John Barry by Tim McGrath

Author:Tim McGrath
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Westholme Publishing

Barry did not buy a word of it. He considered the Frenchman's explanation a “foolish idea” that cost three prizes. Barry's “commencing the action was with the full expectations of the french ship joining & thereby . . . subdue part if not the whole of them.”136 When told the captain believed that the ensuing battle “was only a decoy,” Barry's withering invective did not need translation.137 However, now that the Frenchman knew his supposition to be erroneous, he offered to accompany the two American frigates and “give chace” to Scott's squadron.138 No sooner said than done; the allies “tacked and Gave chace,” but “at dark lost sight of them they being about 8 or 10 miles Ahead of the Alliance & the Alliance about two miles ahead of the french ship and three ahead of the Luzerne.”139

It being his turn to be pursued, Vashon cut the Sybil's wreckage and “Made sail from the Enemy” until “at 7 lost sight of them.”140 The Sybil eventually limped back to Jamaica.141 Le Triton proved as slow as the Duc, which did nothing for Barry's mood: “Chace was made, but the French ship being unable to keep up . . . it was given over.”142 A fuming Barry watched le Triton bid bon voyage, and then signaled for Green and Brown to come aboard.143

While Brown was effusive in praise of his friend's skill and courage, Green was close to downright hostile. Barry weighed in on Green's entire conduct since leaving Havana, insisting that the remaining $13,000 be transferred to the Alliance. Green refused, but Barry did not take no for an answer, telling Green he would report everything to Morris, and that he “wanted an apology for [Green's] cool behavior.” Even the diplomatic Brown was at a loss for words. The money was brought aboard the Alliance, while Barry transferred two 9-pounders to the Duc. By this time Green boarded the pinnace and returned to his ship, having severely damaged a long friendship.144

Three privateersmen who were passengers on the Duc de Lauzon now came over to the Alliance for the duration of the voyage, along with seventeen seasoned hands. Barry would have good use for them, once again being “short” due to his casualties. The two ships sat through the rest of the evening, and at dawn on March 11 weighed and continued their journey home.145

By late evening on March 18 they had sailed barely four hundred miles and were in the treacherous waters around Cape Hatteras. After Barry “Struck Soundings,” he shared the information and ordered Green to “make all the Sail he could and follow me.” The wind was picking up; even the dull-sailing Duc could accelerate to a satisfactory speed northward. But after midnight, an angry Barry “Saw Capt. Greene and in a Very little time lost Sight of him.” With his closest friend aboard the Duc, Barry, “not being off the Deck the whole Night . . . did not Carry more Sail” so that Green “might have Kept up with us.

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