The Story of Commodore John BarryGriffin, Martin I. J. (Martin Ignatius Joseph)
History
The Story of Commodore John Barry
Griffin, Martin I. J. (Martin Ignatius Joseph)
Barry, John, 1745-1803
Thus we see again that the best available position was always given to
Captain Barry. The first armed cruiser under direct Continental
authority--the "Lexington"--was given him, then the "Effingham," of 32
guns, the largest armament of any vessel, was assigned him, and he was
made Senior Commander of the Port of Philadelphia. On its destruction by
the British, while he was operating in the lower Delaware, he was
appointed to the "Raleigh." On its loss, for which Captain Barry
suffered no detriment, he was made commander of the projected expedition
to Florida. When that enterprise was abandoned he was given command of a
fleet of the Navy of Pennsylvania. At the termination of the cruise the
appointment to construct the best vessel the country had projected was
given him. Then he was commissioned to the "Alliance," the best and
finest vessel the United Colonies ever possessed. In that he remained as
commander while the war continued, and at its close he was Commodore of
all armed vessels remaining in the service of the Colonies, just as
Washington was Commander-in-Chief of all the forces, military and naval,
at the end of the war. As commander of the fleet, Barry was second to
Washington.
The "Alliance," which Captain Barry took charge of in September, 1780,
was so named in honor of the alliance with France. As a further
compliment to the French, Captain Pierre Landais, a Frenchman, had been
appointed Captain. He was relieved of the command and Captain Barry
succeeded him. These were the only commanders the "Alliance" ever
had--Landais the Frenchman and Barry the Irishman. Landais is buried in
St. Patrick's cemetery, New York; Barry in St. Mary's, Philadelphia. One
in faith and one in endeavor for our country.
The "Alliance" was the only American vessel in the expedition sent out
by King Louis XVI, under John Paul Jones, which resulted in the ever
memorable encounter with, and capture of, the "Serapis" by the "Bonne
Homme Richard," commanded by Captain John Paul Jones. During the battle
the "Alliance" twice fired into Jones' vessel and did damage. For this,
on arrival in France, he was called on to make explanations and John
Paul Jones, as Commodore of all American vessels in Europe, was
appointed by Commissioner Benjamin Franklin, on June 16, 1780, to take
"command of the 'Alliance' in her present intended voyage to America."
But Silas Deane supported Landais, who ordered Jones off the vessel and
set sail for America. On the voyage, his mental faculties becoming more
erratic, the officers took the command from him and entrusted it to
Lieutenant James Degges.
On arrival at Boston, Captain Barry was appointed to the command and the
Courts of Inquiry and Courts-Martial tried Landais and dismissed him
from the service. He died in New York in 1818 and is buried in St.
Patrick's graveyard.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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