THE LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION.
Captain Barry's foresight in having everything ready for war, although
the preliminary articles of peace had been signed, was soon manifested.
The "Alliance" left Havana on March 6, 1783, in company with the "Duc de
Lauzun," commanded by Captain Greene. There also sailed nine Spanish
warships. Not knowing where the Spaniards were bound to, Captain Barry
decided to make his own way and ordered Captain Greene to follow him.
The "Alliance" and "Lauzun" had seventy-two thousand dollars "of public
money on board," which Captain Barry had been entrusted with to deliver,
by order of Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance, to George Olney,
of Providence, R.I., in case he arrived in that harbor. The afternoon
after leaving Havana two British cruisers were seen. Captains Barry and
Greene "stood for the Spanish fleet," of which some vessels had been
seen in the morning. He did this as "the only way to save the 'Lauzun,'"
as that vessel sailed "much heavier" than the "Alliance." At ten o'clock
at night they got in sight of part of the Spanish fleet. The British
men-of-war had followed closely and had got within gun-shot of the
"Alliance" and "Lauzun" when, observing the lights of the Spaniards,
they abandoned the chase. Barry and Greene kept in company with the
Spaniards all night--though they found in the morning that they were but
eight or ten sloops and schooners. "However, they answered our ends,"
reported Captain Barry.
The British not being in sight and no tidings of them among the
Spaniards, the Americans "made the best of their way." Finding the
"Lauzun" much slower than the "Alliance," the public money on board of
her was transferred to the "Alliance." On the morning of the 9th "three
large sail of ships," British men-of-war, were seen "standing directly
for us," reported Barry. He signaled Greene to follow him, who replied
the enemy were of superior force. The "Alliance" having the money, Barry
believing he could be of no service to the "Lauzun," made all sail and
ran faster than the British could follow. But Barry shortened sail and
spoke the "Lauzun." By this time one of the British, a 32-gun frigate,
was within gun-shot of the "Alliance" and the "Lauzun"--the other two
British cruisers a little way astern and fast coming up to the
"Lauzun." Captain Greene told Captain Barry the two were privateers, but
Barry "told him he was mistaken" and that he knew better.
While the "Alliance" dropped astern, the foremost British frigate
shortened sail and would not come near the "Alliance."
Later the two British came up fast. Captain Barry, "confident within"
himself that the "Alliance" "would have fallen a sacrifice" if he
remained with the "Lauzun," signaled Captain Greene to heave his guns
overboard so as to get clear of the enemy by lightening his ship. By
this time one of the British was within gun-shot of the "Lauzun." They
fired several shots at one another but at too great a distance for
either to do damage. In the morning a strange ship had been seen to the
southward, but sailing away from the "Alliance." In the afternoon after
the "Lauzun" had exchanged shots with the enemy pursuing her, this
"strange sail" stood for the Americans. Barry had "all the reason in the
world to suppose she was a stranger to the enemy also," as at that time
the "Lauzun" was firing "stern chasers" at her pursuer. Barry then ran
down between the "Lauzun" and the enemy in order to give Captain Greene
a chance to get off by bringing the enemy into action, which Barry did
"close on board for forty-five minutes, when the enemy sheered off."
During the action the "Alliance" had ten wounded--one dying later. The
"spars and rigging were hurt a little but not so much but they would all
do again." Captains Barry and Greene then sailed towards the strange
ship. It proved to be a French gun ship of 60 guns, which had sailed
from Havana two days before Barry and Greene. It had half a million
dollars on board and was bound to one of the French islands.
Kessler relates that Captain Barry expected the French gunship to assist
the "Alliance"; that two of the British kept "at a distance as if
waiting to ascertain about the French ship." But though she "approached
the Americans fast," she did not join in the encounter. When Captain
Barry afterwards "asked them why they did not come down during the
action, they answered they thought they might have been taken, and the
signal known; that the action was only 'a sham to decoy him.'"
"His foolish action," records Kessler, "thus, perhaps, lost us the three
frigates, for Captain Barry commenced the action in the full expectation
of the French ship joining and thereby not only be able to cope but to
subdue part, if not the whole of them."
