p398  XXVII.

Mr. Adams Goes to War with France

Within the first two weeks of April, 1798, war spirit against France had flamed to supreme heights. The X, Y, Z dispatches had been presented to Congress and published. Public hysteria raged against the French effort to exact tribute, and against discourtesies shown the three American commissioners. For once, Republican leaders were silent, while many of their followers flocked to the Federalist banner.

Propitious was the time to strengthen army and navy, and John Adams grasped it. In doing so, he did not know his cabinet members were taking their cues from Alexander Hamilton, that astounding financier whose ambition was to become a general. Poor Adams, the dupe of three counselors who gave him lip service only — Pickering, Wolcott and McHenry — basked in the popular acclaim he had always coveted, and failed to realize he was being made a puppet for the ex‑Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton even drafted the letter with which McHenry, on April 9, proposed to Congress to increase the navy by two ships, of twenty‑two guns; eight, of twenty guns, and ten, of sixteen guns each, and to add to the standing army. By April 27, the measure had been passed, the naval provision calling for building, purchasing, or hiring "a number of vessels, not exceeding twelve, nor carrying more than twenty‑two guns each." Three days later came the act, so desired by Barry and all intelligent naval men, creating a Navy Department and authorizing the President to appoint its secretary.

The promised relief restored McHenry's confidence in himself, or else the bolstering power of Hamilton served to quicken the activities of the affable Secretary of War. In the first week of May, he purchased three merchant ships to be converted to  p399 war purposes — the Adriana, at Baltimore (subsequently called the Baltimore), and the Ganges and Hamburgh Packet (later to be named the Delaware) at Philadelphia. But this is getting a bit ahead of our story.

* * *

John Barry came back from Cecil furnace early in April to find Mullowny perturbed by an order from McHenry. The latter had heard the United States lay in the channel in a way "that incommodes . . . the Merchant Vessels in coming in and going out." He wanted her moved to the bight opposite the rope walks, where the channel was wider, unless "Removal from her present Station be attended with Risk or Inconvenience." The order made Barry mad. Delays were serious enough without pushing his ship around in the river to suit the convenience of merchant captains. His reply was tart and to the point. He had ordered the river sounded before anchoring the United States where he did.

In conclusion, he expressed some apprehension for the safety of the vessel from the rowdy Republican shore element, and asked for "abox Mysket cartridges with Ball and twenty-five boarding pikes." On board at that time, in addition to his three officers, surgeon and lieutenant of marines, were "one mate — one Steward — two Seamen & twenty one Ordy Seamen — two Serjeants — one Music — and twenty-three marines" — a total of fifty-seven. They were ample protection if properly armed.

Barry got his boarding pikes and his "Mysket cartridges," and numerous other items re­quisitioned in mid‑April, from paint‑oil, to hammocks, to writing paper. No guns, however, although McHenry had directed the Baltimore naval agents, on April 4, to ship twelve 12‑pounders from the fort at Whetstone  p400 for the use of the United States. Why, wondered the Captain, was nothing done about the cannon at New York, upon which Gillasspy had reported the previous November? Actually it had taken four months for McHenry to busy himself on this subject. He had gotten down to it, at last, on March 19, writing to Governor John Jay, requesting the loan "of thirty of the Iron 24 pound Cannon which it is understood the State of New York have procured from a Foundery in Connecticut." Almost a month elapsed before Jay replied. The government could have the cannon, provided certain assurances of their return insisted upon by the state legislature, would be given to the President. So, on April 18, McHenry sent orders to Barry to go to New York, call upon Governor Jay, and examine the cannon.

"Should you approve of them," he directed, "you will put Things in a Train to have them shipped for Philada."

