwards made ahead, quite near,
About noon, the haze clearing away,
the enemy were seen in the Southern
board, and to 'windward, crowding sail
in chase. The weather became thick
again, and Raleigh lost sight of her
two pursuers, when she hauled off to
the eastward. That night, no more
was seen OF the enemy, and at daylight
Captain Barry took in everything, with
view to conceal the position of the
ship, which was permitted to drift un-
der bare poles. Finding nothing visi-
BILE at 6 a. M, the Raleigh crowded
sail once more, and stood S. E. by E.
But at $3.50 the two ships were again
discovered astern, and in chase The
AAoiCI6u AOW ClOSc upon d
wind, heading N. w., with her lar,
board tacks aboard. The enemy also
came to the wind, all three vessels
carrying hard with staggering
breeze. The Raleigh now fairly out
sailed the strangers, running IL knots
2 fathoms, on dragged bowline.
Unfortunately, at noon the wind
moderated, when the leading vessel Of
the enemy overhauled the Raleigh
quite fast, and even the ship astern
held way with her. At p. m. the
Raleigh tackled to the westward, with
a view to discover the force of the
leading vessel of the enemy, and,
about the same time she made several
low islands, the names of which were
not known. At p. m. the leading
vessel of the enemy having nearly
closed, the Raleigh edged away and
crossed her fore foot, brailing her
mizzen and taking in her stay sails.
The enemy showed battery of IA
guns of side. including both decks