p414  XXVIII.

The Finest Ship that Ever Sailed

From the tip of bowsprit to ensign staff astern, the United States, for sheer beauty of line and design, excelled anything that had sailed from an American port. She was the first of the two forty-four gun frigates to get to sea, and, when at noon on July 13, 1798, she passed out between the Delaware capes, John Barry's heart sang in delight at her performance. Never before had he commanded such a vessel. In comparison, the high-sterned Raleigh and Alliance — considered so fine in their day — faded into insignificance.

Here was a ship! A gun‑deck within inches of 175 feet in length. A beam of forty-three feet, six inches. Along the gun‑deck, from just forward of the foremast to the scroll edging the quarter-gallery windows, were fifteen gunports to the side. Behind the closed lids of each, a 24‑pounder lay in its carriage — a potential broadside of formidable weight. Supplementing the thirty heavy guns was the secondary armament on the spar-deck — fourteen 12‑pounders, and a number of howitzers.

No peaked forecastle nor high-pooped stern marred the long length of her, although lumber, spare spars and boats, lashed amid­ships, spoiled the appearance of her flush spar-deck. They spoiled her sailing, too, because of "a great deal of top weight on deck," as Carpenter James Morris reported, and Barry agreed. He knew she would be stiffer when once he rid himself, not only of excess lumber, but of firewood between decks.

Overhead, with all canvas spread, the frigate seemed engulfed in great dun clouds, that sheltered the deck from the hot July sun, save where little patches of brilliance danced upon her oaken flooring. High aloft towered her masts, the tallest of the three measuring a full •180 feet from main truck to deck. Through the rigging hummed the salty air of an off‑shore  p415 breeze. A gallant frigate she was under full press of sail, with spray foaming upwards from her cutwater toward the aloof and elegant figurehead, with the green sea swelling against her yellow sides and at times flicking at the black streak that banded her gunport line, and with her wake spreading troubled water astern to where Decatur, in the Delaware, was striving vainly to come up with his commodore.

Only one slight mishap spoiled Barry's complete enjoyment of that first day at sea. Shortly after the pilot had gone ashore, the carpenter came aft with word that the foretopmast had sprung. It was, to quote Barry, Joshua Humphreys's "favourite mast." As the strain did not appear serious, he decided to nurse it along until reaching Boston.

That night in the great cabin, Lieutenant Ross dined with him, beginning a series of meals in which the officers rotated in breaking bread with the Commodore. The United States was well appointed throughout, but real luxury reigned in Barry's quarters. While officers' cabins, wardroom and the little schoolroom on the lower deck were comfortable, their equipment was severe when compared to the furnishings of the great cabin. It was a commodious apartment, occupying the •thirty feet of the gun‑deck abaft the mizzen mast. Its width was the breadth of the ship aft. Extending •ten feet forward on either side of the stern ran a gallery, which projected slightly beyond the ship's hull. Twelve large windows, each set with nine small panes of glass, lined the galleries and stretched across the stern. Only the six windows aft, all curtained, gave light into the cabin, however, as the quarter-gallery windows opened upon tiny compartments such as the pantry and the Commodore's water-closet. From the gallery ends to the bulkhead marking the forward wall of the cabin, comfort gave way to Mars. Here, behind closed gunports squatted four 24‑pounders in their carriages, two on each side. Flanking the ports were wall racks lined with rammers, sponges, hand-spikes and priming wires.

Of furniture, there were twelve Windsor chairs, eight canvas-bottomed chairs, several conveniently placed "spitting boxes," a stove, a small breakfast table, and two large tables, one covered with snowy linen, lighted by candles in tall brass candle-sticks, and set with appointments that would have graced the dining room of a Philadelphia merchant prince. Lieutenant  p416 Ross was treated to a dinner such as only the Commodore's cook could concoct, and only the Commodore's steward could serve; topped it off with wine that bubbled in a slender-stemmed glass; discussed the remarkable sailing attributes of the frigate as they had developed that day, and retired with that feeling of well-being which good food produces.

