p255  XVIII.

New London and Another Mutiny

With a complement of about 240, the Alliance went out past Port Louis, on March 16, 1782. Barry headed her due south on the chance of meeting, off Belle Isle, the brigantine Betsey, from Nantes, a small merchantman freighted by James Moylan and destined for Philadelphia. No Betsey appeared before dark, nor during the night, although the Captain burned powder flashes at hourly intervals as identifying signals. At dawn, with a white flag at the foretopgallant masthead and a Continental flag at the main, he stood off the island. Still no Betsey. By noon, abandoning hope of her arrival, he took his departure from the French coast.

Within forty-eight hours the wind veered, blowing out of the northwest. Day after day it remained unfavorable. Barry's skilled seaman­ship was called into constant play. Storms, squalls and high seas assailed him. They drove him continuously off his course, each tack carrying him a few leagues on his way and, generally, as many leagues southward. In one gale he lost his bowsprit. In another, two boats were smashed, and several spars carried away. Occasionally vessels were spoken, but never an enemy craft.

Disgruntlement flared up below decks. The crew thirsted for prize money, now that no Marquis de La­fayette was on board to compel caution. When ill‑luck continued, the men grumbled, and certain of the officers, as the Captain knew, encouraged them in their discontent. Animosities sprang up in the wardroom. Surgeon Linn, suffering from a weak constitution, developed a disagreeable personality which grated upon his companions. The sick bay was filled with patients, and five men died before the voyage was a month along. Barry swore to himself  p256 that never again would he "Risk my Reputation with such a Crew."

As prevailing winds forced them into the southwest, the weather grew hotter, the sick list, larger. Three more men died. By the end of April, they had been driven into the latitude of the Bahamas, and, on April 28, when not 500 miles north of the Leeward Islands, a number of sail were sighted. Through his glass, the Captain could distinguish a large fleet steering southward. Wisely, he avoided it, not knowing whether it was French, Spanish or English, and not caring to risk the Alliance to find out. By now, he was in familiar waters — the route to and from the West Indies he had negotiated so many times before the war. Hence, he could look to the trade winds to help him along as he turned the frigate's bow into the north. Twelve days later, on May 10, he sighted Cape Henlopen lighthouse, and counted himself home.

Alas for expectations! In Whorekiln road lay one of his Majesty's sixty-four gun ships‑of-the‑line and her tender. Both slipped their cables and stood out. With his inward path barred and the wind from the north, Barry effected a prompt about-face, and fled down the Delaware coast. At first, the ship‑of-the‑line gained. As Barry could not venture an encounter with so superior an enemy, he utilized his knowledge of the shore line to run in toward shoal water. The tender followed, sounding frequently, but the two‑decker kept well to sea. Dubious authority identifies the ship‑of-the‑line as the Chatham, which she was not. The Alliance is said, upon the same dubious authority, to have attained a fifteen knot speed in this flight. Barry made no claim to such a phenomenal achievement. He reported he had "a good deal of Superiority in Sailing." At any rate, the enemy gave over pursuit in a few hours.

Later that day the wind shifted. The Captain considered a second attempt to make Philadelphia, but abandoned it. He would have had to lay off shore for a propitious opportunity to slip in, and provisions were running low. Availing himself of the stiff south wind, he ran northward. On May 12, when not far off Sandy Hook, he spied two vessels which he took to be frigates, and veered eastward. They stood after him for a short time, but never drew near enough to be identified. With the Long Island shore off to port, Barry drove the Alliance under  p257 all the sail she could carry. On May 13, he rounded Montauk Point, and stood northward across the Sound. Toward sunset, he passed to windward of Fisher's Island, and picked up a pilot. Night had fallen when the Alliance sailed up the Thames river to anchor off New London, Connecticut.

"A tajous passage of 59 days," the Captain called it.

