CHAPTER XIV.

THE LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION.

Captain Barry's foresight in having everything ready for war, although
the preliminary articles of peace had been signed, was soon manifested.
The "Alliance" left Havana on March 6, 1783, in company with the "Duc de
Lauzun," commanded by Captain Greene. There also sailed nine Spanish
warships. Not knowing where the Spaniards were bound to, Captain Barry
decided to make his own way and ordered Captain Greene to follow him.

The "Alliance" and "Lauzun" had seventy-two thousand dollars "of public
money on board," which Captain Barry had been entrusted with to deliver,
by order of Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance, to George Olney,
of Providence, R.I., in case he arrived in that harbor. The afternoon
after leaving Havana two British cruisers were seen. Captains Barry and
Greene "stood for the Spanish fleet," of which some vessels had been
seen in the morning. He did this as "the only way to save the 'Lauzun,'"
as that vessel sailed "much heavier" than the "Alliance." At ten o'clock
at night they got in sight of part of the Spanish fleet. The British
men-of-war had followed closely and had got within gun-shot of the
"Alliance" and "Lauzun" when, observing the lights of the Spaniards,
they abandoned the chase. Barry and Greene kept in company with the
Spaniards all night--though they found in the morning that they were but
eight or ten sloops and schooners. "However, they answered our ends,"
reported Captain Barry.

The British not being in sight and no tidings of them among the
Spaniards, the Americans "made the best of their way." Finding the
"Lauzun" much slower than the "Alliance," the public money on board of
her was transferred to the "Alliance." On the morning of the 9th "three
large sail of ships," British men-of-war, were seen "standing directly
for us," reported Barry. He signaled Greene to follow him, who replied
the enemy were of superior force. The "Alliance" having the money, Barry
believing he could be of no service to the "Lauzun," made all sail and
ran faster than the British could follow. But Barry shortened sail and
spoke the "Lauzun." By this time one of the British, a 32-gun frigate,
was within gun-shot of the "Alliance" and the "Lauzun"--the other two
British cruisers a little way astern and fast coming up to the
"Lauzun." Captain Greene told Captain Barry the two were privateers, but
Barry "told him he was mistaken" and that he knew b