While the debris of the meal was being removed, the linen table cloth replaced with one of baize, and the cabin made ready for the night, John Barry pushed aside charts and maps littering the small table, and sat down to study anew the instructions from Secretary Stoddert. The years had told visibly upon the Commodore. No man could have gone through the trials, vicissitudes, and bitter disappointments entailed in superintending the building of the United States and her outfitting without showing the strain. When we add the suffering during asthmatic attacks, it is small wonder Barry's face was deeply lined, his temper, at times choleric, and his strength, despite his tall and portly build, no longer that of a man in his prime. The truth was, John Barry, although but fifty-three years old, had become prematurely aged. His was the same clear mind. It was physical deterioration only.

Stoddert's orders disclosed clear thinking on the part of the new Secretary of the Navy. Because the French force in the West Indies, other than three frigates blockaded in Cape François by the British, consisted only of numerous small cruisers, he believed a squadron of four American vessels could render essential service in a brief cruise to the islands. As consorts for Barry, he had selected the Delaware, of twenty‑two guns; Herald, of twenty guns, and the revenue cutter Pickering, of fourteen guns. The Herald was outfitting at Boston, the Pickering, at Newburyport. This squadron was "to fall in with the Islands, three or four degrees to the Windward of Barbadoes, & thence, keeping to the Windward of Martinico, Guadaloupe, & Antigua, & so disposing of the Vessels . . . as to afford the greatest chance of falling in with the French-armed Vessels — and yet keeping each within protecting distance of the whole." Finally, they were to look into the harbor of San Juan, Porto Rico, cruise for two or three days on the south side of that island, and return to the continent. At Porto Rico, "where the greater part of our captured Seamen collect to return to their  p417 own Country," Barry should present a letter to the governor (a suggested draft accompanied the instructions) asking that all Americans be turned over to him. He should also press the governor for restoration of the ship New Jersey, captured by the French and carried into San Juan.

Yet, should Barry see an American vessel taken by a nation "with whom we are at Peace," he was not to interfere. This was a terrific handicap to the fulfillment of the final injunction in the instructions: "It is Time We should establish an American Character — Let that Character be a Love of Country and Jealousy of it'sº honor." Mr. Stoddert apparently wanted American honor guarded jealously against the French only. If a British or Spanish frigate gobbled up a Yankee merchantman, the Commodore should close his eyes!

Barry slept on his instructions, and awoke to a clear day with light winds. Even so, by mid‑afternoon, the United States had drawn so far ahead of her consort that sail had to be shortened "for the ship Delaware" to come up. When the same procedure had to be followed, on July 15, Barry could write exultingly:

Carpenter Morris, with actual awe, attested also to her marvelous sailing qualities. "We have been going 12 knots," he wrote, "at the same time we could have carried a good deal of more sail." More remarkable to him, as evidence of how she absorbed every ounce of breeze, was the sight of Lieutenant Barron carrying a lighted candle fore and after with the frigate sailing "9 knots by the Wind."

Sail she could as Captain Thomas Waterman Hardy, of his Majesty's fifty gun ship Assistance, was able to attest on July 16. Hardy, with two consorts, was some fifty leagues southeast of New York when the United States bore down upon him. Fortunately, to avoid mistakes, both vessels were flying proper colors. Hardy, who would later become famous as Nelson's flag-captain, was the first British captain to view one of the new American frigates. In years to come, England would see too  p418 much of them. Nothing of moment happened thereafter, save that the Delaware was constantly astern. On July 19, they rounded Cape Cod, and beat up the bay to anchor in Nantasket road on the morning of July 20 — one week from the Delaware.

* * *

Boston! Not for seventeen years had Barry been in that port from which he had sailed on some of his most notable Revolutionary exploits. He and Decatur went ashore the day after their arrival in Nantasket road to be greeted "on 'Change with every mark of attention and welcomed as the brave and patriotic defenders of our country's rights." Boston, citadel of Federalism, would not be wanting in respect for the navy.

The Commodore, tall, white-haired and distinguished in appearance, and Decatur, fresh of complexion with dark brown hair, but much shorter in stature and seven years younger, made a deep impression upon Stephen Higginson, wealthy merchant who acted as navy agent. Hitherto, Higginson had been getting much of his impressions of naval officers from Samuel Nicholson, whom he characterized as "a rough blustering Tar merely . . . his noise & vanity is disgusting to the Sailors . . . prudence, judgment & reflection are no traits in his character." Captain Sam had not improved with the years. In Barry and Decatur, the agent found gentlemen of character. It was disappointing to inform them that neither the Herald nor Pickering could be ready for sea for several weeks.

