PRAISE FOR BARRY'S SUCCESS--BRITISH DESTROY BARRY'S "EFFINGHAM" AND
OTHER VESSELS ON THE UPPER DELAWARE--APPOINTED TO THE
"RALEIGH"--PROTECTS THE COAST FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO
MASSACHUSETTS--ENCOUNTER WITH TWO BRITISH FRIGATES--BARRY RUNS THE
"RALEIGH" ASHORE--HIS ACTION APPROVED AND HIS BRAVERY DECLARED.
Barry's operations on the Delaware were of foremost importance at this
period of gloom and darkness. The British were in possession of
Philadelphia, the Capital of "the rebels." Washington's men were
suffering the distress of Valley Forge, ill-fed and scantily clothed.
Barry was destroying forage and capturing supplies. General Wayne was
operating around Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey
in a like endeavor.
"For boldness of design and dexterity of execution, Barry's operations
were not surpassed, if equaled, during the war," says Frost's _Naval
Biography_.
"The gallant action reflects great honor on Captain Barry, his officers
and crew," wrote William Ellery, one of Massachusetts' delegates in
Congress.
Colonel Laurens wrote his father telling of the deeds of Captain Barry,
"to whom great praise is due." Washington reported to Congress "with
great pleasure the success" of Captain Barry.
Captain Barry considered the Delaware Bay "the best place for meeting
with success where he could use his little squadron." On the upper
Delaware where the "Effingham," "Washington" and other Continental
vessels had been sunk, near Bordentown, by order of General Washington,
in April by his orders, also, the Pennsylvania Navy Board, directed that
the galleys, shallops and brigs be dismantled and sunk, shot buried and
stores lodged throughout New Jersey. All this after "a rather stubborn
insistance on the part of the officers" against so doing, just as
Captain Barry had protested. Later in the month Barry's "Effingham," the
"Washington" and other Continental vessels were raised "from the soft
bottom of the river," but on May 7, 1778, a British force, under Major
Maitland, was sent from Philadelphia and burned twenty-one or more
vessels and naval stores and destroyed all supplies.
At this time Captain Barry was in command of the squadron in the lower
Delaware River and in the Bay. By the destruction of the "Effingham" in
the upper Delaware he was without a command other than the temporary one
in which he was operating. Accordingly, on May 30, 1778, the Marine
Committee appointed him to the command of the frigate "Raleigh," then in
Boston Harbor. He was directed to "repair immediately to that place" to
take command. He succeeded Captain Thomas Thompson, who was charged with
having deserted the "Alfred" (Barry's old-time "Black Prince") in the
battle with the British frigates "Ariadne" and "Ceres," by which the
"Alfred" became captive.
Captain Barry proceeded to Boston and, taking command of the "Raleigh,"
refitted her for service and went to sea, stopping at Rhode Island,
where he received the orders of Marine Committee, on August 24, 1778,
ordering him to cruise in company with the Continental brigantine
"Resistance," Captain Burke, between Cape Henlopen and Occracok on the
coast of North Carolina to intercept British armed vessels infesting
that coast. On May 28th orders were sent to Hampton, Virginia, for
delivery to Captain Barry, directing him to take under convoy six or
more of the vessels loaded with commissary stores and protect them to
the places of destination. Then he and Captain Burke were to proceed and
protect the coast line of Virginia and North Carolina, reporting once a
week at Hampton for orders, which he, as Senior Officer, should
communicate to Captain Burke, and also there receive supplies furnished
by the Governor of Virginia.
Captain Barry in the "Raleigh" cruised along the coast from North
Carolina to Massachusetts Bay. On September 8, 1778, off Boston Bay he
reported to the Marine Committee that many of the guns of the "Raleigh"
had burst in proving and the ship was "exceedingly foul" and unfit to
further cruise. He was, on September 28, 1778, directed to proceed to
Portsmouth, Virginia, where there was a Continental shipyard, and have
the "Raleigh's" bottom cleaned. That done he was to continue "to cruise
upon the coast," the "Deane" or any other vessel with him, Barry was to
order to cruise while the "Raleigh" was being cleaned.
The Committee had information that the British frigate "Persius," of 32
guns was cruising singly on the coast of South Carolina. Barry was then
ordered as soon as his ship was cleaned to extend his cruising ground so
as to cover the coast of that State, taking the "Deane" or other vessel
with him in search of the "Persius" and endeavor to "take, burn, sink or
destroy" the said frigate or any other of the enemy's vessels "that he
might fall in with." If he made a capture he was to take it to
Charleston and there fit, man her and take her on the cruise with him.