Final orders were dispatched to Mullowny ere Barry set off on his mission, on April 20. They indicated some progress being made in getting the ship ready for sea, and disclosed that First Lieutenant David Ross was ready to report for duty. Mullowny was to assist Edward Meade, the sailing-master, "to get the ballast on board." He also was to have the ship scraped, fore and aft, and "after the sides is well Scraped you will have them painted yellow." The black streak and bends were to be "blacked, and every part of the Ship cleaned." A rendezvous was to be opened in Philadelphia, and the Captain was emphatic that "every exertion be made to procure able bodyed Seamen and landsman."º With a parting urge, that the Second Lieutenant "have the duty of the Ship done to my Satisfaction which will be a great pleasure to [me] on my Return," Barry boarded the stage coach for New York.

Ten days comprised the period of his absence from Philadelphia, and he accomplished much. There was a momentary setback when he arrived in New York, for Governor Jay was in Albany. However, two state agents gave hearty cooperation, as did Captain Fred Frye, in command at Governor's island. Borrowing powder from the state, Barry proved twenty-five 24‑pounders, and found all but one suitable. Eleven more guns were at Red Hook, but were expected at the island early in May. Determining not to wait for them, and regret­fully declining,  p401 for lack of authority, an offer to have the twenty-threeº shipped by coasters, the Captain set off homeward, and, on April 30, delivered a complete report to the Secretary of War. That gentleman waited a week before writing Jay that he had "taken the Liberty to send orders to Capt Fry" to deliver the guns for transportation to Philadelphia. McHenry had discovered the existence of an "exigency," which "requires no time shou'd be lost in forwarding them."

Letters indicating the influence Barry was known to possess were awaiting him at Strawberry Hill upon his return. News of further expansion of the navy had induced David Porter to write again from Baltimore. This time he was sure war was inevitable, and offered his services, as "I wish to be on the Stage of Action once more." He had, said he, placed his nineteen-year‑old son, David, Jr., as a midshipman on the Constellation, "and flatter myself he will use exertions to merit Something in our Young Navy." The hopes of a fond father were not disappointed in that son, who rose to fame in the War of 1812.⁠a

From Chestertown, Maryland, came a letter from John Nicholson, youngest of the Nicholson brothers, and an ex‑Continental captain. As the country was likely to be involved in war, explained Nicholson, "I make free to request you would Mention me to any of your Acquaintances in Congress or Secretary of War, provided you think well of me." Should he receive an appointment to one of the new vessels, the writer vowed, "I will answer with my Life to git the first Ship Man'd provided it is in the State of Maryland."

Whether Barry exerted himself in behalf of either Porter or Nicholson, we cannot say, although it appears doubtful. Certainly, he would scarcely urge them for command of either the Ganges or Delaware at Philadelphia. Already Richard Dale, who had been master of the Ganges when she arrived in port from Canton, had been assigned to command her, and it was known that Stephen Decatur, Sr., Barry's long-time friend, was to get the Delaware.

More modest in its tenor was a letter from that namesake, Captain John Barry, of the merchant marine. Writing from New York, he introduced a young friend, whom he would recommend to any vacancy on board a naval vessel. Then, too, there was a letter from Paul Revere — he of Lexington fame  p402 — recommending some brass cannonades of his own casting "should these guns be more agreeable to you then the Howitzers." Here was a silver-smith turned gun‑smith, and, while Barry did not use Revere's cannonades, four of them subsequently were placed on Sam Nicholson's Constitution at Boston.

The first four midshipmen for the United States were commissioned as April ended. Barry had recommended two of them on his original list in July, 1797 — Hampden McIntosh, of Georgia, and Stephen Decatur, Jr., of Philadelphia. The others were Richard Somers, of New Jersey, and Freborn Banning, of Maryland.

Two of the four — Decatur and Somers — would write lustrous names in the pages of American naval history. They were each nineteen years old when appointed to serve under the Captain, and he had known them long. Decatur he had seen grow from a child, and deliberately had proselyted to draw the lad away from the counting house of Gurney & Smith — an action the senior Decatur approved and abetted.⁠b Somers had come to Barry's attention through the broad-spread Keen family relation­ships. Betsy Keen Hayes had a brother, William Jonas Keen, who had married some years before, Miss Sarah Somers, daughter of Colonel Richard Somers, of Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey, a Revolutionary notable. Richard Somers, six years younger than his sister, Sarah, had yearned for the sea, and, upon numerous visits to Strawberry Hill, had won the Captain's high regard. To neither, as they reported on board the United States, was the future revealed. They were merely lads of promise, who, under John Barry's skilled direction, would be eminently fitted for enrollment among the navy's famous.

