In the meantime, the people grew more eager for war. An army had been
raised to drive back the French, should they attempt to invade the
land. George Washington, though nearly sixty-seven years of age, had
been appointed commander in chief of the American forces.
In February, 1799, one of the new frigates, the _Constellation_, under
Captain Truxton, defeated and captured a French frigate of equal size.
By spring the _General Greene_ was completed, and Captain Perry was
ordered to sail for the West Indies.
[Illustration: CAPT. THOMAS TRUXTON.]
America had large trading interests with those islands. Many of our
merchant vessels brought from there large cargoes of fruits, coffee, and
spices. The _General Greene_ was ordered to protect these cargoes from
the French cruisers, and bring them safely into port.
For several months Captain Perry's vessel convoyed ships between Cuba
and the United States. In July, some of the sailors on board were sick
with yellow fever. So Captain Perry brought the vessel back to Newport.
Oliver went at once to see his mother. The tall lad in his bright
uniform was a hero to all the children in the neighborhood.
His brothers and sister considered it an honor to wait upon him. They
would go out in the early morning and pick berries for his breakfast, so
that he might have them with the dew upon them.
While on shipboard he had learned to play a little on the flute. The
children loved to sit about him, and listen to his music.
By the autumn of 1799, the crew of the _General Greene_ were well again,
and Captain Perry sailed back to Havana.
It was during the following winter months of cruising with his father,
that Oliver was taught his lessons of naval honor. He also applied the
lessons in navigation which he had learned from Mr. Frazer.
He read and studied very carefully, and could not have had a better
teacher than his father.
While the _General Greene_ was cruising among the West Indies, Captain
Truxton had won another victory with his _Constellation_. This time he
captured a French frigate which carried sixteen guns more than the
_Constellation_.
The French, dismayed at these victories of the Americans, began to be
more civil. They even seemed anxious for peace.
[Illustration: THE CONSTELLATION.]
War had been carried on for about a year, though it had never been
formally declared.
In May, 1800, the _General Greene_ came back to Newport, and remained in
harbor until the terms of peace were concluded.
The trouble with France being settled, it was decided by the government
to dispose of nearly all the naval vessels. As a result, many of the
captains and midshipmen were dismissed, Captain Perry being one of the
number.
Fortunately for the country, young Oliver was retained as midshipman.