Made captain of the "Lexing ton" Не сарtures a British vessel and four transports In 1776, Congress made him captain of the ship "Lexington," the first Continental vessel to sail from William Penn's old city. Barry immediately put to sea, and met and captured the "Edward" after a fierce fight. Thus the "Lexington" was the first ship to bear the American flag to victory. Congress, pleased with the result, put him in charge of a larger ship, called the "Effingham." She did not do much, as the British bottled her up in the Delaware. But Barry was not idle. He armed four boats full of men, and, with muffled oars, rowed down the Delaware at night. sun was rising Barry saw a British vessel of ten guns. BARRY'S BOATS ATTACKING THE BRITISH Just as the With this ship were four transports loaded with forage for the British army. Barry's boats made for the British ship. His men climbed on board with guns and swords in hand. The British soldiers threw down their arms and ran below. Barry fastened down the hatchways, and then turned his attention to the four transports, which quickly surrendered. Barry took the five prizes across the river to an American fort. There he found he had captured a major, two cap tains, three lieutenants, and more than one hundred soldiers and sailors. Not a bad day's work for thirty Americans! Washington and the Americans were loud in their praises of Barry Barry. The British general, Howe, it is said, offered him $100,000 and the command of a British ship if he would desert the Americans. "Not the value and command of the whole British fleet can seduce me to desert the cause of my country," was Barry's answer. In 1778 Congress promoted John Barry to the command of the "Raleigh," a fine ship with a noble name. He set sail for Boston, and praised by Washington He takes mand of From an engraving by Duval after a design by Hoffy, com- on his way met a British 122. Barry Given Command of the "Alliance." In 1781 Barry He carried In May the "Alliance" met two British ships, and a hard battle the "Ral eigh" Carries news to France but forces the Brit Wounded, followed. Barry was dangerously wounded. Eleven of his men were killed, and twenty-one wounded. Barry would not surrender, but fought on and forced the British ships to strike their colors. He next took General Lafayette to France. After his return to America he went on a cruise and captured several vessels. ish to strike their colors On his last voy age of the Revolution Named first commander of a navy In 1783, Barry, in the "Alliance," sailed on his last voyage of the Revolution. His companion ship was the "Luzerne." Three British ships discovered the Americans and quickly gave chase. The "Luzerne" was slow and threw overboard her guns. JOHN BARRY From the portrait painted by He Another vessel came into view; it was a French ship of fifty guns. With her aid Barry immediately decided to fight. made a speech to his men, and went from gun to gun urging the men not to fire until ordered. A terrific battle with the foremost British ship followed. The "Alliance" soon had the British ship badly cut up. Most of her guns were silenced, and after fifty minutes fighting, she showed signals of distress. The remaining British ships now came up to rescue her, and the "Alliance" sailed away. The French ships took no part in the battle. The Revolution was now over, and the colonies were free states. There were no more war ships to command. But John Barry was born for the sea. He immediately took command of a merchant ship, and began to add to his own fortune. When Congress provided a navy, General Knox, Washington's Secretary of War and of the Navy, named John Barry as first commodore. He superintended the construction of the war ship, the "United States," and served on board her as the senior commander of the American navy, until his death, at Philadelphia, in 1803. The people of Philadelphia have erected a monument to his memory (1907). SUGGESTIONS INTENDED TO HELP THE PUPIL The Leading Facts. 1. John Paul was born a sailor in Scotland and went to America. 2. He was in America when war broke out; offered his service and was made lieutenant. 3. Congress sent him to France, and Franklin sent him to prey on English commerce. 4. Paul Jones won the great sea fight in the "Bon Homme Richard." 5. John Barry was born in Ireland, but went to sea early. 6. Congress made him captain in 1776, in charge of the "Lexington." 7. Barry set the country talking by capturing a war vessel and four transports. 8. John Barry won more naval victories in the Revolutionary War than any other officer. 9. Named first commodore in 1794 by the Secretary of the Navy. Study Questions. I. Give an account of John Paul's boyhood. 2. What of his first visit to America? 3. How did Paul happen, at so early an age, to have full charge of a vessel? 4. Why did he go to Virginia a second time? 5. Why did he hasten to Congress as soon as war began? 6. How did Paul Jones prove his right to be captain? 7. Tell the story of the battle between the "Drake" and the "Ranger." 8. Picture the battle between the "Bon Homme Richard" and the "Serapis." 9. What rewards came to Paul Jones? 10. Where is he buried? II. Give an account of John Barry's youth. 12. When the war came, what was Barry's action? 13. What was the first victory on the part of the navy? 14. Commit to memory Barry's reply to the offer of the British. 15. What was the outcome of the battle on the "Raleigh"? 16. What were Barry's experiences in the "Alliance"? Picture Barry's last battle. Suggested Readings. PAUL JONES: Beebe, Four American Naval Heroes, 17-68; Abbot, Blue Jackets of '76, 83-154; Frothingham, Sea Fighters, 226-266; Hart, Camps and Firesides of the American Revolution, 285-289; Hart, How Our Grandfathers Lived, 217-219; Seawell, Paul Jones. JOHN BARRY: Griffin, Commodore John Barry, 1–96. THE MAN WHO HELPED WIN INDEPENDENCE BY WIN- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, THE WISEST AMERICAN OF HIS TIME 123. Benjamin Franklin, the Boy Printer. When Franklin was born in Boston (1706) there were men still living who had seen colonial John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts, and Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. Born in times The scholar of the family But is put to work Longs for the sea BENJAMIN FRANKLIN From the original portrait by Joseph Franklin's father was a poor but hard-working man. He made soap and candles. Benjamin's nine brothers had learned trades, but his parents had decided that he should be the "scholar of the family." At eight he went to school to prepare for college and was soon at the head of his class. But a family of seventeen was hard to feed and clothe, and Benjamin was sent to another school where he could fit himself for business. But he did poorly in arithmetic, and was taken out of school at ten and put to work with his father. In the port of Boston Franklin saw the ships and sailors of all nations, and longed to go to sea, but his father took him to visit the shops, where he saw men busy at work with all kinds of tools. Although Benjamin liked to work with tools, he liked to read better, and spent all his little earnings in buying books. He borrowed books when he could not buy them. Finally Franklin's parents decided that since he loved books so |