* * *

Definite word that French privateers were actually violating the sanctity of American waters — one was even known to be hovering at the mouth of the Delaware — drove the public to fresh frenzy, and Secretary McHenry to renewed activity.

Recruiting orders followed; for Lieutenant McRea to fill up his company of marines, for houses of rendezvous to be opened "in proper places" to engage 150 able seamen and 103 midshipmen and ordinary seamen, for the surgeon and his mate to examine all applicants and certify only those "free from scorbutic and consumptive Affections," and for advances to be made on wages, "if they cannot be obtained without such Advances."

Wearily, once again, Barry specified guns. McHenry had heard that subject before, and he waved it aside now. The guns were on the way, he could assure the Captain. So Barry posed another problem. He pointed out his previous recruiting efforts had not borne any great fruit in Philadelphia, and were less likely to succeed with both the Ganges and Delaware drumming up recruits. As these vessels had been armed when purchased, they were likely to get to sea before the frigate, he reminded McHenry, and, hence, would offer more attractive prospects to men inclined for service. With the problem, the Captain had a solution — namely, permission to extend recruiting efforts to New York, where seamen were plenti­ful and no naval vessels were being outfitted. The Secretary approved, on May 8, and Barry dispatched Mullowny northward with orders to open a rendezvous and secure as many seamen as he could inveigle into signing on. They should be quartered on Governor's island until a revenue cutter could pick them up and bring them to Philadelphia. To secure the cutter, the Captain wrote Secretary of the Treasury Wolcott that day.

Lieutenant Stewart was assigned to the Philadelphia rendezvous, with instructions to attend it "Morning Noon & Night," and a strict injunction that "no Liquor is called for or charged  p404 to the Ship without your Permition." Barry wanted a return of enlistments made out every Saturday night, and "As fast as You can You must Send the men on board when they have received their Advance." Within four days, the efficient Stewart reported forty-eight hands signed on.

With rendezvous flourishing in New York and Philadelphia, Barry could concentrate on the many matters necessary to complete his equipment. Third Lieutenant Barron had arrived from Virginia, a welcome addition, as McHenry had ordered Lieutenant Ross to make inventories of "tackle, guns, stores and all articles of equipment" on the Ganges and Delaware. Evidence of the minutiae of items needed can be culled from the re­quisitions Barry issued during May — six scrubbing brushes, two dozen sewing needles, 500 pump tacks, 500 scupper nails, pieces of red and white bunting, twelve yards of canvas, 100 hammocks, three quire of books, six square files, two hundredweight of hogs' lard, twelve padlocks, and innumerable other articles. Most of them came from Tench Francis, whom Barry warned, on May 10, "you are the main spring of that business. I call on you to have the different articles ready as soon as you can."

The sloop Plato arrived from New York, on May 18, with twenty-three 24‑pounders. As gun carriages were not completed, they could not be received immediately. A few days later, Barry wrote McHenry that, "from the nearest carcullation . . . it will be twenty days before they [the carriages] can all be finished and fit to be taken on board." Prior to that, the Captain had reported, "the Frigate United States was fit and proper officers ready to receive their different Stores as soon as the Secy of War thought proper to have them delivered. the Provisions may be sent on board as soon as there is a Pursor appointed to receive them." McHenry named the purser, Charles Wadsworth, on May 28, and James Morris, as carpenter, the same day. Wadsworth would serve in the navy with distinction until his untimely death in 1809.

By this time, Barry had compiled a statement of all stores needed from the War Department — a tremendous list, broken down into military stores, ship chandlery, cabin furniture, hospital stores, utensils, stationery and provisions. On May 26, McHenry directed their delivery "to Captain Barry or his order."  p405 The provision classification indicated rations for 364 men for twenty‑six months.