Barry would not wait. He believed the United States and Delaware to be of sufficient force to cope with any French war vessels in the West Indies, and he knew Stoddert's desire for action. He and Decatur returned to their vessels in Nantasket road. A few days of delay there was inevitable, as Carpenter Morris had to get down the sprung foremast and replace it. Both Barry and Morris wrote Humphreys from Nantasket road in praise of the ship's performance.

While repairs were underway, the Constitution went to sea on her maiden cruise — a coastal patrol. That same day, July 23, Barry and Decatur, accompanied by four Massachusetts congressmen, paid a formal visit to the governor at Roxbury. On July 26, the United States and Delaware sailed from the  p419 road, bound for the West Indies. The Boston visit had been profitless — a waste of two weeks, that might better have been employed against the French.

* * *

Barbadoes bound! Recollections stirred in Barry's memory — the little British island, outpost of the Antilles, which had been his frequent destination in the long ago days before the Revolution. Almost twenty-eight years had elapsed since he had sailed the schooner Barbadoes into the tropical harbor of Bridgetown on her final voyage under his command. He had never been back since. But there was nothing tropical in the weather the United States and Delaware encountered the second day out of Boston — merely a Nantucket fog that caused signal guns to be fired at intervals from the frigate. When it lifted, there was Decatur a mile astern to the northwest. Sail was shortened until he came up. All that night — a thick, soupy one — the signal guns continued, to be answered from the consort. At dawn, she was four miles off the lee quarter. Stiff gales followed, and the Delaware seemed able to hang closer in stormy weather. Once, at noon on July 29, a strange sail was sighted and pursued. Barry had his crew at quarters when they overtook her — a Danish ship out of New York. Later that day they spoke the ship Old Tom, Liverpool to Philadelphia. She could report them to Stoddert as well along on their way to the islands.

A day later, several hundred miles off Hatteras, a lookout spied a strange sail some six miles to the south, southwest. The Commodore stood toward her and observed she was flying French colors. Whereupon, he ordered the flag of the French republic hoisted to his own peak, signaled Decatur to remain under his lee, cleared the frigate for action with all hands at quarters, and drew nearer to this possible adversary. By four o'clock in the afternoon, he was close enough to identify her as a man-of‑war. It was evident she sought rather than avoided an encounter. Skillfully, Barry maneuvered to get the weather gauge, and succeeded. In the fading sunset light he gained a position which gave him the advantage. To the deck came the false colors, and up went the Stars and Stripes. Simultaneously, the French flag fluttered down from the other ship an to be replaced  p420 by the Union Jack. Laconic, and lacking any indication of the disappointment which swept the United States, is her log entry: "Spoke the Thetis, Capt Cochran of 44 Guns belonging to Great Britain."

Lucky for both frigates they revealed their true colors. Otherwise, Cochran would have had a taste of a Yankee forty-four, and Barry would have violated his instructions. The English captain sent his barge to the United States to invite the Commodore to come on board and receive the signals being used by British war vessels in the West Indies. It would prevent similar cases of mistaken identity. Barry accepted and returned later with Cochran and several of his officers. Followed an informal supper in the great cabin, and, stated the log, "at 9 they went to their ship and we steered our proper course."

That proper course was due south, barring some slight diversions, such as chasing occasional strange sail, which turned out to be a schooner from Boston to Demarara, on August 2; a ship from St. Croix to Copenhagen, on August 4, and a brig for Boston, on August 6. They were constantly losing the Delaware, particularly at night. False fires burned in the darkness to guide the consort. Generally the weather was fair, with some periods of calm. On August 17, in latitude 21° 27′ north, they picked up the trade winds, and, four days later at noon, "Saw the East End of Barbadoes bearing W by N dist 6 Leagues."

With the Delaware hovering off shore, Barry took the United States into Carlisle bay in the late afternoon, and dropped anchor off Bridgetown. He did not go ashore. Instead, an officer came off from the fort to give him latest news of French activities, and the master of an American vessel in the harbor was invited on board for similar information. Three hours later, the frigate "wore ship and stood off." As she slipped to sea, two Yankee letters-of‑marque saluted her with fifteen guns each, and the Commodore returned the compliment with three. Nightfall soon blotted out Barbadoes, as the United States and Delaware ran toward Martinico. They picked up the eastern end of that island, at dawn of August 22, and soon were paralleling its coast line five leagues off shore.