* * *

New London seemed singularly apathetic to the arrival of the Alliance. Barry, remembering the enthusiasm with which Boston had received him, was troubled by the aloofness of the inhabitants. Not that he expected an ovation. But he did look for some show of cordiality, and it was wanting. He, Captain Williams and Dr. Dexter went ashore on the morning of May 14, and found hospitality only in Thomas Allen's tavern. There they learned that Thomas Mumford, the Continental agent for Connecticut, lived •about twelve miles up the river at Norwich. As both passengers were headed that way, enroute to Boston, the Captain placed a letter to Mumford in their hands. It contained an indent of provisions required — beef, pork and bread — and the hope the agent would come promptly to New London, as the Alliance was sorely in need of his services.

When Barry returned to the frigate that night, Lieutenant Welch reported a general spirit of unruliness throughout the ship.

"The men are complaining because they have not received back allowances, Sir," he said. "And they're crying out for liberty parties after the long time at sea."

Old Hezekiah had been losing his grip. Barry felt a little sternness might stiffen the aged lieutenant's backbone.

"You know as well as I, Mr. Welch, that there isn't a penny to pay back allowances," he said severely. "And I wont tolerate insubordination. Tell the men their money will be forthcoming in good time. As to liberty parties — No! Not now. Let a dozen of these fellows ashore and half of them would desert."

With that he strode off to his cabin. 'Ere he fell asleep, he had made up his mind to go to Philadelphia, spread before Robert Morris the picture of his miserable ship's company, and demand an adequate number of experienced seamen before he would again venture to sea in the Alliance.

 p258  When, on May 15, Thomas Mumford failed to put in an appearance, but sent his young son, Giles, the Captain's resolution was strengthened. Young Mumford was inexperienced and without authority. He could promise nothing, and was vague on every subject. The frigate needed a new bowsprit, repairs to the head, some spare spars and several boats, to say nothing of a formidable list of slops. Young Giles would have to consult his father about all this. Maybe it could be arranged; maybe not. He couldn't say. When Barry mentioned the need of money, the lad shied off like a frightened colt. No help could be expected from him.

The Captain gave final instructions to Welch at noon that day — to maintain order on board, permit no liberty parties during his absence, open a recruiting rendezvous in town, and put the claret for M. de la Luzerne and the five bales for John Brown into one of the Mumford warehouses in New London. Then he went ashore, threw his saddle-bags over a horse he had hired for the journey, and set off for Philadelphia.

* * *

Shortly after nine o'clock on the morning of May 16, a shallop came alongside the Alliance with some meat — an emergency quantity Barry had ordered from New London pending the arrival of the agent. Lieutenant Gardner, officer of the deck, directed a quartermaster to pipe all hands to unload it. The latter went below, and returned much agitated.

"The people refuse to come up, Sir," he reported. "They're in an evil temper."

Gardner ran across to the after hatchway and down the ladder. Many men were milling around the berth deck, muttering and cursing.

"What's the trouble here, my hearties?" he asked. "Did you not hear the order to come on deck?"

Raucous voices answered in bursts of words and profanity, out of which grew one dominant cry:

"We want liberty and back allowance! Liberty and back allowance! Liberty and back allowance!"

Above the tumult, Gardner made his voice heard.

"You'll have to wait until Captain Barry returns. Meanwhile, don't be fools. Get on deck to your duty."

 p259  In the momentary silence, Gardner ascended the ladder. As he reached the gun deck, Peter Jennings, a seaman, posted himself at the bottom of the hatchway, a bit of hoop in his hand. From a cabin farther off came Sailing Master Buckley, aroused by the din.

"What's this?" he asked sharply, as he passed Jennings and paused on the ladder. "Get about your duty, men."

The cry of "Liberty and back allowance" followed him as he climbed above. He sped to the quarter-deck where Gardner, Captain of Marines Parke and Boatswain Lewis were already armed.

"Give me a pistol," he cried. "Those devils mean trouble."

A shouting crowd of men erupted upon deck from the hatchway. The sight of the armed group on the quarter-deck gave them pause. Lieutenants Welch, Fletcher, Elwood and Morris burst from the Captain's cabin, also armed. The combined force drove the men below. As the last of the mutineers descended, they pulled the ladder down after them. Boatswain Lewis leaned over the opening and discharged his pistol.

"Fire away, ye buggers," bellowed a voice which was recognized as that of John McDaniel, the most unruly seaman on board, and who had been concerned in the mutiny on the first cruise.

