Evening star., 1914-05-16

then blockading the mouth Of the river.
and put to sea singie-handed. with or
ders TO take. sink and destroy the en-
emy's ships" On the morning Of April I.
! 17T6. the Lexington fell in with the Ed
ward, an armed British war vessel. Off
the capes of Virginia, and after close
and spirited action of nearly an hour.
| in which the Edward was cut nearly to
pieces captured her. This was the first
capture OF an armed vessel under CONT
| mental authority. and thus Barry achiev-
ed the honor of having the first British
flag struck to him in naval battle in the
struggle for independence. Barry sue
ceeded In entering Delaware bay with his
prize. though strongly blockaded by Brit
ish warships. and bringing the news d.
rect to Congress and rejoicing the hearts
of the patriots so much that even John
Adams gleefuly wrote: We begin to
make some figure in the navy way"
Reverting to the frgate Alliance, we
find that before taking command Of her
Barry was appointed November %. 1179.
to the seventy -four-gun ship America,
and to superintend her construction at
Portsmouth. n. H.; owing to the lack
of funds seasoned timbers and artisans
to complete this new ship of seventy
four guns. and the considerable time re-
quired for its completion, Barry was ap-
pointed September 8. $780, to the com
mand of the Alliance. and directed to
have her fitted out with all possible
dispatch to convey our special ENJOYS
to France.
Conveys Commissioners to France.
In command OF the Alliance Barry
sailed from Boston. conveying the
colonies special commissioner, Col John
Laurens. and suite on an important en-
bassy to the court Of France. Thomas
Paine and the Count de Noailles. our
ENJOYS. were also on the ship: Barry
safely landed his passengers in France,
and Laurens succeeded in securing from
the French king a gift OF 6oOo,oO
ltvres (gold). and it was this money that
enabled Washington to pay his army
and transport it to Yorktown. NOT only
had the soldiers been without pay. out
they We're destitute of medical ana 1000
supplies. and without shoes and proper
clothing In addition to paying the
wages of the soldiers In specie-the paper
money issued by the government was
at that time without value as a purchas-
ing medium-this money bouent 1000
clothing shoes and munitions or war.
and enabled Washington to transport
his army and to compel the surrender OF
Cornwallis at Yorktown.
on October 10, 1871. Barry Tin the Al
liancel was again intrusted with the safe
delivery of another envoy to France her
own distinguished son, the MARQUIS de
Lafayette. which Barry successfully &C
complished. The Importance of Lafay-
cites mission to the French court was
deemed by Washington Ito be greater
than any service that could be rendered
upon the field in America
Captured Many Warships.
on homeward cruise of the Alliance
in October. 17s2 Barry fought and cap
tured both the Atalanta. 16 guns. Capt
Edwards, with 13O men, and the Tre-
passy. IA guns. Capt. Smith. with 30
men. engaging both vessels in a single
battle. In this battle Barry was severely
wounded by Il grapeshot through the
shoulder. On this same cruise. few
days later, Barry fought and captured
in engagement both the Mars.
heavy armed vessel OF &c guns and 142
men. and the Minerva, 10 guns and 81
men. Barry, in the Alliance captured
the British warship Alert. said to be a
sister ship named after an armed vessel
he captured at an earlier date With her
transports, in the Delaware river. when
he was in command of another vessel
Barry made another voyage in the Al
lance to France on an important mission.
bringing into L'Ortent. France. four of
the nine English vessels he captured
loaded with valuable cargoes. sending the
,ther five prizes under prize-masters or
ders back to America.
Regarding the four prize vessels which
Barry brought into the port of L'Orient-
the sales of the four prize vessels with
their cargoes. when sold in Paris at
public auction. amounted to the magnid-
cent sum of Se5o0.OOo, gold.
Let it be remembered that Barry was
intrusted with special and hazardous
voyages and especially instructed mot
to go out of his way for fight, but
to keep clear of all vessels whatever"
when carrying our commissioners and
envoys to France and when returning
from foreign ports with valuable cargoes
of money. arms, ammunition. clothing
and supplies for Washington's army.
which enabled the patriots to prosecute
a successful war. Indeed. Barry, in a
letter addressed to Richard Henry Lee.
the President of Congress. calls atten-
ton to the aforementioned instructions,
which frequently insured severe blows
and fewer captures of prizes.
Fires Last Shot of Revolution.
Barry fought the last battle and fired
the last shot of the revolution when on
the Alliance. in March. 1873. shortly after
leaving Havana, carrying large
amount of gold on continental account.
he encountered the Sybille, followed by
two other English warships The Sybille
was of equal size. but heavier armed
than the Alliance, which Barry almost
sank and would have done so accord
ing to Capt. Fashon OF the Sybille) had
not her two conSortS hurried TO her aid.
Barry with the Alliance made frequent
cruises IN foreign waters, and those
adjacent to the shore waters of England.
capturing and sinking number of the
enemy's ships during the years OF 1871,
1882 and 1888.
After the termination of hostilities
with England Commodore Barry was
retained in the public service, and,
when it was deemed expedient to in
crease the naval establishment. our first
line of battleships. were authorized to
be built by an act of Congress March
q. 1894, which afterward became known
as the six fighting frigates.' |. E., the
United States, the Constitution, the
President, each of forty-four guns: the
Constellation. thirty-eight guns: the
Chesapeake. tilirty-six guns, and the
Congress. thirty-six guns.
The planning and building of these six
renowned fighting figates were under
the direct supervision of those ocean
warriors-John Barry. chairman: Rich
ard Dale and Thomas Thruxton. com
nlittee.
Head of United States Navy.