At ten o'clock that morning, a strange sail was spied far ahead. The "give chase" signal rose on the United States, and Barry set sail in pursuit. So did Decatur, but within an hour  p421 the Delaware was hopelessly outclassed. Shortly after noon the quarry, now less than seven miles away, wore and stood for the stretch of open water between Martinico and Dominica to the north. If she thought to dissuade her pursuer by this maneuver, she was doomed to disappointment. The channels between the islands of the Lesser Antilles held no terrors for Barry. He had sailed them all.

Out went studding sails, royals and spanker. The United States responded majestically, cutting down the intervening distance slowly but surely. It was a long stern chase, clear through the channel and beyond. Dominica and Martinico were eight leagues astern, when Barry sent a shot after the scudding sail — a 12‑pound ball that struck the sea in her wake. A half hour later, with night descending, he tried another shot. This second warning brought her to. The frigate ran alongside of the French privateer schooner Sans Pareil, of Guadaloupe, Captain Touin, with a crew of eighty-seven men. Six of her ten guns had been thrown overboard in the more than ten hour chase. While flares burned on the United States to guide the Delaware to the scene, Barry took possession of the prize, transferred her crew to the frigate, and placed Midshipman Caldwell on board as prizemaster. Two hours elapsed before Decatur arrived, so badly had the Delaware been outdistanced.

An auspicious beginning, but, unfortunately, no criterion of future success. Barry determined to cruise alone for four or five days to windward of Guadaloupe. He instructed Decatur to take charge of the prize and appointed the island of St. Bartholomew, farther north, as the rendezvous. St. Augustine on the morning of August 24, the Commodore was engaged in a fruitless quest of Frenchmen. The frigate's log grew monotonous with "wore Ship to the Sd" and "Tkd to the Nd," while it recorded numerous positions off Guadaloupe, Dominica, Montserrat, St. Eustatia, St. Christopher and Antigua. Barry was in the heart of an island cluster as familiar to him as his own Philadelphia. Several times he chased and overtook vessels which turned out to be inoffensive coasters, or armed British merchantmen. Once he spoke a privateer from Antigua, but nary an enemy did he espy. Finally, he gave up in disgust, and, on the morning of August 29, ran in toward St. Bartholomew, and hove to off the harbor of St. Jean. He had chosen the little  p422 Swedish island as a rendezvous because it lay on the route he proposed to take to Porto Rico.

Lieutenant Barron went ashore to arrange for fresh provisions, and several island merchants came off to visit the frigate. Among them was Joseph Crawthorne, a Keen family member and brother-in‑law of Richard Dale. There was gossip on the quarter-deck, and some of it caused Barry later embarrassment. Surgeon Gillasspy, in conversation with Crawthorne and another visitor, heard them charge a Philadelphia merchant, Captain James Yard, with being an agent for Victor Hughes, special agent of the French Directory in the Windward islands. They related a circumstantial story of one of Yard's vessels being captured and immediately released by Hughes. So, Dr. Gillasspy "made a memorandum of it." When the visitors departed, and Barron returned from the island, Barry sailed off southwesterly. A few hours later, he met the Delaware and Sans Pareil. The three vessels hunted together for several days, but French craft were not to be found. Off the little Dutch island of Saba, on August 31, they spoke an armed schooner from Tortola, whose captain was "an impertinent man." That same afternoon, they met two British sloops-of‑war, and exchanged amenities.

By now they were bearing toward Porto Rico, but delayed some forty-eight hours off St. Thomas, while Barry dispatched Mullowny in the prize schooner to Tortola "to see what American vessels and sailors" he could collect. When Mullowny returned, on the morning of September 2, he had three seamen, and more gossip relating to James Yard. A Dr. Bartlett, of Tortola, had assured the lieutenant that a merchant at St. Croix was deeply involved with Victor Hughes, and "it is Supposed Mr James Yard . . . was concerned with him." As Bartlett appeared "to be a Man of Confidence with the president of the island," Mullowny had written down the conversation, and turned the paper over to Barry. The Commodore did not believe the yarn, but took the statement, and promptly mislaid it.

