BARRY APPOINTED TO THE "EFFINGHAM"--THE QUESTION OF RANK--BARRY
ENGAGES IN THE TRENTON CAMPAIGN--AN AIDE TO WASHINGTON AND TO
CADWALLADER--COMMANDER OF THE PORT OF PHILADELPHIA--STRIKE OF THE
NAVY LIEUTENANTS--OPERATIONS OF BARRY ON THE DELAWARE.
A reorganization of the Navy of the United Colonies took place on
October 10, 1776, when assignments were made of the several armed
vessels then belonging to the "United States," as that was the title
Congress had, on September 9th, ordered to be used in all public
documents. The order in which these assignments were made was generally
regarded as fixing the rank of each Captain. So it occasioned agitation
and discussion. It was not, however, officially stated that such was the
case. Later it was declared not to be so by Committee of Congress.
Captain John Barry was assigned to No. 7 on the list. Those preceding
him were: (1) James Nicholson, to the "Virginia," 28 guns; (2) John
Manly, to the "Hancock," 32 guns; (3) Hector McNeil, to the "Boston," 24
guns; (4) Dudley Salstonstall, to the "Trumbull," 28 guns; (5) Nicholas
Biddle, to the "Randolph," 32 guns; (6) Thomas Thompson, to the
"Raleigh," 32 guns; (7) John Barry, to the "Effingham," 28 guns. John
Paul Jones was given No. 18. The Marine Committee in making up the list
could hardly, in view of the number of guns of the several vessels and
the selection of Captains who had not as yet served in the Navy, have
intended the position assigned as fixing the official rank of the
several officers. James Nicholson, the first named and to a 28-gun ship,
had not heretofore been noted for any special services justifying his
appointment as the ranking officer of the Navy, though giving him a
vessel inferior in armament to others lower in position. Captain John
Manly, No. 2, was "uneasy and threatened to resign." He had in New
England waters done early and good services. Captain Thompson's friends
declared he ought to have been placed higher. Yet Manly and Thompson
were given 32-gun ships, while Captain Nicholson, No. 1, was given a 28
and Captain Barry, No. 7, was also given a 28. Captain John Paul Jones,
No. 18, ever contested the assignment to that position, declaring that
"rank opens the door to glory." As late as 1781 he made contest before
Committee of Congress. It reported that though there was, "on October
10, 1776, an arrangement of Captains, the Committee cannot fully
ascertain the rule by which that arrangement was made, as the relative
rank was not conformable to the times of appointment or dates of
commission and seems repugnant to a resolution of December 22, 1775."
Captain Barry appears not to have made any objection to his position on
the list. He was ready and eager for service and, seemingly, not
concerned as to rank or position. He had been given a vessel equal to
Captain Nicholson, No. 1. Those to whom stronger armament had been given
had not been early or foremost in service or activity. Some of them did
not, later, justify any outranking, if that were the case. Captain Barry
was early in the struggle, foremost during its continuance and latest in
service.
Jones declared that some gentlemen in the first days of the Navy did not
join the Navy as "they did not choose to be hanged, as the hazard was
very great." But Captain John Barry did not hesitate. He came quickly
from London to engage in the conflict, and from the very first day of
his return to America was active in service and on duty. Still rank was
not necessary to "open the door to glory," for No. 7 became the chief
officer of the Navy and No. 18 achieved imperishable fame and popular
renown. The pay of the Captains was sixty dollars a month. The uniform
was: Blue cloth with red lapels, slash cuff, stand-up collar, flat
yellow buttons, blue breeches, red waistcoat with yellow lace.
Interested in the Navy, Captain Barry was also concerned in affairs on
land. So when on November 25, 1776, a meeting was held at the Indian
Queen Hotel, Philadelphia, to consider accusations against those
"suspected as Tories and unfriendly to the cause of America," Captain
Barry was there. We may be sure he was earnest and active in any
measures to restrict the operations of those inimicable to Liberty or
engaged in efforts detrimental to the Patriots' endeavors.
Captain Barry, on November 30, 1776, united with Captains Biddle, Read,
Alexander and John Nicholson in a memorial to Congress. It was referred
to the Marine Committee, who were directed to pursue such measures as
they might think proper. What the memorial related to has not been
discovered after long continued endeavor to ascertain. It is not among
the papers of the Continental Congress nor mentioned in the records of
the Marine Committee, which have been preserved at the Library of
Congress.
At this time affairs were serious with General Washington. The battle of
Long Island, in August, had been disastrous. Forts Lee and Washington,
the bulwarks of the Hudson, had been lost and the sad and gloomy, but
marvelously strategic, retreat across New Jersey was being conducted by
Washington, pursued by Lord Cornwallis.
Washington "was at the end of the tether." "In ten days this army will
have ceased to exist," was his almost despairing cry to Congress,
calling for aid to strengthen his disappearing and dispirited army. Yet
on the upper Delaware, amid all the encircling gloom, God's precious
Providence and love was at no time during the Revolution more strikingly
manifested. All seemed lost this bleak December, 1776. The hour of
defeat, dismay and destruction seemed about to strike. The timid, the
faint-hearted, the treacherous were fast accepting British allegiance.
Even heretofore stalwart hearts wavered in the cause of Liberty. The
newly proclaimed Independence of hot July, the threat and defiance of
the Colonies to England's tyranny, was now in the chill December, like
the earth, about to be sheathed in the coldness of death.
The alarm came to Philadelphia. Shops were shut, schools closed and the
inhabitants engaged solely in providing for the defense of the City, now
the aim of the enemy. But out of all this gloom and alarm came the
victory at Trenton.
Captain John Barry organized a company of volunteers and went to
Washington's assistance. In cooperation with the marines under Captain
William Brown, he lent efficient service in transporting Washington's
army across the Delaware prior to the Battle of Trenton. Captain Barry
acted as an aide to General Cadwallader, and on one occasion, of which
there is record, as an aide to Washington in the safe conduct to
Philadelphia of the baggage of the captured Hessians and also of the
surgeons and physicians to Princeton.
After the Trenton campaign and its consequent successful results,
Captain Barry returned to Philadelphia and engaged in naval preparations
for the defense of the city. He was the Senior Commander of the Navy in
the Port of Philadelphia.
In July, 1777, twelve of the lieutenants of the fleet under Barry struck
for an increase of pay and allowances. They notified Captain Barry they
would not act on board any vessel until their grievances were redressed.
Barry informed the Marine Committee. It reported the affair to Congress,
saying that such a combination of officers was of the "most dangerous
tendency." Whereupon the Congress dismissed all of the lieutenants and
declared their commissions "void and of no effect." The offenders were
declared incapable of holding any commission under the United States and
recommending the several States not to employ any in offices civil or
military. This brought the lieutenants to "acknowledge in the most
explicit manner that the offense for which they were dismissed is highly
reprehensible and could not be justified under any circumstances or any
pretence whatever, and that they were exceedingly sorry for the rashness
which betrayed them into such behavior." Then the strikers were
"restored to former rank and command."
[Illustration: MISS ELIZABETH ADAMS BARNES
Great-Great-Grandniece of Commodore Barry; who christened "The Barry"
Boat March 22, 1902]