The Captain, meanwhile, had been engaging in a humorous correspondence with Mullowny. That enthusiastic lieutenant had opened his rendezvous in New York, on Saturday, May 12.

"Seamen seem tolerably plenty," he wrote Barry that night. "Numbers say they will enter . . . If I had a Mid[shipman] I could do the business much more to my own Satisfaction." He had found a "very smart fellow," who was helping him, and whom he would like to see appointed a boatswain.

On Sunday, May 13, he wrote again, but failed to date the letter, and, on Monday, penned another epistle, this time dating it May 15, instead of May 14.

"Tomorrow I expect 15 or 20 Sailors," he stated. "I am afraid to say too much for fear some accident may happen but appearances at present look favorable . . . The Sailors are Sporting the black cockade and as merry as can be. I hope to obtain enough here in a little time I shall write you from time to time what I am doing."

Next day he discovered his error of dating, and apologized in another letter, properly dated May 15. His excuse was, he "was much in a bustle." He sent along a black cockade — a "ribband which I think has had a good effect in each man wearing it." He had a bright idea. Why not send the men by land? Midshipmen could come to New York and herd eight or ten recruits into a coach for a return trip. If he put men in the cutter, he was afraid some would run away before that vessel had enough on board to warrant sailing.

At a loss to make sense out of the daily outpourings of his lieutenant, Barry wrote, plaintively, on May 22:

He vetoed the land route, telling Mullowny to send those he had signed around in the revenue cutter, bring any secured subsequently with him by way of Amboy, and, in conclusion:

 p406  Replying, on May 20, Mullowny admitted that "thro' the hurry I might omitted dating a letter but should not be so care less in the future . . . I have stopped the rendezvous . . . I have 8 or 10 to bring on . . . I wish you to give me orders when to return." More important was his information about cannon. Five more 24‑pounders had arrived at Governor's island, would be proved promptly, and re‑shipped for Philadelphia as soon as accepted.

Again next day, he dispatched a long letter to Barry. He intended to enclose a list of men he would send off in the cutter, but changed his mind half‑way through the epistle, because "I cannot make it compleat as there is 8 a 10 running about & how many I shall catch I know not." He had seventeen men and boys safely on the cutter. Also, before learning the Captain did not approve of the land route, he had dispatched two gangs, of eighteen and seven men, respectively, by way of Amboy.

Despairingly, on May 23, Barry recalled Mullowny. The Captain was still "in the dark respecting the number of Seamen you have entered." If he had not paid advances to more than a hundred, he should stop at that figure, "as that number with what we can and have got here will be enough." Fortunately, in case of a surplus, Captain Decatur needed more hands for the Delaware.

Before leaving New York, Mullowny was present, on May 24, when the five 24‑pounders were proved. Four passed all tests, the fifth was "ragged at the Muzzle and some flaws or honey comb within •about two Inches of the Muzzle." Captain Frye, who did the proving at Governor's island, reported all five were ready to be shipped to Philadelphia, as Mullowny "thinks you will take the Guns above mentioned, being apparently good except as above excepted." With Frye's letter in his custody, Mullowny returned to Philadelphia, well pleased with his own efforts. Not until then did Barry secure an actual count of men shipped in New York. They numbered sixty-three!

* * *

Again behind the scenes Alexander Hamilton pulled his puppets. McHenry had written him on May 16. Dale, in the Ganges, would be ready for sea in a week. Two of the frigates  p407 would follow soon. What instructions could be given the captains that would preserve the President from charges of having issued orders which might plunge the country into war?

"The President has not mentioned this subject to me," wrote McHenry. "You will easily conceive how necessary it is I should be assisted with your ideas."

