boats of his frigate to the rescue of the crew. Midshipman Stephen
Decatur being in the first boat to reach the wreck and rescue the crew.
"They were plaintively imploring for help," wrote an eye-witness, "with
earnest gesticulations, not only from men but from God and although it
is 'true they had abolished all religion they had not, it seemed, forgot
the old way of invoking the protection of the Omnipotent.'"

The vessel was the "Amour de la Patrie," of 6 guns and 80 men. All her
crew were saved. The "United States" also captured the "Tartufe," of 8
guns and 60 men. Desiring to relieve himself of his prisoners and hoping
to make exchange of Americans imprisoned at Guadeloupe, Captain Barry
sailed to Basse Terre flying a flag of truce, but was fired on by the
French batteries. Hauling down the flag Barry returned the fire and
battered the walls so effectively that the marks of the American shot
were visible for many years. The "Merrimac," Captain Moses Brown,
captured "Le Bonapart le Phenix," 14 guns, 128 men, and "La Magiciene,"
14 guns, 63 men. The "Portsmouth" took "La Bonapart" (No. 2), "Le
Bullante," "Le Tripon" and "Le Bon Pere," of 6 guns and 52 men. Seven
other captures made by the squadron.

It is not within the scope of this narration to record the operations
of the fleet or the exertions of the several commanders of the
respective vessels composing it, but much that was creditable to our
naval forces was done though little that could be called brilliant or
conspicuous, beyond the capture of the "Insurgente" by Truxtun and
the "Amour de la Patrie" and "Tartufe" by Barry. The main service of
the fleet was in protecting our merchant vessels and convoying them
to safe waters.

Commodore Barry was not in good health while on this expedition. This,
the Secretary of the Navy, writing to him, 15th March, 1799, chose to
"attribute to vexation for not being able to fall in with the French"
than to the effects of the climate. He had the "most entire confidence"
that when joined by the other vessels Barry would "afford the greatest
possible protection to our commerce and punish the depredation on it."

Barry had been joined by the "Constitution," the "Washington" and the
"Merrimac" and would later have under his command the "Portsmouth," the
"Herald," the "Pickering," the "Diligence," the "Scammel" and the
"Eagle." Secretary Stoddert notified him, and also that if his health
obliged him to return, Captain Truxtun wou