The next exploit of note was that of Capt. John Barry, who, while in command of the brig _Lexington_, had had an honorable career. It will be remembered that the command of the _Effingham_, then building in the Delaware, was given to him and that the British captured Philadelphia before the ship could get away to sea. To keep the ship out of the British hands she was moved up the river to White Hill, New Jersey, and by order of Mr. Hopkinson of the Navy Board was sunk. Barry and Hopkinson had a very loud dispute over the sinking of the _Effingham_, for Barry was confident that, with the ten guns already on board and the thirteen guns on the frigate _Washington_ that was in company with her, a good fight could be made against any of the force the British were able to send. Hopkinson became personal in his remarks, and Barry’s Irish blood got hot, and some things not quite courteous were said in return; but Barry, to his great disgust, had to sink the ship, and afterwards, on the order of Congress, withdraw the offensive remarks, although time had proved him entirely right in the matter of sinking the ship. However, while charges were pending against him in this matter, he led a boat expedition down the river, carrying four rowboats manned by twenty-seven men, all told, past the British ships and soldiers at Philadelphia, and arrived safely off Port Penn, which was then in the hands of the Americans. On the opposite side of the river lay two ships, the _Mermaid_ and the _Kitty_, with two others not named, laden under convoy of the large schooner _Alert_ armed with ten guns. The ships were loaded with food supplies for the British at Philadelphia. The run past Philadelphia had been made at night, of course, and so Port Penn was reached in broad daylight. But in spite of the fact that the British were already astir and the Americans in plain view, Barry with his gallant band made a dash at the schooner, and before the British could rally for a defence clambered over the rail, cutlass in hand. At that the British dropped everything and fled below, leaving Barry to put on the hatches and keep them there. In view of the many occasions on which the British historians charge the American sailors with cowardice it must be told here that this “wild Irishman” with his twenty-seven men beat down under the hatches one major, two captains, three lieutenants, ten soldiers, and 100 seamen and marines--he captured 116 armed men with just twenty-seven. When he had secured them he stripped and burned the transports, and carried the schooner over to Port Penn. This was on February 26, 1778.