ral armed
vessels then belonging to the "United States," as that was the title
Congress had, on September 9th, ordered to be used in all public
documents. The order in which these assignments were made was generally
regarded as fixing the rank of each Captain. So it occasioned agitation
and discussion. It was not, however, officially stated that such was the
case. Later it was declared not to be so by Committee of Congress.

Captain John Barry was assigned to No. 7 on the list. Those preceding
him were: (1) James Nicholson, to the "Virginia," 28 guns; (2) John
Manly, to the "Hancock," 32 guns; (3) Hector McNeil, to the "Boston," 24
guns; (4) Dudley Salstonstall, to the "Trumbull," 28 guns; (5) Nicholas
Biddle, to the "Randolph," 32 guns; (6) Thomas Thompson, to the
"Raleigh," 32 guns; (7) John Barry, to the "Effingham," 28 guns. John
Paul Jones was given No. 18. The Marine Committee in making up the list
could hardly, in view of the number of guns of the several vessels and
the selection of Captains who had not as yet served in the Navy, have
intended the position assigned as fixing the official rank of the
several officers. James Nicholson, the first named and to a 28-gun ship,
had not heretofore been noted for any special services justifying his
appointment as the ranking officer of the Navy, though giving him a
vessel inferior in armament to others lower in position. Captain John
Manly, No. 2, was "uneasy and threatened to resign." He had in New
England waters done early and good services. Captain Thompson's friends
declared he ought to have been placed higher. Yet Manly and Thompson
were given 32-gun ships, while Captain Nicholson, No. 1, was given a 28
and Captain Barry, No. 7, was also given a 28. Captain John Paul Jones,
No. 18, ever contested the assignment to that position, declaring that
"rank opens the door to glory." As late as 1781 he made contest before
Committee of Congress. It reported that though there was, "on October
10, 1776, an arrangement of Captains, the Committee cannot fully
ascertain the rule by which that arrangement was made, as the relative
rank was not conformable to the times of appointment or dates of
commission and seems repugnant to a resolution of December 22, 1775."

Captain Barry appears not to have made any objection to his position on
the list. He was ready and eager for service and, seemingly, not
concerned as to rank or position. He had been given a vessel equal to
Captain Nicho