This order, sent to Hampton, Virginia, did not reach the "Raleigh" as,
on September 25, 1778, she had sailed from Boston convoying a brigantine
and sloop. That day and the following, two British frigates were seen
but avoided. The next day--Sunday--the frigates chased the "Raleigh"
from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon when, nearing each
other, the "Raleigh" hoisted her colors and the headmost frigate
"hoisted St. George's ensign." "We gave her a broadside which she
returned, tacked and came up on our lee quarter and gave the "Raleigh" a
broadside," which carried away its foretopmast and mizzentop gallant
mast, which, to "the unspeakable grief" of Captain Barry, caused him,
"in a great measure, to lose command" of the "Raleigh," "determined to
victory" as he was. "The enemy plied his broadsides briskly, which was
returned as brisk," though the "Raleigh" "bore away to prevent the enemy
from raking us." The British sheered off and dropped astern. During the
night Barry perceived the stern-most ship gaining on us very fast and,
being disabled in our sails, masts and rigging and having no possible
view of escaping, Captain Barry, with the advice of his officers, ran
the "Raleigh" on shore to prevent her falling into the hands of the
enemy. The engagement, however, continued "very warm until midnight"--a
five-hours' contest, when the frigate sheered off to wait the consort.
The "Raleigh's" mizzentopsail had been shot away. Captain Barry ordered
the other sails cut loose from the yards. The two frigates appeared and
endeavored to cut the "Raleigh" "from the land." The headmost ship
proved a two-decker of at least fifty guns. The "Raleigh," "not in the
least daunted, received their fire, which was very heavy, and returned
ours with redoubled vigor."
"Encouraged by our brave commander, we were determined not to strike,"
related one of the officers. "After receiving three broadsides from the
large ship and the fire of the other frigate on our lee quarter," the
"Raleigh" struck the shore, when the enemy poured in two broadsides,
which were returned. She then hove in stays, our guns being loaded gave
us a good opportunity of raking her, which we did with our whole
broadside. After that she bore away and raked us and both British
frigates kept up a heavy fire in order to make us strike to them, which
we never did. They ceased and came to anchor a mile distant from the
"Raleigh."
The island on which the "Raleigh" struck was uninhabited and being rocky
could not be fortified for the defense of the ship. The enemy kept up an
incessant fire on her and the men being exhausted after the long contest
with the two frigates, Captain Barry ordered the men to land and the
"Raleigh" to be set on fire. The eighty-five men were landed, but the
treachery of Midshipman Jesse Jaycockt, an Englishman, who extinguished
the fire, prevented the destruction. The other officers and men were
made prisoners before the boats could return to take them off.
This "unequal contest with two ships was fought with great gallantry and
though Captain Barry lost his ship he gained laurels for himself and
honor for his country. Perhaps no ship was ever better defended," wrote
John Brown, Secretary of the Navy Board at Boston to the Marine
Committee of Congress, adding, "Captain Barry's conduct is highly
approved and his officers and men are greatly pleased with him."
"His good conduct and bravery are universally allowed," said the
_Pennsylvania Post_.
Captain Barry "fought with his usual bravery. His officers and men being
sworn not to surrender, our brave Captain Barry avoided violating his
oath by running the 'Raleigh' ashore," wrote Colonel John Laurens to his
father.
The British frigates were the "Experiment," of 50 guns, and the
"Unicorn," of 22 guns, or 72 guns against Barry's 32. The latter had ten
men killed and was greatly damaged in hull and rigging in the contest of
nine hours duration. The "Raleigh" lost twenty-five killed and wounded.
The ship was added to the Royal Navy under the same name. This battle
took place off Seal Island, or Fox Island, in Penobscot Bay.
Cooper's _History of the Navy_ said, "Captain Barry gained credit for
his gallantry on this occasion."
"A noble and daring defence," said Watson's _Annals of Philadelphia_.
This disaster left Barry without a ship. The loss, though regrettable,
did not lessen his reputation as a skillful and sagacious commander nor
mar the character he had won for bravery.
The Marine Committee in ordering the Navy Board at Boston to "order a
Court of Inquiry on Captain Barry's conduct," said: "The loss of the
'Raleigh' is certainly a very great misfortune, but we have a
consolation in reflecting that the spirited and gallant behavior of her
commander has done honor to our flag."
And that it held him not censurable is shown by its statement that as
"Captain Harding has been appointed to the command of the frigate at
Norwich named the 'Confederacy,' which prevents our giving that ship to
Captain Barry."
The Committee was ready at once to give him another command had a vessel
been ready for him. That too without waiting the action of the Court of
Inquiry, which it had ordered. But the Committee had soon occasion to
give an appointment which showed the estimation in which his abilities
were held as the foremost naval commander, worthy to be entrusted with
its best commands and ships.
[Illustration: ORDER TO CAPTAIN BARRY]