"May a suitable recompense always attend your bravery."

Alexander Hamilton, writing to Governor Clinton, of New York, from
Washington's Headquarters, Valley Forge, March 12, 1778, said: "We have
nothing new in camp save that Captain Barry has destroyed, with a few
gunboats, two large ships belonging to the enemy, laden with forage from
Rhode Island. He also took an armed schooner which he has since been
obliged to run ashore after a gallant defense. 'Tis said he has saved
her cannon and stores--among the ordnance four brass howitzers."

Barry with twenty-seven men had captured one major, two captains, three
lieutenants, ten soldiers and one hundred seamen and marines--one
hundred and sixteen taken by twenty-seven. He captured also many letters
and official papers relating to the Hessians in British service, as well
as the Order of _Lion d'Or_ for General Knyphausen. This was sent the
Hessian general. Barry's success won the admiration of friend and foe.
It was at this time Sir William Howe is said to have offered Captain
Barry twenty thousand guineas and the command of a British frigate if he
would desert the service of the United Colonies. The alleged answer of
Barry is stated to have been: "Not the value and command of the whole
British fleet can seduce me from the cause of my country."

Any such offer, if made, would more probably have been made by Lord
Howe, Commander of the British fleet, brother to General Howe, Commander
of the Army. It is of record that he sent Commodore Hazlewood, of the
Pennsylvania Navy, a summons to surrender, to which reply was made that
he "would not surrender but defend to the last." A like summons to
Barry, Commander of the Continental Navy, doubtless received a similar
reply, but there is no known evidence or authoritative record that Barry
was tempted to desert his country.

[Illustration: WASHINGTON GIVING COMMISSION TO BARRY]

CHAPTER VII.

PRAISE FOR BARRY'S SUCCESS--BRITISH DESTROY BARRY'S "EFFINGHAM" AND
OTHER VESSELS ON THE UPPER DELAWARE--APPOINTED TO THE
"RALEIGH"--PROTECTS THE COAST FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO
MASSACHUSETTS--ENCOUNTER WITH TWO BRITISH FRIGATES--BARRY RUNS THE
"RALEIGH" ASHORE--HIS ACTION APPROVED AND HIS BRAVERY DECLARED.

Barry's operations on the Delaware were of foremost importance at this
period of gloom and darkness. The British were in possession of
Philadelphia, the Capital of "the rebels." Washington's men were
suffering the