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
Reform and Retrenchment were the chief policies of his administration.
With the measures against France, Jefferson's Republicans had had no
sympathy. Their antipathy to Great Britain and their fury against Jay's
Treaty were terrific. The new Congress of Jefferson ordered the
cessation of work on the 74-gun ships, for which timber had already been
collected. Only a quarter of a million of dollars was appropriated for
naval expenditures. All but thirteen of the ships were sold. The new
Navy established by the Act of 1794 was, within seven years, almost
non-existent and would have been wholly so if the policy of the
Jefferson Republicans had been fully carried out. Though that
practically came to pass by the "laying up" of all vessels.
Jefferson was inaugurated March 4, 1801. On the 23d of that month
Captain Barry was notified to "call home all the ships in the West
Indies. You are to make the best of your way to Philadelphia."
At the end of April the frigate "United States" was in the Delaware
River and, on May 1st, the new Secretary of the Navy, General Dearborn,
instructed Barry to bring the "United States" to Washington, "where it
is intended she shall be laid up." There were now Navy yards at
Portsmouth, N.H.; Charlestown, Philadelphia, Norfolk and Washington, in
accordance with the advice Captain Barry had given in 1798 that such
should be established and a Navy Department created.
Captain Barry sailed the frigate to Washington and on May 23d reported
his arrival in the Potomac, "though his friends had declared that the
President was not aware of the difficulties that would be met in getting
the frigate there," as Mrs. Barry wrote the Captain the day he had
arrived near Washington.
The first frigate of the New Navy was "laid up"--was at rest--had ceased
operations, not because its usefulness was at an end and it might no
more be serviceable, nor would there be occasion for her power as a
protector of American commerce, but because the political policy of the
Party in power did not sanction the possession of a Navy.
So having fulfilled its mission and its commander having obeyed
instructions and brought the first born of the new Navy to the new
Capital of the new nation he was, on June 6, 1801, notified:
"You have permission to retire to your place of residence and there
remain until the government again requires your services."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account