Hamilton's reply, on May 17, was that John Adams had no other power than to employ the naval force as convoy with authority to repel force with force, but not to make captures. The antidote was for the President to report his limited powers to Congress, and to ask authority, in view of increasing French depredations, to provide more extensive protection. These views, reported by McHenry to Adams with the source concealed, had the desired effect. The President told the story (he thought it was his own idea) in a message, which the dominant Federalist party approved on May 28. The resolution of that date empowered American war vessels to capture "any such armed vessels [of France] which shall have committed, or which shall be found hovering on the coasts of the United States, for the purpose of committing depredations on the vessels belonging to the citizens thereof."

The entire resolution was drafted by Adams into "Instructions to the Commanders of armed Vessels, belonging to the United States," and McHenry shot an emergency copy off by express to Lewes, Delaware, to be forwarded by pilot boat to the Ganges. Dale, under orders to cruise between the Virginia capes and Long Island, needed it to make his patrol effective. He received it just before clearing the Delaware capes, on May 30. That same May 30, sailing orders went to Truxtun, at Baltimore. As the Constellation was in the most forward state of all three frigates, he should proceed to sea at the earliest possible date and cruise from the Virginia capes "to the Extremity of our Southern Limits." McHenry was over-optimistic as to the Constellation. Truxtun cleared Baltimore, on June 15, but did not leave Hampton roads until June 24. By that time two more merchant ships had been purchased and were being converted to war purposes — the Herald, at Boston, and the Montezuma, at Baltimore.

A rumor of the acquisition of the latter already had brought David Porter forward again as a suppliant for Barry's favor.  p408 While not wishing to be troublesome, he was sure, on May 18, "Your friendship on such an occasion will be of infinite service In fact it will be everything." The Captain did not aid Porter's ambition to command the Montezuma. Even Truxtun's opinion that the Baltimorean was "Sober and Attentive," had no effect.

The situation regarding cannon for the United States had not improved. None of the 12‑pounders ordered from Fort Whetstone had arrived, while less than half the carriages for the 24‑pounders had been delivered. Barry proceeded to have some of the heavy guns mounted, and, without rhyme or reason, McHenry began goading him about alleged delays. Such undeserved reproach was too much for the Captain to bear. Hitherto he had refrained from telling the Secretary of War what he thought of him. Sharp and with no mincing words was the reply he now fired at the complaining executive.

No more communications were received from McHenry. During his remaining brief tenure of the job of handling the navy, the Secretary of War left John Barry severely alone. Progress resulted. By June 6, the Captain had mounted all 24‑pounders for which carriages had been provided. To facilitate shipment of stores, he decided to drop down stream to a deeper channel. He wanted to avoid grounding his ship when heavily laden on the bars infesting the river between Philadelphia and Chester. This maneuver was entrusted to Lieutenant Ross, Barry remaining behind in the city to prod the War Department storekeeper. The Philadelphia Advertiser described the first leg of the descent:

 p409  From Fort Mifflin, David Ross sailed her south as far as Chester on June 8. Barry dispatched a sloop to her, on June 12, with the first items on the inventory ordered more than two weeks before. Included also were some makeshift gun carriages and sixteen barrels of gunpowder. Ross acknowledged their receipt, and reported the sloop unloaded and discharged in a day.

"The Pilot requests you not to send aney more Stores on board until we get as low as New Castle," he added. "The officer [s] is all well we have 12 of the Ship Company in the doctor list."

On June 15, still off Chester, he acknowledged receipt of some provisions, as well as eight seamen dispatched from Philadelphia, and two days later, off New Castle, reported the arrival of the revenue cutter from New York with the last of the hands engaged by Mullowny.

Benjamin Stoddert arrived from Georgetown, Maryland, on June 18, and took over the post of Secretary of the Navy. Barry hailed his advent with delight. Now, maybe, there would be action? Nor was he disappointed. Stoddert was able and willing to shoulder responsibility even before taking oath of office. At the Captain's earnest behest, he wrote the day he sat down behind his secretarial desk, to the navy agent at Baltimore regarding the missing 12‑pounders. If the guns had not yet been sent on, the agent should forward them "either by a fast sailing Vessel hired for the purpose, or by way of head of Elk." Stoddert was emphatic that "the Guns are wanted without delay."

