THE BRITISH CAPTURE PHILADELPHIA--ACTIVITY OF BARRY--COMMANDER OF
NAVY AT PORT OF PHILADELPHIA--BATTLE AT RED BANK--ORDERED BY
WASHINGTON AND NAVY BOARD TO SINK THE VESSELS ON THE UPPER
DELAWARE--PROTESTS--DECLARED HE KNEW MORE ABOUT A SHIP THAN
WASHINGTON AND THE BOARD--CHARGED WITH DISRESPECT--HIS DEFENSE TO
CONGRESS--HIS BRILLIANT OPERATIONS ON THE DELAWARE.
The British, in 1776 having failed to reach Philadelphia by the
northward way through New Jersey, planned the 1777 campaigns to end with
the capture from the southward by the Chesapeake of the capital of "the
rebels." This was in accordance with the plan, as we now know, of
General Charles Lee, second in command to Washington, while he was a
prisoner in New York. He thus proved himself a traitor more despicable
even than Arnold. His infamy did not become known until of late years.
Moving northward from the head of the Chesapeake Bay, the British
encountered Washington at Brandywine and, defeating him, secured an
entrance to Philadelphia when it pleased General Howe to enter, which he
did on September 26th, amid the welcoming acclaim of the people who
remained. The Patriots had generally left the city.
On the 23d the Navy Board ordered all vessels south of Market Street to
move down the river and all north to go up the Delaware to escape
falling into the hands of the British. Barry's "Effingham" went down the
river.
Barry, as the Senior Commander of the Navy at the Port of Philadelphia,
had charge of the "row gallies, batteries" and other vessels protecting
and maintaining the _chevaux de frize_ off Billingsport by sinking
obstructions to prevent the passage to the city of any British vessels
and thus effectually stopping the channel.
The British erected a battery near the mouth of the Schuylkill upon
which Barry's galleys fired at times but seemingly with but little
effect, though "playing their part most nobly and acting like men and
freemen convincing the world their liberty was merited," to use the
words of Thomas McKean to General Rodney.
When, on October 22, 1777, Count Donop attacked the Americans in Fort
Mercer at Red Bank, the British fleet cooperated with the land forces,
while the Continental vessels under Barry and the Pennsylvania fleet
under Hazlewood drove them back, preventing their passage up the river.
The British frigate the "Augusta" and the "Merlin" were driven ashore.
The "Merlin" was set on fire by its crew. The powder on the "Augusta"
exploded and that vessel was blown up. Portions of its remains are in
the water off Red Bank to this day.
Fort Mifflin, held by the Americans, was attacked on November 16, 1777.
Unable to have the assistance of the Continental or the State Navy, the
fort was abandoned. A council of the commanders of the fleet was held,
when it was decided that an endeavor should be made at night to take all
the vessels up the river, as the British fleet held control of the lower
Delaware. To do this it was necessary to pass Philadelphia, then in
possession of the British. This was successfully accomplished by the
State fleet early in the morning of November 16th. They were
"unperceived," says the British account, until the passage had been
successfully made. The enemy were more alert the following night when
the Continental vessels under Barry endeavored to make the passage.
Three or four succeeded. Others had to be burned to prevent capture. The
success of this elusive passage up the river emboldened, as we shall see
later, Captain Barry, a few months afterwards, to make another
successful passage down the river, passing, unmolested, the British
vessels off Philadelphia and getting down into the Bay to oppose the
British hovering thereabouts.
Barry's operations on the Delaware, while the British occupied
Philadelphia, were as brilliant and as audacious in bravery as any
services performed during his career. Doubtless from his activity, good
judgment and bravery at this period may have proceeded all the successes
of his subsequent career. The Continental authorities were made aware at
once of the abilities of the gallant man whom they had so early in the
struggle for Independence placed in command.
During the attack on Fort Mifflin by the British, Lieutenant Ford, of
Barry's "Effingham," and Lieutenant Lyons, of the "Dickinson," deserted.
After the British had evacuated Philadelphia these deserters were
captured and on September 2, 1778, shot. The execution took place on a
guard-boat off Market Street.
After the Continental and State fleets had arrived in the upper Delaware
near Bordentown, Washington, in November, 1777, notified the
Continental Navy Board there was danger of a British force being sent to
destroy the vessels. So he directed they should be sunk. Barry was, by
the Board, on November 2d, directed to move the "Effingham" "a little
below White Hill" (now Fieldsboro, N.J.) "where she may lie on a soft
bottom. You are to sink her there without delay by sunset this evening."
But Barry was loath to sink the vessel he had been appointed to command
and fight. Later in the month Francis Hopkinson, of the Navy Board,
delivered to Captain Barry, as Senior Officer, "orders, in writing," to
sink or burn the ships. Captains Barry and Read had taken every measure
to defend the vessels which Barry declared he believed would be
effectual in repelling any force the enemy would send to destroy them.
