The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-28
THE CATHOLIC BULLETIN, JUNE Is, 1918.

career in a navy with which Commo-
dore Barry, unlike Paul Jones, remain
ed identified till his dying day. The
next year he was Senior Commander
of the American Navy at Philadelphia,
and as such repulsed British squad
ron sailing up the Delaware. On the
capture of the city he greatly harassed
the transports of the enemy on the
Delaware. On one occasion he cap
tured a schooner and some of these
transports. OF this exploit John Laur-
ems, in letter to his father, Henry
Laurens, President of the Congress,
wrote: ''You will be informed of Cap
tain Barry's success with two or three
armed boats on the Delaware. Two
transports loaded with forage, one of
them mounting six four-pounders, at
tended by schooner mounting eight
four-pounders and four howitzers, fell
into his hands by his gallantry and adj
dress" Washington himsele writing
of Barrys achievement said: "The
exploit was considered highly credit
able to Captain Barry, on account of
the enterprise and daring he displayed
in going down the river when it was
full of the enemies shipping and small
craft" SPARKS Writings of Washing
ton. Vol. V, p. 271.
The bravery exhibited by Barry on
this occasion was surely equal to that
displayed by Hobson in his dash into
Santiago harbor, and was far more
productive of beneficial results. Yet
American youth are taught to admire
the latter act, whilst they are left in
total ignorance of the heroic deed that
ELECTED Washington's commentator.
In ignoring Barry an opportunity is
lost for holding up to the pupils in
the schools of America a. striking ex-
ample of unpurchaseable patriotism.
When Sir William Howe learned of
that capture of British transports in
the Delaware he was quick to recog-
nize and appreciate Barrys ability as
a fighter. He lost no time in offering
the Irish-American sailor tempting
bait in the shape of 10000 guineas
and the command of British frigate,
if he would abandon the American
cause. Here is the written reply to
the attempt to wean him away from
the American cause: "Not the value
and command of the whole British
fleet can seduce me from the cause of
my country"
Another view of his character is
the account of how Barry fought on
board of the Alliance against two
British ships 1t is a naval engage
ment which, as told in Bailey's Naval
Biography, is replete with dramatic
interest. Barry, wounded and weak
from the loss of blood, is carried be-
low. In the meantime the two British
ships are pouring broadside after
broadside into the Alliance, which
seems to be doomed. The lieutenant
in command thought the time had
come for hauling down the Stars and
Stripes Going to the wounded Barry,
he made his opinion known to him.
What followed is thus described in
Bailey's Naval Biography: "'No,'
said he, and if the ship can't be
fought without, | will be carried on
deck When the lieutenant made
known to the crew the determination
of their brave commander, fresh spirit
was infused into them, and they one
and all resolved to stick by him. AS
soon as his wound was dressed, he in
sisted upon being carried on deck;
but before he reached it the enemy
had struck"
Of such stuff was the Father of the
American Navy made. In war, as in
peace, he Loyalty served his country.
He was selected as head of America s
infant navy, in the developing of
which he spent the remainder of his
life. In Judson's Sages and Heroes
of the Revolution we have this pen
portrait of him: HE was noble in
spirit, humane in discipline, discreet
and fearless in battle, urbane in his
manners, splendid officer, good citi-
zen, devoted Christian, a good
patriot"