They negotiated the Sail Rock passage that same afternoon. At sunset, the east end of Porto Rico was visible southwest by west about six leagues. Through the night, they stood west to find, at dawn, they had fallen to leeward of San Juan. The trio hauled their wind and beat back. Darkness overtook them 'ere  p423 they gained the harbor mouth, so they "lay off and on all night."

What plans Barry had made to dispatch his letter to the governor — the letter Stoddert had drafted — went aglimmering, when a suspicious sail was observed in the westward. Leaving the Sans Pareil to the care of Decatur, the Commodore clapped all sail on the United States, and set off in pursuit. It took five hours to get within gun‑shot. Even then, the plucky fugitive would not surrender. From four o'clock in the afternoon until eleven o'clock at night, Barry banged away with a bow‑chaser. With the frigate's shots churning up the water around her, the quarry finally "bro't to all standing." She was the privateer ship Jalouse, out of Guadaloupe, commanded by "Citoyen Joseph Renne," and with a crew of sixty-seven. Six of her eight guns, they told Midshipman Banning when he went on board as prizemaster, had been thrown overboard in escaping from a British frigate two days earlier. Carpenter Morris had to build an additional bulkhead in the hold to accommodate the new prisoners. The chase had carried them far to the westward of San Juan. With the sloop in tow, beating back consumed forty-eight hours. The Delaware and Sans Pareil met them, early on September 7, fifteen leagues northwest of the harbor, and Barry called Decatur on board.

The Commodore was disgusted. Three days had been consumed in capturing a picayune privateer sloop. A contrary wind made it impossible to get close in with San Juan. The fish furnished at Philadelphia were putrid; the bread, from the same source, was mouldy. Ballast was proving insufficient, and the frigate continued "somewhat tender." To top these grievances against fortune, the weather and the Navy Department was the fact that the dread hurricane season was overdue in the tropics. Stoddert's instructions had suggested a return to the continent within two months of departure from Boston. As Barry had sailed from there on July 26, he was due in the Delaware not later than September 26. All this he explained to Decatur along with his decision to delay no longer off Porto Rico. The letter to the governor, and the efforts to free the merchantman New Jersey were commissions he could not execute without exposing the ships under his command to hurricane dangers. The United States and Delaware, said he, would proceed  p424 homeward at once with their prizes. He would convoy the Jalouse, and Decatur should take the Sans Pareil under his wing.

They sailed before noon, on a northwesterly course, and, by nightfall, Porto Rico had disappeared over the horizon astern. Little of moment marked the return. To the eastward of the Bahamas, on September 8, they spoke a British merchant brig. That afternoon, a seaman fell overboard, but was saved by an accurately tossed lifebuoy. On September 10, the Delaware and Sans Pareil set off in pursuit of a distant sail. Twilight disclosed them far to the eastward. Despite false fires burned through the night, they were out of sight at dawn.

Barry continued his course, attended only by the sloop, which frequently had to be towed. In fresh gales, on the night of September 13, the tow‑line parted. At dawn, the Jalouse had disappeared. Only some hundred French and negro prisoners in the hold offered evidence the cruise had not been profitless. Thus, the United States neared the American coast, speaking an occasional merchantman, and picking up the light house on Cape Henlopen on September 18. A pilot brought them up the bay to anchor off Bombay Hook the following night. The Commodore was home one week ahead of schedule.

From Bombay Hook, Barry dispatched a letter to Humphreys containing "an account of the qualities of the Frigate United States." He made no effort to restrain his enthusiasm, as "no ship ever went to sea steers and works better," while, at sailing, "she is equal, if not superior to any ship I ever saw," and, in a sea, "an easier vessel perhaps never spread canvas." Mayhap, under heavy sail, she might bury herself too much. While probably due to the foremast being too far forward, he urged no alteration until further trial.

From Bombay Hook, the frigate proceeded up to New Castle. Barry went ashore, on September 20, to carry his report in person to Secretary Stoddert. Several days later the Delaware and Sans Pareil arrived to be followed shortly by the Jalouse. All prisoners were landed at New Castle, where the marshal of Delaware housed them in "a very good Barracks." Later the Republican press would howl that shameful neglect and starvation was their lot.