"Better send for the Captain," Lieutenant Gardner advised old Welch, who seemed half dazed in the emergency. The latter agreed, and Gardner and Buckley, who seemed to have the clearest heads in the group, dispatched a midshipman with instructions to ride like hell until he overtook Barry.

Between decks the mutineers were rioting. The ship's gunner, who had been asleep in his cabin, came out among them to see small shot and wooden billets hurtling aimlessly through the air, while the men raged fore and aft shouting their cry of "Liberty and back allowance!" They permitted him to go on board, McDaniel, as leader, telling the men to put up the ladder for him. When he emerged into the sunshine, he remembered the key to the magazine which still reposed in his berth. A boy was dispatched privately to recover it. Peering down the hatchway, the gunner missed death by inches, when an iron stand skimmed upward past his head.

Two ship's boys, cowering in their bunks, heard the voice of  p260 James Anderson, a quartermaster, urging that they break into the magazine, get some powder, and blow up the quarter-deck.

"No, let's take the quarter-deck," shouted McDaniel, brandishing a round shot in his hand.

Surgeon Linn, keeping discreetly in his cabin, heard this suggestion greeted with a chorus of approval, and loud shouts of "Damn the officers!" Every once in a while a shot, a billet of wood, or some piece of loose gear catapulted through the open hatchway. Finally, some one on deck had the presence of mind to cover it with a grating.

The day wore on, the mutineers below making no effort to carry out their threats to take the quarter-deck. Wiser heads were counseling against the initial insanity. The officers above, clearly at a loss as to how to proceed, were content to stand guard until the Captain arrived.

John Barry came aboard late in the afternoon. The midshipman had overtaken him near Saybrook, •twelve miles along on his journey, and he had ridden back to New London at a pace which almost foundered his steed. With his arrival, the mutiny came to a quick termination.

"Take off that hatch cover," he commanded, standing by grimly, perspiration streaking his face. The men below heard his voice. They might withstand the officers, but they had no stomach to face John Barry. No more shouts of "Liberty and banquet allowance," came through the opening as the grating was pushed aside. Nor were there any flying missiles. Barry leaned forward, and addressed the silent hands clustered at the foot of the hatchway.

"Put the ladder up," he commanded, his voice even and hard. "Then come up one at a time."

They obeyed him — a sheepish, frightened parade of men. As each hand reached the gun deck, Barry questioned him sharply. From the manner and replies of each, the Captain formed his own conclusions. Some were reprimanded, and ordered forward. Others were seized and taken aft. It took a long time, but when it was ended, sixteen men were in irons in the hold. The rest of the crew, meek under the tongue-lashing he gave them, were unloading the meat.

 p261  That night Barry decided to forgo the Philadelphia visit for the time being. While the ship's company seemed subdued, he feared a further outbreak, and questioned the ability of his officers to cope with it. The crew, as he expressed it, had developed into the worst he had ever commanded. To Robert Morris, in lieu of the delayed personal interview, he penned an account of his voyage and its unpleasant conclusion, and assigned Lieutenant Morris, of the marines, to be his courier to Philadelphia.

"I have at present but 234 Men and Boys on board," he wrote Morris. "About 20 of them are Massachusts Soldiers and Invalids, neither of which will do to go in the Ship again, they being nothing but Lumber. We have likewise 34 Sick on board."

Of the trouble he had just subdued, he wrote sparingly.

"This Day there has been a Verry Dangerous Mutiny on board," his letter read, "the particulars of which Mr Morris the Bearer of this Cane inform you. I have Sixteen of the Ringleaders in Irons. I should be glad to Know what is to be done with them, as there is not Officers here to hold a Court Martial."

He launched also into some definite recommendations to Morris, saying they would save the public vast sums of money now being lost through the villainy of French merchants. Barry was emphatic in his belief, that "it has Cost the Continent above [a] Thousand Guineas for the Freight of Goods that they never Receivd." One recommendation was that the Alliance and Deane, if properly fitted, could carry tobacco to France, return with supplies, and take prizes on either passage. Another was that vessels of war could be built cheaper in France than in America, and could bring stores from Europe. This idea he proposed only if Morris "intended to increase your Marine."