Twenty-four fours later, Barry brought him a letter from Third Lieutenant Barron, condemning the makeshift carriages for the 24‑pounders, and asking about those under construction in Philadelphia. As Barron pointed out, "The carriages for the guns that came from the [Governor's] island will be much wanting none on board will answer for them." The Captain had received, on June 3, official authority to capture from armed vessels under the limiting provisions of the act of May 28, but was impotent to take any action until the main and secondary batteries of the United States were in place. All this he pointed out to Stoddert, and the new Secretary of the Navy responded with celerity. While Stoddert was prodding dilatory subordinates and contractors to renewed speed, he also was retaining the Captain in Philadelphia as an adviser. No  p410 better selection could have been made. Barry was qualified by three years of heart-breaking trials and disappointments to give Benjamin Stoddert a liberal education on what should be done. Two important recommendations from him are on record at that time: First, that a forty-four gun frigate required 400 men "to govern & fight the Ship," rather than the 364 allowed by Congress; second, that boys were needed on ships-of‑war (another point overlooked by Congress) to be trained as seamen and to be stationed one to a gun.

While the Captain advised, the month of June rolled along, and, on June 26, Ross reported from New Castle the arrival of the 12‑pounders from Maryland. By then all 24‑pounders had been properly mounted on the carriages which Stoddert had expedited out of Philadelphia. Where the heavy guns, other than those from Governor's island, came from, is not clear.

"People is quartered and we have exercised them once and find them alert," Ross announced. "We should have done it sooner — I shall loose no time in exercising the Great Guns, both by day and night untill we have them well knowledged of their quarters."

Belated arrival of guns and carriages had deprived Barry of the opportunity to be the second armed ship to get to sea from the Delaware. On June 26, the same day Ross wrote from New Castle, the converted merchantman Delaware, under Stephen Decatur, Sr., dropped down the river with orders to join the Ganges on the coastal patrol until July 10. On the latter date, Decatur was to proceed southward to meet Truxtun. By then, Stoddert felt sure, the United States would be out to support Dale, whose Ganges was "but badly prepared to meet an Enemy."

In conformity with this plan, John Barry was handed his sailing orders on July 3. As the United States was "equipped manned & armed," he should proceed to sea "with the first fair Wind." Recognizing the narrow limits provided by the act of May 30, it was not expected "the French Cruisers will have the Temerity to throw themselves in your Way." Then a hint — within a few days might come more important service with greater latitude, so the President wanted him to lose no time "in putting your Ship & Men into a State to be prepared for any Enterprize." If, when he had stretched off and on the Delaware  p411 capes for several days, and had received no further orders, he should consider his cruising ground to extend from Cape Henry to Nantucket, and should use "all the Means in your power to defend the Extent of Coast against the Depredations of the Vessels sailing under Authority or Pretence of Authority from the French Republic." He should join Dale, if possible. Both should protect vessels inward and outward bound, and every time he passed near the Delaware capes, he should stand in and hoist a Danish flag at the maintop masthead. Upon one of these visits new orders might await him.

Only absence of two coils of rope yet detained the United States. While Stoddert urged Tench Francis to a little haste in procuring them, John Barry drove out to Strawberry Hill for a farewell to a tearful and inconsolable wife.

* * *

'Squire Joseph Tatlow, of New Castle, spent most of a hot July 4 on the sultry spar deck of the United States administering the oath of allegiance to officers, petty officers and members of the crew. One by one they filed past him, solemnly swearing their fealty and affixing their signatures or marks to the official certificate. From this and other sources, we find two new midshipmen on the frigate — Edward Dyer and James R. Caldwell. Caldwell, like Somers, was to perish heroically in 1804 fighting against the Tripolitans.⁠c He was from Albany, New York, and had been commissioned a midshipman on May 22 at the solicitation of his father, who had appealed to Barry as "at the head of the navy."

