From the time of the fitting out of the _Lexington_ down to the time of
the declaration of peace, which assured the liberation of the Colonies
from the thraldom of Great Britain, Commodore Barry was constantly
engaged on shore and afloat. Though he actually participated in upwards
of twenty sea fights, always against a force superior to his own, he
never once struck his flag to the enemy. The field of his operations
ranged all the way from the capes of the Delaware to the West Indies,
and as far east as the coast of Maine and Newfoundland. His victories
were hailed with joy throughout the country, and Barry and his men were
publicly thanked by General Washington.

During the darkest days of the War, while Washington was spending the
winter of 1777 in camp at Valley Forge, with our brave soldiers
perishing for want of provisions, blankets, clothing and tents, an
incident occurred which shows how supremely loyal and devoted Commodore
Barry was to the American cause. The British troops were occupying
Philadelphia. Lord Howe, their commander, offered our great sea fighter
a bribe of fifty thousand guineas and the command of a ship of war, if
he would abandon the American cause and enter the service of England.
Barry's indignant reply should be written in letters of gold: "I have
engaged in the service of my adopted country, and neither the value nor
the command of the whole British fleet can seduce me from it."

General Washington had the utmost confidence in the pluck and daring and
loyalty of Barry. He selected him as the best and safest man to be
trusted with the important mission of carrying our commissioners to
France to secure that alliance and assistance which we then so sorely
needed.

On his homeward trip, it is related that being hailed by a British
man-of-war with the usual questions as to the name of his ship, captain,
and destination, he gave the following bold and characteristic reply:
"This is the United States ship _Alliance_: Jack Barry, half Irishman
and half Yankee, commander: who are you?" In the engagement that
followed, Barry and his band of heroes performed such deeds of valor
that after a few hours of terrific cannonading, the English ship was
forced to strike its colors and surrender to the "half Irishman and half
Yankee."

This illustrious man, who was the first that bore the title of Commodore
in the service of our Republic, continued at the head of our infant Navy
till his death, which took