Another letter penned that night was to John Brown, whom Barry had learned had returned from Boston to Philadelphia.

"I have some goods on board for you," he wrote. "I wish you would write me word what is to be done with them . . . pray make my Compliments to all friends."

Lieutenant Morris left for Philadelphia with both letters, on the morning of May 17, and Barry turned to the pressing tasks ahead. There were the sick to be provided for, the mutiny to be investigated to determine the actual ringleaders, and the Alliance to be put in shape for sea. He tackled them in that order.

 p262  Thirteen of the most seriously ill were transferred to the island hospital, off Fort Trumbull, below the town. Several others were quartered in homes in the village. The rest remained in the frigate's sick‑bay, all under Surgeon Linn's care.

Barry conducted a one man court of inquiry into the mutiny. Wanting officers and men, he narrowed the actual ringleaders to three men — McDaniel, Jennings and Anderson. This trio was put upon the guardship in the harbor until he heard from Morris. The others were liberated and sent about their duties.

Then came the Alliance. Thomas Mumford was still notable by his absence. Fortunately, Barry had another resource — his fellow captain, James Nicholson. The eldest Nicholson brother was at Middletown, •some forty miles away, superintending the building of the frigate Bourbon on the shore of the Connecticut river. Barry turned to Captain James, on May 18, asking him to have two boats built, and to supply suitable timber for bowsprit, spars and other repairs. He believed the material was on hand at Middletown. If not, "Mr. Mumford will pay for any you buy."

The dilatory Continental agent arrived finally at New London, on May 20, made some vague promises, suggested that the ship's purser be sent to Norwich to select provisions, and returned home. Young Samuel Cooper, nephew of the famous Dr. Samuel Cooper, Boston clergy­man, was the Alliance's purser. Barry dispatched him to Norwich, cautioning him to be wary of Mumford. The lad's report arrived on the frigate on May 23. The pork was good; the beef but "middling." He could not have the pork unless he took the beef as well. Mr. Mumford thought some good beef would be available by the middle of June. What should he do? Several hours later another note came from him. He hoped the Captain could come to Norwich, which was more agreeable than New London.

"Both Mr Mountfordº and Mr Howlands Houses are finish'd withinside," he wrote in wonder, "and they live at home."

"I wish you to lett it Stand untill to Morrow," Barry replied promptly, "& I will Come up."

Reporting the same day to Robert Morris, the Captain said he was having greater difficulties getting the ship in order than he had anticipated. He was being hard put to it for lack of men,  p263 and believed he should get out as soon as possible for Philadelphia or Boston. There were three British frigates cruising off the harbor, and he might be bottled up. If Mr. Morris would send him a Philadelphia pilot, and get Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, to permit impressments, it might facilitate his departure. The idea of Connecticut impressments had come to him upon receipt of a letter from Trumbull, asking that the Alliance drive some privateers away from the coast off New Haven. He wrote the Governor his regrets. He could not leave port without orders from Morris, and the ship was in no condition to go to sea, having neither water, provisions, nor her full complement.

On May 24, the Captain went up to Norwich. The situation as to provisions was just as the purser had described it. Mumford was full of promises, but no performance. Barry gave the agent an indent of slops desired, but without much hope of seeing it filled. Whether he was impressed with the agent's house, "finish'd withinside," we do not know. But he was impressed with Joseph Howland, of the mercantile firm of Howland & Coit, whose character was far different from Mumford's, and who owned the other home that had so awed Purser Cooper. The visit with Howland was a bright spot in an otherwise unpleasant trip.

* * *

Orders from Robert Morris and letters from M. de la Luzerne and John Brown arrived on May 29. As usual, the former assumed the Alliance ready for sea, and had a mission for her. At Providence, Rhode Island, lay the French frigate L'Emerald. She was destined to convoy supply ships from Boston to Cape François. Barry should join her, pla­cing himself under her commander, the Chevalier de Quesny. In conclusion, Morris was a bit disappointed the Captain had not given him a clearer picture of conditions on the Alliance.⁠a

Barry knew all about the frigate at Providence, and had heard M. de Quesny did not hold a captain's rank. Morris's orders grated, and his reply was not couched in diplomatic terms. He was sorry he could not give a better account of his proceedings, but there was "Nothing Wanting on my Side." He had not neglected business. How could he, when there was  p264 nothing to divert him, unless "to Spin Street Yarn which I never was led to." His opinions of the Continental agent and New London were expressed in several sentences:

He would obey orders and join the French frigate, but it would be many days before he could do so. Had Mr. Morris considered the French officer's rank? If M. de Quesny was but a lieutenant, surely he should not be expected to take a subordinate post.