* * *

 p425  Yellow fever's foetid breath again had spread death and desolation in Philadelphia. Barry was warned at New Castle that the plague was more virulent than during the previous summer, and that the capital was a deserted city. The President had gone to his home in Massachusetts, and government offices had removed out of the pestilential area, the Navy Department being quartered at Trenton. Giving Philadelphia wide berth, the Commodore reached Strawberry Hill the night of September 20. Its occupants had escaped the deadly infection. His return was hailed with delight, not only by Sarah, but by her brother, Isaac Austin, and Patrick Hayes's little family. Patrick himself was at sea in one of his own merchantmen, but Betsy Keen Hayes and her brood — John Barry Hayes, now two years old, and Sarah Barry Hayes, born five months before — were living at Strawberry Hill until troublesome war‑times should end. John Barry lingered at home only over night. He was off at dawn for Trenton. His arrival there was described the same day by Secretary Stoddert.

"Capt Barry to my surprise made his appearance here at 1 oClock," Stoddert wrote to John Adams, listing the number of prizes and prisoners taken. But the Secretary of the Navy was not pleased:

That letter was most unfair. The Commodore was damned for returning too soon, yet Stoddert avoided any reference to the order he had issued Barry — "it is hoped, that you may be on our Coasts in two Months, from the Time you depart from Boston Bay." Neither did he mention mouldy bread, putrid fish and insufficient ballast — other reasons the Commodore had given for returning. Stoddert had the facts, but preferred to pin all responsibility upon Barry. The Federalists needed victories at sea to make popular a French war against opposition of the Republican newspapers. Commanders who returned empty-handed, or nearly so, could expect no sympathy from the Secretary of the Navy.

But if there was no admission of Navy Department inefficiency  p426 to John Adams, Stoddert went right to work on corrective measures. Why did the "Bread & Fish turn out So bad?" he asked Tench Francis, on September 22. Suppliers should be forced to take back what remained of spoiled provisions or should be sued. He was firm that "the Idea that it is no harm to cheat the public cannot be too Soon exploded."

"I want Barry to Sail from New Castle in ten days from this date," he continued. "Before he goes he must have Bread — Pray take instant and decisive measures to Supply him with 2400Wt. of good Sound Ship Bread fit for Seamen."

That same day, he turned to Levi Hollingsworth, Philadelphia merchant, for ballast. Barry needed twenty tons of "Kentledge or Pig Iron," and should have it immediately as the frigate "ought to be out in 8 days, or 10 at most from this time."

Both the United States and Delaware were to be dispatched at once — Barry to cruise from the Delaware capes to New Hampshire, and Decatur, from New York to the Chesapeake. Stoddert feared attempts by the French to intercept American merchantmen due from Europe in October and early November. Orders to Decatur were dispatched, on September 26. The Delaware sailed by the end of the month. No such speed marked the departure of the United States. In addition to ballast, bread and fish, Barry had presented indents for cheese and numerous items of cordage. With Philadelphia in the grip of yellow fever, filling indents with expedition was next to impossible.

* * *

From Trenton, Barry returned for a few days at Strawberry Hill before repairing to the frigate. Then, on to Chester he went, where, in an unguarded moment, he disclosed to a few friends the suspicions aroused in Mullowny's and Gillasspy's minds as to James Yard's alleged affiliations with the French agent. The story spread like wild-fire, as all scurrilous yarns will. The result was a hurried call by Captain Yard and two friends upon the Commodore at Richardet's tavern, on September 28. One of the callers was Thomas Fitzsimons. They pressed Barry for facts, and, of course, these were woefully inadequate.

"I mentioned the circumstance in the hearing of a person who I suppose has repeated it," he protested. "But I have disbelieved  p427 it. Indeed, that was my reason for mentioning it, because I supposed others would speak of it without qualification."

He promised to send Yard the statement Mullowny had given him, as well as Gillasspy's memorandum. Fitzsimons reminded him of the promise by letter that afternoon, "so I am sure it must be your wish to have this disagreeable business cleared up as soon as possible." The writer had heard Barry was setting out "early in the morning" for New Castle, which was the occasion for the reminder. Damning his own loquacity, and the discomfiture it was causing him, the Commodore vowed never again to repeat idle tales. He reached New Castle in the late afternoon of September 29. His reception on the frigate restored his good spirits, for "the moment I got on board the People gave me 3 chears in token of their joy to see me."