The 'Squire had folded his papers and departed, when, at four o'clock that afternoon, the Captain came on board, resplendent in his blue and buff uniform with its high-standing collar, its gold epaulets, and its numerous yellow metal buttons, each bearing a foul anchor and an American eagle. With all hands piped on deck and side-boys manning the gangway, John Barry stepped upon the stout oaken planking of his frigate to the cheers of the crew.

Departure was imminent but not immediate. Innumerable little tasks were yet to be done, such as lining the air ports, pla­cing canvas on ladders, nailing up battens to hold springs and rammers in place along the gundeck, and, finally, building  p412 hen coops and a cow house. The Captain was not going to sea without poultry and fresh meat. Purser Wadsworth was ashore at New Castle laying in a supply of livestock — a cow, six large porkers, a sow with four pigs, six turkeys, thirteen young geese, two dozen ducks, six dozen fowl, three and a half dozen chickens, and provender for this barnyard assortment — hay, corn and bran.

Barry unmoored the frigate early on the morning of July 7, weighed anchor at nine o'clock, and got underway down stream. At noon, in tacking, the ship grounded, and they were almost four hours getting her off the shoal. Whereupon, they anchored in the stream for the night, and, at dawn, were hailed by Captain Decatur, coming up the river in the Delaware accompanied by a prize. Decatur had had an unusual and amazing piece of luck. Off Egg Harbor the day before, he had caught red‑handed the French privateer La Croyable, of ten guns and seventy men, in the act of taking several small American schooners. The Frenchman had surrendered after a long chase. It was his intention, Decatur told Barry, to anchor off New Castle, and proceed overland to Philadelphia with his news.

Scarcely had the Delaware continued northward when a pilot boat arrived from Philadelphia with brief but significant instructions from Secretary Stoddert: "You will please keep on & off the Capes of Delaware — and always in reach of a Pilot Boat, 'till further orders — Some late Acts of Congress make a variation in your Instructions necessary." Later came a sloop with some belated articles from the navy storekeeper, Robert Gill, who added a personal, friendly letter.

"The notice being so short," wrote Gill, "Mrs Barry cannot be apprized of this opportunity [to write to you] however another dispatch will be sent to you soon, & Mrs Barry shall be informed of it in due time."

Obediently, the Captain waited, dropping down the bay by easy stages. On July 12, off the cross ledge, he exercised the crew at the great guns with a wrecked schooner as a target. Next day, shortly after weighing anchor, the Delaware was observed standing down toward them. She should bear news, possibly dispatches.

Stephen Decatur, Sr., boarding the United States toward noon, had both — news that Congress, on July 9, without actually  p413 declaring war, had authorized the capture of any armed French vessels found within jurisdictional limits of the United States, and "elsewhere on the high Seas"; dispatches, which instructed Barry to sail for the French West Indies with a small squadron to be assembled in Nantasket road, pick up "a Number of Prizes in the short Cruise to the Islands," and be back on the American coast "in two Months, from the Time you depart from Boston Bay."

"Wishing you all possible Success & honor in this Enterprize," concluded Stoddert in these July 11 orders, "& adding the Assurances of the President's Confidence, that Nothing will be left undone on your Part, to insure both honor & Success I remain &c."

The quasi war with France was under way, and John Barry had the distinction of commanding the first squadron to be dispatched for offensive operations. Upon him at once settled the courtesy title of "commodore" — a rank actually non‑existent from the discharge of Esek Hopkins from the Continental navy, in 1777, until July, 1862, when it was created by act of Congress. In the well-nigh a century between these dates, the senior captain in command of two or more war vessels was recognized by the courtesy title, and Barry bore it, from July, 1798, to his death.

---

Thayer's Notes:

a C. A. Storrs et al., Makers of Naval Tradition, p87.

b Our author hints at, but finally glosses over, some real opposition within the Decatur family. See C. A. Storrs et al., Makers of Naval Tradition, p38.

c G. R. Clark et al., A Short History of the United States Navy, p87.

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