On March 23, 1781, Captain Barry, after obtaining supplies needed, was assigned the Letter-of-Marque vessel "Marquis de La Fayette," commanded by Captain Gallatheau, which was loaded with stores for Congress, and directed that, as he was about to return to America, that the "La Fayette" would proceed under his convoy to Philadelphia. On March 29th the "Alliance" and "La Fayette" sailed from L'Orient in company. When the "Alliance" left L'Orient on her returning cruise to America, Captain Barry, by orders of Franklin, directed Captain Gallatheau, of the ship "Marquis La Fayette," to proceed to the United States under convoy of the "Alliance," as the vessel was laden with one hundred tons of saltpetre, twenty-six iron eighteen-pounders, fifteen thousand gunbarrels, leather, uniforms for ten thousand men and cloth for five or six thousand. After being under convoy for three weeks in a gale of wind which split the sails of the "Alliance," the "La Fayette" disappeared. Captain Barry gave signals by flags and guns and cruised about for two days in search of the missing vessel. Five days after the separation the "Suffolk," British man-of-war, of 74 guns, met the "La Fayette" and after three hours' battle made her captive though reduced to "a perfect hulk." For thirteen days she was towed by the "Suffolk." Investigation made by Congress into the cause of this great loss showed, by the evidence of Captain Robeson, on board the "La Fayette," that the separation was the fault of Captain Gallatheau by sailing away from the "Alliance" contrary to every argument of Captain Robeson. The loss aggregated four hundred and fifty tons of public stores and two hundred men, besides the armament of twenty-six eighteen-pound guns and fourteen six-pounders. On March 30th a mutiny plot was discovered among the crew of the "Alliance." It is best related in the words of Kessler, Barry's friend and officer: