ted at Philadelphia, Boston and
Baltimore. Captain Barry was appointed to the command of one being built
at Philadelphia--the "Effingham" being assigned him in October.

All the while, however, Barry was in command of the "Lexington" in the
Delaware Bay and off the Capes, giving protection to the Continental
supply vessels coming to Philadelphia, which had been sent out for
necessaries. One arrived at Philadelphia with 7,400 pounds of powder as
well as a number of firearms. Barry also sent up to Philadelphia the war
stores he captured. On June 12, 1776, the Secret Committee of Congress
directed that Colonel Megraw's Battalion be given the 191 firearms "sent
up by Captain Barry." She narrowly escaped capture by the "Liverpool,"
but two of the Continental vessels protected her and a French schooner.
Other French vessels from the West Indies, bringing molasses, coffee,
linen and other supplies were also saved from capture by Captain Barry
and the other Continental and Provincial commanders under his authority.
On June 10th the "Kingfisher," British man-of-war, captured a brigantine
from Wilmington, but "before the pirate boarded her our brave Captain
Barry had been on board of her and taken out some powder and arms," was
the report Henry Fisher, of Lewistown, sent the Committee of Safety by
whale-boat to New Castle and thence by land because the Tories of the
County had cut off all horse express communication.

The tenders of the "Roebuck," the "Liverpool" and the "Kingfisher"
attempted to seize the cattle and stock which the Tories had stored for
the British at Indian River, "but were prevented by Barry's brig," as
they called her, thus indicating that the alertness and success of the
"brave Captain Barry" had become conspicuously known to the Tories of
lower Delaware, a nest of Loyalists.

The brig "Nancy" bringing supplies from St. Croix and St. Thomas for
Congress account and having 386 barrels of gunpowder, 50 firelocks, 101
hogsheads of rum, 62 of sugar and bales of dry goods, on June 29, 1776,
while making for Cape May, was pursued by six British men-of-war but,
getting assistance from Captain Barry's "Lexington," she was run ashore
and 268 barrels of the powder and most of the other stores saved. Powder
was, by Barry's order, placed in the cabin and in the mainsail, in the
folds of which fire was put. The British boarded the brig. An explosion
soon took place and "blew the pirates into the air." It "was supposed