The Story of Commodore John Barry

by Martin I. J. Griffin

On St. Patrick's Day, 1799, Captain Barry was at Prince Rupert's Island. The Hibernian Society of Philadelphia for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland were, the same day, at dinner at Shane's Tavern and drank to the toast of

"Commodore Barry and the New Navy."

On April 8, 1799, Captain Barry was at Bridgetown, Barbadoes. For that port he had, as the youthful Captain of the schooner "Barbadoes," sailed from Philadelphia on October 2, 1766, almost a third of a century previous. What thoughts must have moved him we may conjecture at the change in his own circumstances and in that of the country of his adoption which had taken place. Then, at twenty-one, he was commander of his first vessel, a trading schooner of 60 tons. He had since made effective war upon the enemy of his native land and of his adopted country. He now entered Bridgetown the commander of a squadron of the chief armed vessels of his country. During the War for Independence he had acted in cooperation with French naval forces, now he was protecting the commerce of his country from the depredations of the French and inflicting punishment upon such as came in his path. He had made war on British naval vessels and taken captive many as well as those of England's merchant marine. Now he and his country were acting in accord with England in opposition to and in restraint of the French.

Friends had become enemies and enemies had become friendly, so much so that a Barbadoes paper, on his arrival there, could declare: "Whatever good fortune attends Commodore Barry will but increase the public esteem which he already possesses, as to see merit rewarded is the generous wish of every British bosom."

What a change!

This praise arose from the fact that Barry meeting the French privateer "Democrat" took from her the British Letter-of-Marque, "Cicero," which had been captured by the "Democrat." The darkness debarred Barry from capturing the "Democrat" also. The "Cicero" was of 450 tons and 50 men. Her Captain and three of the crew had been killed and thirty-six wounded. She had been in possession of the French for thirty-six hours when retaken by the "United States" with the prize crew of thirty taken prisoners. These he left at Guadeloupe in French possession. As there were no American prisoners there Barry thought it better to do so than to have them on the "United States" frigate "to eat more than they were worth."

On April 15, 1799, the Navy Department recalled the "United States," the "Constitution" and the "Washington," "with all possible expedition." The other vessels were left in command of Captain Truxtun. Barry, in the "United States," arrived at New Castle, Delaware, May 9, 1799, and within a month at the opera it was sung that "the gallant Barry" was "by all Columbia's sons adored." He was then in Philadelphia after leaving Lieutenant Charles Stewart in charge of the frigate. Barry was, on 13th May, directed to discharge the crew whose time expired that or next month, so as to give them "an opportunity of spending their money," that they might the sooner re-enlist for another year. Officers were directed "to open rendezvous for recruiting a crew." In the meantime Captain Truxtun had arrived at Norfolk and was received with "every mark of respect and attention." Captain James Barron was there also, but on June 2d Barry requested his return to Philadelphia as necessity obliged his presence, as the President had directed the Secretary of the Navy to send "us as soon as possible to protect our defenceless coast." Lieutenant Stewart, almost daily, sent reports of the overhauling work going on preparing the frigate for a voyage. The French privateers were active along the coast harassing the merchantmen, and so audacious as even to enter our harbors.

This made "the public mind very uneasy." So on June 29th the frigate sailed under orders to cruise along the coast to Charleston and after remaining there "long enough to let the citizens know" he was "in the vicinity"; he was to "proceed further south, indeed as far as the River St. Mary's," if he could return to Hampton Roads by the middle of July, where the "Constitution," Captain Talbot, would join the "United States," as it was intended to send both to the coasts of France and Spain. This did not come to be, however, as it was found necessary to have the vessels in the West Indies as soon as they could operate there.

Barry received "the President's command" that "taking the 'Constitution' with you, you proceed on a cruise to the Western Isles, to Madeira and Teneriffe and thence returning by Cayenne, Surinam and the Windward Islands, and reaching Guadeloupe about the middle of October where further orders would be handed" him. Then both frigates were to proceed to San Domingo and enter the port of Cape François, so they might be seen by General Touissant with whom and the people he was to "endeavor to cultivate a good understanding." After remaining two or three days there he was to return to New York, leaving Captain Talbot in the "Constitution" at San Domingo to take command of that station. Barry was given leave, however, if time did not permit his going to Madeira and Teneriffe as well as the Western Isles, he might proceed no further than the Western Isles.

"The protection of our commerce is the great object of the naval armament," said the Secretary, but on July 27th he notified Barry, "the projected enterprise to Europe must be given up," the frigate "United States" had to "remain on our coast for our protection at home." The "Constellation" was to be employed in the same way. Barry was to "proceed from Hampton" southward as far as St. Mary's River and thence back along the coast and take the best chance of falling in with the enemy until about September 10th, when he was to return to New York if the frigate could pass the bar—if not then to proceed to Newport, to which latter he did, where he remained until sailing for France.