The French proposed to give chase. This was done, but the French ship
could not keep up with the "Alliance" or the slower "Lauzun." This
battle took place on March 10, 1783. The British frigate was the
"Sybille," commanded by Captain Vashon, which, on January 22, 1783, had
been captured from the French by the British "Hussar," commanded by
Captain Thomas Macnamara Russell. Captain Vashon "confessed he had never
seen a ship so ably fought as the 'Alliance,' that he had never received
such a drubbing and was indebted to his consorts for his escape from
capture." He always spoke of Captain Barry in the most magnanimous
terms.
"The coolness and intrepidity no less than the skill and fertility in
expedients which Captain Barry displayed on this occasion are described
in naval annals as truly wonderful; every quality of a great commander
was brought out with extraordinary brilliancy."
This is the occasion on which Captain Barry is said to have replied to
the hail of the British that his was "The United States ship 'Alliance,'
Saucy Jack Barry, half Irishman, half Yankee! Who are you?"
I do not believe this true. It is too bombastic to suit the character of
Captain Barry. He could not have called himself "Saucy," for nothing of
impetuosity or dare-devilishness was ever manifested in his career. Nor
did he ever flippantly call himself "Jack."
"My name is John Barry," was his dignified declaration to Lieutenant
Gregory, as we have seen. It embodied respect and determination and
dignity of character which he ever maintained.
Let not his admirers lessen that dignity.
This--the last battle of the Revolution--occurred March 10, 1783, after
the signing of the Provisional Articles of Peace at Paris, November 30,
1782; after the Preliminary Articles for Restoring Peace, signed at
Versailles on January 20, 1783, and also after the Ratification of the
Preliminary Articles on February 3, 1783, by the Ministers of the United
States, France and Great Britain, by which a cessation of hostilities
was agreed upon.
On April 11, 1783, Congress, by Proclamation, ordered the "cessation of
arms as well by sea as by land." But, one month prior, Captain John
Barry had the final encounter on the ocean in defense of the Liberty and
Independence of the United States. He had thus commanded the first
Continental cruiser, the "Lexington" and also commanded the last
Continental frigate, the "Alliance"; bringing to Congress the first
prize brought to Philadelphia and defending and saving the last
Continental war money brought to the country on the last armed vessel of
the new Nation. He commanded the "Lexington," the first vessel
commissioned by authority of the Continental Congress. He commanded the
"Alliance," the best vessel the Congress had commissioned and the last
in the Continental service. He brought Congress its first prize. He
brought Congress its last war money.
On March 20, 1783, the "Alliance" arrived at Newport, R.I.--the last war
day, as on the next day the "Triumphe," commanded by Chevalier du
Quesne, arrived at Philadelphia with the preliminary Treaty of Peace.
She had been despatched from Cadiz on February 11th by D'Estaing, who
was ready to sail with sixty ships of the line and a very formidable
armament, but had given up the voyage on the agreement for peace.
On March 25th--Annunciation Day--Congress ordered the recall of all
vessels cruising under authority of the United States.
On April 19, 1783, Washington announced the close of the war and the
disbandment of the army.
On April 16th the cessation of hostilities was proclaimed in Barry's
home city--Philadelphia--to "a vast concourse of people, who expressed
their satisfaction on the happy occasion by repeated shouts. The State
flag was hoisted and the bells were rung and a general joy diffused
itself throughout the city."
New York City had been under British control nearly the whole war. How
great the contrast there. "When the proclamation was read nothing but
groans and hisses prevailed, attended by bitter reproaches and curses on
their King for having deserted them in the midst of their calamities."
Philadelphia, the seat of the "Rebellion," now by success made a
"Revolution," was open to the commerce of the world. On May 2d the ship
"Hibernia," Robert Scallan, Master, arrived from Dublin and soon, at the
store of Clement Biddle his cargo of "gold and silver silks, rich and
slight brocades, flannels, Mantuas and fabrics, colored and sky colored
tissue and Florentines, tamboured silks and satin, shapes for
gentlemen's vests and black Norwich capes" were on sale.
Joy bounded throughout the land. Meetings were held to express patriotic
sentiments. The men of Northampton, Pa., did so. The ladies of
Northampton followed the next day. Among the "toasts" on the occasion
was this: "May the Protestant religion prevail and flourish through all
nations."
Yet John Barry, an Irish-born Roman Catholic, had battled all the eight
years--from the first to the last of the fight--to win Freedom and
Independence for the land in which these Ladies of Northampton "hoped
the Protestant religion might prevail."
[Illustration: THE FRIGATE "UNITED STATES"]