That conclusion was a strong reminder of his five years of service without pay. Morris could like it or not. The Captain was mad. Nevertheless, he wrote to M. de Quesny expressing hopes of joining him, but not until the Alliance got a new bowsprit.

Then he turned to M. de la Luzerne's letter. The latter wanted to know about the claret and small box shipped on the frigate. Barry was contrite. While he had been negligent in writing, he could assure his Excellency the claret was carefully stored, and the small box in safe custody, awaiting delivery to the proper person.

John Brown's letter was a chatty epistle, a welcome relief to the hard-pressed Captain. Mrs. Barry was well, and considered journeying to New London, but waited until she had more definite news of her husband's plans. A wagon was being dispatched to receive the goods. Perhaps Brown would accompany it, as Mr. Morris had talked of sending him to help get the Alliance to sea. It gave him the "highest gratification" to hear of his friend's arrival.

Barry laid the letter aside and turned to more urgent matters. One was to implore James Nicholson to expedite the boats, bowsprit, spars, etc. Another was to reprimand Dr. Linn for  p265 neglect of the sick. This brought a tart retort from the surgeon, who would be happy to retire, "and perhaps you may find a person who will Suit you better." As May ended, the Captain wrote to Washington, asking him to have exchanged or paroled his Tory brother-in‑law, William Austin. The latter had been captured on a merchant vessel bound from Tortola to New York.

The wagon from John Brown rumbled into New London on June 4. It would not hold all the goods. Barry decided to leave one large bale in Mumford's warehouse, and substitute a small trunk of his own, directed to Sarah. He wrote Brown about it, and discoursed at considerable length upon his tribulations. He had Mumford's receipt for the remaining bale, but "I wood not trust him farther than I could see him." Writing about Mumford provoked thoughts on Connecticut — "I never was in such a damb country in my life." His real disgust was with Morris for ordering him to join the French frigate. This fellow de Quesny was not even a lieutenant, he had learned, but the French equivalent for a midshipman. To Brown, he poured out his soul:

The letter to Morris was forthcoming on June 5. Barry reviewed his situation . . . still no bowsprit nor spars . . . one recruit in sixteen days at the rendezvous . . . not sixty "actual working people" in the crew. Then he tackled the matter of M. de Quesny. He supposed Morris unacquainted with that gentleman's true rank.

That day, the British frigates off New London showed signs  p266 of ascending the Thames. Barry contemplated taking the Alliance farther up the river, but the alarm blew over. He was still nervous over this scare when a nasty letter arrived from Governor Hancock, demanding a Bostonian impressed at L'Orient, and threatening legal action. Barry's rage with poured out in a burning reply:

Meanwhile, the lumber had been received from James Nicholson, followed in a few days by the bowsprit and spars. The two boats would not be completed for several weeks. On June 13, Barry wrote M. de Quesny. He was ready except for men, and saw no prospects of getting them. As enemy frigates were off Rhode Island as well as New London, there was no chance of the Alliance joining L'Emerald. That day Lieutenant of Marines Morris returned from Philadelphia. The only word he brought from Robert Morris was that no Philadelphia pilot was available.

"I am left as much in the dark as ever," Barry complained. "In short, I dont know what to do."

Four days later, his officers gave him his answer. They sent him a formal notice that "as officers in our Countrys Service, we think that the Ship aught not to go to Sea without one hundred more men." The Captain was in agreement with them. Through death and desertion, the complement had dwindled to 220. He had hinted a few days before to Brown that "I think I shall shortly see you in Phia." To Robert Morris, on June 12, he had written that "I hope you will have no objection, I visit Philadelphia." Now he took it upon himself to act. On June 18, he set off for the one place where he knew he could find seamen willing to serve with him — his own home city.

