A MOST SUCCESSFUL CRUISE--NINE PRIZES.
The "Alliance" while at New London was fitted out for a cruise on which
she started August 4, 1782, at four o'clock in the morning. Barry had a
few days before an interview with General Washington. By seven o'clock
Barry had captured from the enemy a brig laden with lumber and fish
which "had been cut out of Rhode Island by the enemy." The cruise was
first to the Bermudas and then to the Banks of New Foundland.
On August 9th Barry took the schooner "Polly" bound from Bermuda to
Halifax with a cargo of molasses, sugar and lime and sent her to Boston.
On August 19th arrived at the Bermudas after chasing several vessels,
among which was the "Experiment," of 18 guns, which escaped into St.
George's Harbor. On the 23d Barry sent Captain Tufts, of the "Polly," to
inform the Governor that unless all the American prisoners were released
he would remain for three weeks and hinder vessels going in or coming
out which, said Barry, he "could effectively do as their whole force was
not sufficient to cope with the 'Alliance.'" On August 25th Barry chased
the privateer "Hawk" and took from her the sloop "Fortune," which she
had captured. The "Hawk" escaped.
The "Alliance" continued cruising and chasing vessels until August 30th,
when learning from a brig from Guadeloupe bound for Rhode Island, that a
large fleet had sailed from Jamaica, Captain Barry concluded to attempt
to overhaul by running northeast. On September 8th he captured a
Nantucket brig returning from a whaling cruise. It had protection papers
from Admiral Digby and permission to bring the oil to New York, then in
British possession as during almost all the war. At this time the
"Alliance" was off the Banks of New Foundland, where on September 18th
the capture of a brig, one of the Jamaica fleet, was made. Barry learned
that the convoy--the "Ramilie," of 74 guns--had foundered in a gale and
that the fleet he was in search of had scattered.
On September 24th Barry took two ships--on 27th he captured another. On
the following day he captured a dismantled ship and all of the fleet
from Jamaica he had been in search of and ordered them to L'Orient,
France, where the "Alliance" with the prizes arrived October 17th, and
the prisoners, except those who had entered into American service, were
sent on shore. Most of the prisoners belonged at Glasgow where they had
families. Otherwise these also would have entered under Captain Barry.
"The separation," records Kessler, "was more like the separation of old
friends than that of individuals of nations at war." Their treatment on
the "Alliance" while prisoners was good. The officers were given
quarters with officers--the privates placed with the privates of the
"Alliance," enjoying fare alike. No confinement, no abridgment of food
nor any labor required of them.
Several officers of the "Ramilie" were captives. The treatment they
received from Captain Barry was so different from the usual treatment of
American officers by the British commanders, it "made them blush for
their country," notes Kessler, the Master's Mate. The captures numbered
three ships, one snow, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop, all
merchant vessels, variously loaded--nine prizes. Four other prizes were
brought by the "Alliance" to L'Orient and four sent to America. They
were sold at auction.
The shares of the United States as shown by Robert Morris' accounts
were:
The "Kingston," 75,834.11.3 livres or $14,083.39
The "Commerce," 104,263.12.5 livres or $19,308.08.
The "Britannia," 43,620.18.5 livres or $8,077.85.
The "Anna," 71,656.11.5 livres or $13,269.60.
The prizes were loaded with rum, sugar, coffee and liquors. One-half the
proceeds went to the Government--the other part to the captors. A
Captain was entitled to six shares. Captain Barry's report of the
cruise, dated October 18, 1782, reads: "A few hours after I sailed from
New London I retook a brigantine and sent her in there; proceeded as
fast as possible off Bermudas; on my way I took a schooner from that
place for Halifax; after cruising off there for twelve or fifteen days I
retook a sloop from New London and sent her to Cape Francois. Finding
the prizes I had taken of little value either to myself or the country
and in all likelihood should be obliged to return into port soon for
want of men, was determined to alter my cruising ground. I, therefore,
thought it best to run off the Banks of New Foundland. On my way thither
I fell in with a whaling brigantine with a pass from Admiral Digby; I
manned her and sent her to Boston. A few days after, off the Banks of
New Foundland, I took a brigantine from Jamaica bound to London loaded
with sugar and rum and sent her for Boston; by this vessel I found the
Jamaica fleet was to the eastward of us. I then carried a press of sail
for four days. The fifth day I took two ships that had parted with the
fleet. After manning them, and a fresh gale westwardly, I thought best
to order them to France. A day or two after I took a snow and a ship
belonging to the same fleet.
"Being short of water, and a number of prisoners on board, the
westwardly winds still blowing fresh and the expectation of falling in
with some more of them, I thought it best to proceed to France, with a
determined view to get those I had already taken in safe and after
landing the prisoners to put out immediately; but meeting with blowing
weather and high sea, I lost the sails of the head and was in great
danger of losing the head, which accident obliged me to put in here,
where I arrived yesterday with the four prizes. After repairing the
damages and getting what the ships may want I shall put to sea on a
cruise."
While at L'Orient, Captain Barry was invited by Lafayette to come to
Paris, but as he had been "indisposed with a fever which confined him
for ten days" and the ship ready to sail, he could not accept, but wrote
the Marquis he envied the Captain who was to take him to America, but as
that pleasure could not be his, Barry hoped to command the ship that
would convey Lafayette back to France, when he would visit Paris and
"have the honor of seeing Lady Fayette," an honor his brother who since
was lost at sea had had.