Strange and Obscure Stories of the Revolutionary War by Tim Rowland

Author:Tim Rowland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse
Published: 2015-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

A private merchant ship purchased by Congress and outfitted for war in 1776, the USS Lexington was among the first handful of ships to serve in the Continental navy. She was first captained by John Barry, who along with John Paul Jones is known as the Father of the American Navy. The Lexington acquitted herself well for a year and a half before she was captured by the British. Courtesy National Archives.

Yet for every victory, there seemed to be multiple defeats. On the return trip, Barney disguised the Hornet as a merchant ship, luring an outgunned British vessel to attack. But just as the ship came in range and Barney was prepared to fire the first gun, the captain, a deeply religious man, called the whole thing off on the intriguing notion that war was no excuse for bloodshed. An enraged Barney threw the lit torch at his head, an act for which he feared he’d be court-martialed. Instead, the shamed captain disappeared into his quarters and was not seen for days. While Barney was gratified to escape discipline, he was pessimistic of becoming a naval officer without any pedigree or friend in a high place to recommend him. Nevertheless, he dispatched himself well in the early days of the war, and his performance did not escape notice.

Following a heroic performance against the British in the Delaware River, Barney was summoned into the presence of the great patriot and war financier Robert Morris, who was serving as president of the Marine Committee. Morris looked Barney over and then presented him with a document, saying, “The committee have heard of your good behavior, Mr. Barney, during the engagement with the enemy in Delaware, and have authorized me to offer you this letter of appointment as a Lieutenant in the Navy of the United States.” Joshua Barney was sixteen years old.

Barney did indeed rise to the rank of commodore, and led a daring and adventurous life all the while. And he always remembered his friends. After one pitched battle with a British ship that he had no business winning but did anyway, his men discovered a live sea turtle in the hold with instructions carved in the shell to have it delivered to the table of Lord North. Along with armaments and other spoils, Barney seized the turtle—and had the delicacy shipped to the kitchen of Robert Morris.

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