* * *

Sarah Barry, a bit stouter and more matronly, wept with joy when the Captain rode up to the Austin homestead around noon on Sunday, June 23. "My little Girl," as Barry affectionately called her, had been on the point of joining him at New London, fearful he might sail on a cruise and prolong the  p267 separation. With no business to be transacted on the Sabbath, they had an undisturbed afternoon and evening during which John Brown dropped in. The latter was considerably elated over the fact that "the Marine business is all placed in my hands," under Morris's direction. He assured the Captain also there would be no difficulties with Morris over coming home without orders.

So it developed, when, on Monday morning, Barry presented himself at the Marine office. Morris was genuinely glad to see him, and hear personally of the troubles in New London. Before the interview ended, the Captain had accomplished all objectives he had in mind: release from the order to join the French frigate at Providence, permission to open a recruiting rendezvous in Philadelphia, and promise of a free and unrestricted cruise.

The rendezvous was opened that week and flourished. Hugh Smith, a navy master's mate, was assigned to conduct it. The magic of Barry's name brought in good men — seamen, landsmen and marines — and seventeen stout fellows were signed up before the month ended.

Early in July, the old matter of the Marquis de La­fayette bobbed up. A Congressional committee was investigating it from all angles, and one of these was the question of the Alliance's convoy. Barry was called in for examination, and related the whole story; how he and Laurens had examined some of the goods; how Jonathan Williams had suspected fraud in her loading; how M. de Galatheau had missed his original convoy, and had been most dilatory in sailing with the Alliance, and how, in Barry's opinion, the French captain deliberately had separated from him in mid‑ocean. The Captain's recitation was from memory, so he suggested that, when he returned to New London, he forward a copy of the pages of his log book dealing with the disappearance of the Indiaman, and a letter from Captain William Robeson confirming his charge of deliberate desertion. The committee agreed, and, on July 15, transmitted its report to Congress with a resolution providing that a transcript of his testimony be sent to the Captain at New London to be read, corrected, sworn to and returned.

The day before, Sunday, July 14, after another of those farewells so poignant to Sarah, John Barry had set off for  p268 Connecticut. An hour later, fifty hands, the number raised at the rendezvous, had marched off under Master's Mate Smith, also bound for the frigate.

"I am sorry there are not a few more of them," Barry had told Morris in a final call at the Marine oracle, "but I will be tolerably well manned, and shall proceed to sea without delay."

Several days later, on his northern route, he called upon Washington at army headquarters at Verplanck's Point, New York. He had not seen his Excellency in more than a year. Washington inquired particularly about the Marquis de La­fayette, and the Captain could report the latter's health good when they had parted in L'Orient. The Commander-in‑chief also spoke regret­fully of his inability to exchange William Austin at present, but had instructed the Commissary of Prisoners to treat the Tory brother-in‑law with every consideration.

* * *

Letters from Ireland — the first definite word from his family since the outbreak of war — were awaiting Barry when he reached New London, on July 20. Their exact contents we cannot be sure of, but, apparently, they contained word of the death of his parents, and the destitute situation of his two sisters, Margaret Howlin and Eleanor Hayes, and their little families.

"They are really very moving to me," the Captain wrote to Nathaniel Tracy, at Boston, who had forwarded the letters. He asked Tracy to arrange for payment of twenty guineas annually to the unfortunates, and suggested the money be cleared through London bankers.

The Alliance virtually was ready for her cruise. All repairs had been made, the new bowsprit installed, and the two boats received from Nicholson and stowed upon the spare spares in the waist. Mumford, however, had "behaved very Ill" during Barry's absence, refusing to supply the officers with their stores. Much to the Captain's disgust, Brown's wagon had not yet departed, another item chargeable to the Continental agent's negligence. The delay gave him opportunity to add to the load M. de la Luzerne's wine and a "wash kettle full of claret" for Sarah. He wrote to his wife about it, and admonished  p269 her gently against a tendency toward solitude which he had observed during his Philadelphia stay.

"It is clever to visit ones friends now and then," he pointed out to her, "besides it is helpful to good health."

