extraordinary and suite on board. After landing the am-
bassador and suite at L'Orient, in the early part of the
same year, the Alliance sailed on a cruise.
On the 29th of May following, at day-light. Commodore
Barry discovered a ship and a brisf on his weather bow,
appearino- afterwards to wear the British flag. He conse-
quently prepared for immediate action. The British ship
proved to be the Atalanta, Captain Edwards, of between
twenty and thirty guns, and the brig Treposa, Captain
41*
486 GLORY OP AMERICA.
Smith. An action shortly commenced, and by three P. M.
both vessels struck. Barry was wounded early in the en-
gagement ; but notwithstanding his sulierings, in conse-
quence of this casualty, he still remained on deck, and it
was owang to his mtrepidity and presence of mind, that
the Alliance was the victor.
On December 25th, 17S1, he sailed in the Alliance for
France, from Boston, having on board the Marquis de la
Favette and Count De Noailles, who were desirous of g-o-
mg to their native country on business of the highest im-
portance. He had scarcely arrived at his destined port,
whien he sailed in February. 1782, on a cruise, during
which he fell in with an enemy's ship of equal size, and
had a severe engagement. The enemy w^ould have been
captured, but for two consorts, which, hovrever, were kept
at a distance during the action by a French fifty gun
ship, which hove in sig-bit. The continental ship Lu-
zerne, of tw^enty gims, had her guns thrown overboard
before the battle began, in order to facilitate her escape,
as she had a quantity of specie on board from Havana,
for the use of the United States. The captain of the Bri-
tish frigate, v^^ho was soon after advanced to be Vice- Ad-
miral of the red, acknowledged, that he had never receiv-
ed a more severe flasrellation than on this occasion,
though it seemed to have had the ap}:>earance of a drawn
battle.
During the time that General Lord Howe was the Bri-
tish Commander-in-chief, he attempted to alienate the
Commodore from the cause which he had so ardently es-
poused, by an offer of twenty thousand guineas, and the
command of the best frigate in the British navy ; but he
rejected the offer with scorn. The return of peace, how-
ever, in the year 1783, put an end to all such dishonoura-
ble propositions, and our Commodore returned to private
life.
In 1797, it was deemed proper by the American go-
vernment to annul the consular convention with France,
the pretext for which was French aggression on American
commerce. During the maritime disturbance thus crea-
ted between the two countries, Mr. Barry was actively en-
JOHN BARRY, 487
gaged in protecting the commerce of his adopted country,
and was held in the highest estimation by his nautical
brethren. "When this dispute was at last satisfactorily
adjusted, a law was passed, during the last year of Mr.
Adams' administration, for reducing the navy, in conse-
quence of which the vessel he commanded was laid up in
ordinary, and he once more returned to private life.
Bold, brave, and enterprising, he was, at the same time,
humane and generous. He was a good citizen, and great-
ly esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaint-
ance. His person was above the ordinary size, graceful
and commanding, his deportment dignified, and his coun-
tenance expressive.
He died in Philadelphia, on the 30th of September,
1803 J and a vast concourse of his fellow citizens testified
their respect to his memory, by attending his remains to
the silent grave.
JOHN MANLY*
John Manly was born in Massachusetts, in the year
1733. After having received the first rudiments of edu-
cation, he embraced a maritime life. From the eminent
reputation which he had acquired for his professional
merit, and his attachment to the cause of the colonies
against the unjust aggressions of the mother country, the
new government, on the recommendation of the illustri-
ous Washington, commissioned him as a Captain in their
nsLrj, on the 24th of October, 1775. In the schooner Lee,
he made many captures, of the greatest importance, and
notwithstanding his hazardous situation, he did not skulk
into port ; but continued to cruise within the limits as-
signed him, during the whole winter. One of his cap-
tures led to the evacuation of Boston by General Gage.
This was a large brig, which was laden with ordnance
and other munitions of war, of which the colonists were
488 GLORY OP AMERICA.
much in want : but from what was taken in this one ves
sel they were supplied with hicavy ordnance, mortars, and
the working utensils, necessary for offensive or defensive
operations. In consequence of his acknowledged services
he was promoted to command the frigate Hancock, of
thirty-two guns. On a cruise with this vessel, he met a
frigate belonging to the enemy, and engaged her. After
a short contest, he boarded and succeeded in takinsf her.
She proved to be his Britannic Majesty's vessel of war,
called The Fox. On the 8th of July, 1777, he was cap-
tured with his prize, by the British frigate Rainbow, of
forty guns, and sent into Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he
endured a rigorous confinement on board of that ship, and
in Mill prison, until he Vv^as exchanged in the early part
of the autumn of 1782. In September of that year, he
was intrusted w^ith the command of the Hasrie fiwate,
with which he sailed for the West Indies. A few days
after leaving Martinique, lie was descried by a British
seventy-four, and to avoid capture he run his ship on a
sand bank, in the rear of Guadaloupe. The chasing ship
was joined by three line of battle ships. These four ad-
vanced within point blank shot distance, and havinsr
springs on their cables, opened on the Hague a most furi^
ous cannonade, which was supported with the most un-
daunted firmness, for three days ; on the fourth, Manly
succeeded in getting his vessel off the bank, fired thirteen
guns in token of defiance, and made bis escape.
