armed
vessels as of the pirates which infest them."

Barry was directed to "proceed as early as possible to Prince Rupert's
Bay in the Island of Dominica, where the other vessels" of his command
were ordered to rendezvous and he was to "commence operations." Under
Barry's command on this expedition were Charles Stewart, Stephen
Decatur, Jacob Jones, all of whom became famous in naval annals and
obtained the highest positions. Barry's training and discipline
developed heroes after his death. When the squadron reached the West
Indies, Barry's command consisted of the frigate "United States," the
"Constitution," Captain Samuel Nicholson; the "George Washington,"
Captain Patrick Fletcher; the "Merrimac," Captain Moses Brown; the
"Portsmouth," Captain Daniel McNeill; the "Pickering," Master-Commandant
Edward Preble; the "Eagle," Lieutenant Hugh George Campbell; the "Herald,"
Lieutenant Charles Russell; the "Scammel," Lieutenant J. Adams, and the
"Diligence," Lieutenant J. Brown. The vessels sailing from Norfolk,
Virginia, in company with Barry's frigate the "United States" were the
"Constellation," of 36 guns; the "John Adams," the "Congress," the
"Little Adams," the "Little York," all of 32 guns; the "Connecticut,"
the "Boston," the "General Green," of 36 guns; the "Siren" and "Argus,"
of 16 guns, and the "Enterprise," 14 guns. All ships "must claim your
attention as well as your own," directed Secretary Stoddert.

The "Constellation" "cruised for about three months without finding any
game," until she captured the "Insurgente," of 50 guns and 700 men of
whom 350 were killed or wounded. The "Constellation" met a French, 74,
later but the enemy being of superior force the "Constellation" "got out
of reach." The next day the "United States" met the same French vessel
and after an exchange of a few shots, Captain Barry also thought it
advisable to withdraw, as his ship had become "dismasted" and had to go
to Bermuda for repairs, while the "Constitution" was "much disabled in
her mast and spars." Later Captain Nicholson captured the "Carteret,"
packet "and took her to St. Pierre" and again chased a French privateer
into a harbor near that port.

On February 30, 1799, the "United States," under Barry, gave chase to a
French privateer. A well-aimed 24-pound shot was sufficient to "cut the
career of the privateer short," for the ball went through her hull so
that she quickly began to fill and settle. Captain Barry ordered the