While awaiting sea stores, he found tribulations on board no way lessened. He had endured nothing but trouble since his arrival in New London, he confided to a friend; "Not a Moments Peace or Rest but while I was absent." Difficulties before the Philadelphia visit had been chiefly with enlisted men; afterwards, with officers and warrant officers. Lieutenant of Marines William Morris had chosen the period of his absence to resign, pleading business necessity. Although Morris left a letter complimenting the Captain for his "friendship for the Service of your Country," Barry was not to be mollified by insincere adulation, particularly as the lieutenant had not accounted for money used to defray his expenses to and from Philadelphia while acting as a messenger in May and June.

"I have return'd him a Deserter from the Ship," the Captain wrote Robert Morris, "& which I hope will meet your approbation."

Captain Parke chose that inopportune moment to recommend a new lieutenant of marines, advancing the argument that marine officers seldom left the ship and sea, and, hence, were "a protection over Prisoners." Inasmuch as Parke and Lieutenant Elwood had already irritated Barry by going ashore whenever they saw fit, the Captain lashed back at Parke with the statement that every good friend of his country on board was a guard against prisoners, "but I dont think the name of a Lt of Marines adds anything to it, especially such of them as is Seldom on board." He was determined, said he, they would stay on board hereafter, and, in his opinion, the Alliance already had too many marine officers.

In the same angry frame of mind, he received and accepted the resignation of Surgeon Linn, promoting Chaplain Geagan to the post Linn had vacated.

"I thought it best to get clear of him," the Captain commented later, "as my desire is to keep a quiet Ship."

Then the ship's carpenter ran away, and, Barry was confident, had "Defrauded the Public of a Vast deal of Property." The deserter had been one of fourteen married men on board  p270 from Boston whose wives had been advanced two months' pay through the Captain's efforts in their behalf. Small wonder, Barry wrote Thomas Russell, the Deputy Agent of Marine for New England, asking that, as a special favor, the carpenter, if he returned to Boston, be "apprehended & Lodg'd in Goalº as a Deserter."

Five Continental naval officers from Connecticut, all on leave of absence, descended upon New London, on Saturday, July 27, to sit as a court martial upon the three mutineers. They were Captains Elisha Hinsman and Seth Harding and three lieutenants. The trial lasted through Saturday and Monday. McDaniel was sentenced to eighty lashes, Jennings, to thirty-nine, and Anderson, to twenty. The sentence was carried out at the gangway next morning, with the crew, now numbering about 260, mustered for the brutal ceremony. When the cat-o‑nine-tails had descended upon the bare backs for its total of 139 lashes, Barry restored McDaniel and Jennings to duty, but discharged Anderson into the custody of the army to be returned to the Massachusetts line, where he had originally entered.

Contrary winds delayed departure. In the interim, the Captain wrote to friends — John Coffin Jones at Boston, and Joseph Howland at Norwich — giving each power of attorney for prizes he might send into Massachusetts or Connecticut. Then a final note to Morris: "I have the pleasure to acquaint you that I sail to Morrow with a Good Ships Company, & I hope ere Long you will hear from me."

On August 3, the Alliance slipped her moorings and dropped down to the mouth of the Thames. John Barry left New London and Connecticut and, particularly, Thomas Mumford, behind him without a vestige of regret.

---

Thayer's Note:

a Something is wrong here. That the French frigate was properly L'Emeraude is almost certain.

Less certainly, I suspect that "Quesny", repeated though it be throughout our text, is a mistake as well. I find no trace of a chevalier de Quesny or indeed of any family by that name; Quesnoy or Quesnay may be meant: a Jean-Jacques, chevalier and marquis du Quesnoy (1740‑1794) was a contemporary — but served in the French land army rather than in the navy.

On the other hand, according to W. Granville and N. C. Hough, Spanish, French, Dutch, and American Patriots of the West Indies During the American Revolution, p13 f., Rochambeau's expeditionary force to America (1780) was led by a Chevalier de Terney, squadron commander of a convoy of 12 warships and 36 transports, and in 1783 the squadron took troops back to France from Boston, with among its ships L'Emeraude.

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