Barry and Read protested to the Board against the sinking, saying that
if Washington knew the security of the ships he would not order the
sinking. Barry offered to go and inform him, but Hopkinson declared
Washington had been informed and his order would be carried out. He told
Barry that the order should be obeyed; that he would take Washington's
opinion in preference to Barry's.
"I told him," related Barry in his defense, when summoned before
Congress sitting at York, for disrespect to the Navy Board, "that
nevertheless I knew more about a ship than General Washington and the
Navy Board together. That I was commissioned by Congress to command the
'Effingham' and, therefore, expected to be consulted before she was
destroyed."
"You shall obey our orders," was the quick and somewhat heated reply.
Whereupon Barry left him "of course in high dudgeon," said Barry. "I
immediately repaired to my ship, got all clear--and the orders were
punctually obeyed"--while Hopkinson himself was on board giving orders
which did not permit the vessel to keel and so was "very near
upsetting." When Barry reported the condition of the ship to the Navy
Board, he was told "it was a misfortune and we must do the best to
remedy it," to which Barry replied that nothing would be wanting on his
part.
Two attempts to raise the "Effingham" failed for want of men and
material, whereupon Mr. Hopkinson said he would raise her himself--"an
insult I overlooked, having the getting up of the ship much at heart,"
Barry told Congress. So he got everything ready and sent for as many of
the invalid soldiers as could be had, and with the seamen began to
heave. And he too "worked with as much ardor as possible."
"Captain Barry, doth she rise," called Hopkinson.
"No, sir! How can she rise when you keep the people back," replied
Barry. This was an allusion to Hopkinson's order that only invalids,
well attired, should be sent to assist the seamen.
"Puh! You are always grumbling," retorted Hopkinson.
"What do you say?" quickly cried Barry.
"Go along and mind your own business, you scoundrel," roared Hopkinson.
"It is a lie," said Barry.
"What! Do you tell me I lie?" said Hopkinson.
"It was a lie in them that said so," was Barry's rejoinder.
Hopkinson replied that he would bring Barry to an account for this.
"My answer was," Barry told Congress, "Damn you! I don't value you more
than my duty requires."
"Sir! You never minded your duty," retorted Hopkinson.
"I immediately told him he was a liar and that the Continental Congress
knew I had minded my duty, and added that had he minded his duty as well
the ship would not be in its present condition."
The Navy Board, on December 11, 1777, complained to Congress of the
"disrespect and ill treatment which Hopkinson had received from John
Barry, commander of the frigate 'Effingham.'"
Barry was summoned to York, Pa., where Congress was in session. On
January 10th he attended and made defense, concluding by saying that he
considered himself "unworthy the commission of Congress if he tamely put
up with treatment other than that due to all Captains of the Navy as
gentlemen."
On February 27th the Marine Committee reported to Congress that "Captain
Barry ought, within twenty days, make full acknowledgment to the Navy
Board of having treated Mr. Hopkinson with indecency and disrespect."
Nothing further appears on record, so it is presumed Captain Barry
complied and the case closed. At this time Barry was, by order of the
same Committee, actively at work destroying British supplies in the
lower Delaware from Mantua Creek to Port Penn and Bombay Hook.
Congress was equally divided on a resolution that Captain Barry be not,
in consequence of his conduct towards Hopkinson, "employed on the
expedition assigned to his conduct by the Marine Committee with the
approbation of Congress until the further order of Congress." Had he not
been employed, Washington might not, later, have been cheered by the
results which Captain Barry achieved in "the expedition" against the
British supply vessels coming up the Delaware.
Washington, amid the desolation of Valley Forge, had his heart torn by
the suffering of his Patriot soldiers who bore all, suffered all, hoped
all, determined to brave all that their country should be free. From
amid that distress Washington sent his thanks for "the good things"
Barry sent to the camp.
While the controversy with Hopkinson was being considered and Barry was
in the upper Delaware, he projected the plan to attempt the destruction
of some of the enemy's vessels lying off Philadelphia by floating down
machines in form of ships' buoys filled with powder. These, as they
floated past the city, were fired at by the British batteries. This
event is known in history as "The Battle of the Kegs."
Singularly, too, Francis Hopkinson, Barry's accuser of want of respect
for him made the event memorable by a humorous ditty reflecting upon
"British valor displayed."
"The cannons roar from shore to shore,
The small arms make a rattle;
Since war's began, I'm sure no man
E'er saw so strange a battle."
The Loyalists, however, considered the battle as "a most astonishing
instance of the activity, bravery and military skill of the Royal Navy
of Great Britain. Officers and men exhibited the most unparalleled skill
and bravery on the occasion, while the citizens stood as solemn witness
of their prowess."
This occurred on Monday, January 5, 1778, a day ever distinguished in
history for the memorable "Battle of the Kegs."