One of his first acts was to look for Mullowny's statement. It could not be found. He induced that young man to retell the story in a letter. Surgeon Gillasspy produced his memorandum. Both documents went off, on October 1, and Barry breathed a sigh of relief as he wrote Fitzsimons how glad he was "to give you every Satisfaction respecting that Business." Eventually the papers reached James Yard, who sent them to Secretary of State Pickering as part of his justification. And that, so far as the Commodore was concerned, was the welcome end of the matter.

Urgent problems took Barry's immediate attention. Neither bread nor ballast had arrived; nor had he received sailing orders from Stoddert though the latter had promised they would reach him by the end of the month. Then there was discontent on the part of three of his lieutenants. David Ross wanted to be transferred to another ship. John Mullowny and James Barron had written the Secretary of the Navy "almost demanding to be Captains." He cajoled Ross into remaining on board, and promised the other two he would second their requests only when passed through proper channels.

Of course, he wrote to Sarah. She would be pleased to hear of the grand reception the crew had given him. He was going to see her cousin, Sammy Austin, over in Jersey, to get some live stock — "aCow cheap and go[a]t." He was sending her a small turtle to "make a little soup," and would write again. So  p428 he did, on October 8, the day he received his sailing orders from Stoddert.

To cruise between the Delaware capes and New Hampshire, appearing every twelve or fifteen days off Newport for further instructions, the Commodore ordered the frigate unmoored. His patrol was to conclude, finally, on November 15, at Newport. Head winds delayed him. It was October 17 before the United States stuck her nose out past Henlopen.

Twenty-four hours later came rain, hail, a howling gale, and a mighty, surging sea. By four that afternoon of October 18, the frigate, with royal masts down and starboard and larboard topmasts rigging set up, was running southward before the storm. It was increasing in intensity every hour. Great waves broke across the decks. She pitched and tossed in the high-running seas. That night, the shifting ballast broke loose and hurtling bars of pig iron crushed to death one marine and seriously injured another.

Dawn of October 19 marked an increase in the violence of the weather. A giant wave tore away part of William Rush's artistic figurehead. The frigate groaned under the pounding blows of the raging sea. By noon, they had been driven so far south that dead reckoning showed them to be about 250 miles east of Hatteras Inlet, off the North Carolina coast. That afternoon, a sudden blast of wind split the foresail. They "handed the weather side and lay to under goose wing." Then, in a heavy head sea, they sprung the bowsprit. Rigging slackened ominously, and realization of peril to both bowsprit and foremast, to say nothing of the ship, gripped all hands. "Kept the ship before the Wind," read the log, "to secure the Fore Mast &  p429 Bowsprit." How they were secured redowns to the credit of Lieutenant Barron.

By midnight, the gale had moderated, and Barry wore his crippled ship into the northward. The United States limped for home. Several days later, another gale struck her, splitting the main topsail. A new one was set amid lightning flashes and thunder rolls. Not until late afternoon of October 30 did they come to anchor in Delaware bay off Brandywine shoal. Snow filled the air. A stiff wind was blowing. Toward midnight, they got underway, and, within a half hour, were driven on the upper end of the shoal. It took an hour to get her off, luckily without damage. At dawn, they dropped anchor off Reedy Island to await better weather. On November 4, they reached New Castle.

Barry sent off an express to notify Stoddert of his misfortune, and the need for extensive repairs. Then he set out himself, determined to locate Joshua Humphreys and bring him to the frigate. Lieutenant Ross was instructed to get her up to Chester. On November 7, Ross got the bowsprit out, leaving the pinnace and cutter to tow it up. Two days later, the United States moored off Chester.

The Commodore and Humphreys came on board at seven o'clock that evening. A half hour later, from the frigate's deck, they noted great excitement ashore. George Washington had arrived, enroute to Philadelphia for consultation with John Adams upon the organization and operation of the army he had been called from retirement to command. Washington slept that night in Chester. When he set off, on November 10, it was to the roar of a fifteen gun salute from the United States. John Barry was paying his respects to his beloved Commander-in‑Chief.

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