Having arrived at Boston, one of his officers preferred
a variety of charges against him, in consequence of which
he was arrested, and underwent the ordeal of a court-mar-
tial. Of the nature of the charges, the public have not
been made acquainted ; but the report of the court con-
veyed in part a justification of some of the allegations. It
does not appear, that he was ever in command after the
peace, which now succeeded. A vindication of his con-
duct was promised, in the publication of his memoirs.
Whether they were prepared for publication is unknown ;
but they never appeared. He resided in Boston, in Ihe
pursuits of private life, until February 12, 1793, when he
deceased, in the 60th year of his age. His remains were
JOHN MANLY. 489
attended to the grave by a large concourse of his fellow
citizen , who thus testified their regard to his memory, for
the eminent services which he had rendered his country,
in the trying hour of peril and adversity.
BARON DE KALB.
It appears no more than justice due to departed worth,
to number among the worthy heroes of a nation, those
who, though of foreign birth, have offered up their exist-
ence on the altar of its liberties.
Of the early life of Baron de Kalb, nothing of conse-
quence is known in the United States. In a social con-
vevsation with General Marion, a few days prior to Gene-
ral Gates's defeat at Camden, he informed that officer,
that he was then sixty-three years old ; that his father
and mother were then living, and that he was born about
three hundred miles from Paris. This would give 1717
as the year of his birth, and Alsace, on the confines of
France and Germany, near the Rhine, as the place of his
nativity. He had been forty-two years in the French ar-
my, consequently he must have entered it at the age of
twenty-one. In the war of 1755, he was supposed to
have been in the Quartermaster-General's department in
the army of his most Christian Majesty, who was then
acting in unison with the Imperialists. Prior to the
peace, which followed, he confessed that he had travelled
through the territories of the British colonies, in a con-
cealed character. This, and some other concurring cir-
cumstances, have induced the belief, that he was despatch-
ed by the cabinet of Versailles, to ascertain the existing
state of thino^s in that section of the British empire. Pos-
sessed of a strong and retentive memoiy, he committed
none of his observations to paper, during these peregrina-
tions, but trusted solely to recollection. His caution in
this respect was his preservation ; for, before the conclu-
490 GLORY OF AMERICA.
sion of ihe war, he was arrested on suspicion, and had
any papers been found about him sufficient to confom this
suspicion, the fate of detected espionao-e awaited him ; but
he was dismissed. He often expressed his astonishment
at the mad pohcy pursued by the British cabinet, towards
the provincials, as, in his passage through the country, he
had a full opportunity of witnessins: the firm attachment
of the inhabitants towards the parent realm. At the
peace, which succeeded the conquest of Canada and Aca-
dia, he returned to France, in whose armies he had been
advanced to the rank of General of Brigade, and ui: doubt-
ed] y gave ample information to his court, respecting the
object of his perilous mission ; and it is highly probable,
that the intelhgence received from him, had great weigh,
in decidmg the course to be pursued by the French court,
on the application of Doctor Franklin for assistance, when
he appeared in the quality of ambassador from the -revolt-
ed colonies. Owing to the favourable disposition of the
cabinet of Versailles, the Baron again embarked for Ame-
rica, where he arrived either in 1777 or 1778. He joined
the American army as a volunteer, and was shortly after
promoted by Congress to the rank of Major-General, and
despatched with a portion of the army from New Jersey
to assist General Lincohi in the Southern states, where
he was then Commander-in-chief
In his progress, lie encountered many difficulties: but such
was his perseverance and zeal in the cause wbiich he had es-
poused, that he surmounted them all. After he had efiected
a junction v'ith General Lincoln, he continued to exert his
best abilities, in behalf of the colonies, and when, in con-
sequence of the capture of Charleston, the capital ol
South Carolina, Lincoln had become a prisoner, the com
mand of the whole southern army devolved upon liim.
The circumstance of his beinof a foreigner, and but little
acquainted with the English language, his supposed igno-
rance of the country, and the little knowledge he had of
the temper of the troops, whom he now commanded,
naturally involved him in great perplexity, and Congress,
therefore, deemed it expedient by a resolve, dated June
13, to order General Gates to repair to that quarter, and
HARON DE KALB. 491
assume the command vacated by Lincoln's capture, and
temporarily filled by the Baron. Gates, upon joining the
Southern army, \vhich wa,s on the 24th of July, requested
the Baron to continue the command of his division, and
confirmed the standing orders, which the Baron had
issued. The troops, with whose command he had been
intrusted, for the relief of General Lincoln, were the
Maryland and Delaware brigades, amounting to above
fourteen hundred efl'ective men. With these he marched
from General Washington's head quarters at Morristown,
New Jersey, April L6th. Having arrived at the head of
Elk, he embarked in May, and shortly after landed in
Petersburgh, Virginia, whence he proceeded with as much
celerity as possible for the object of his destination, re-
ceiving strength and removing obstacles in his march.
De Kalb cheerfully complied with the request of General
Gates, and continued in the post assigned him by Con-
gress. Perhaps the Baron might have remained in the
command, which had devolved upon him by the capture
of Lincoln, had it not been for the celebrity Gates had
acquired by the defeat of Burgoyne at Saratoga ; but it
seems that fate had decreed, that the laurels he had ga-
thered in a Northern clime, should V\Uther under tlie scorch-
inof beams of a Southern sky. Colonel Otho H. Williams,
o
o;ave the same wholesome advice to General Gates, when
he assumed the command, as he had imparted to Baron
de Kalb, fifteen days previous to Gates's arrival, and had
it been pursued, it would have saved the mortifying defeat,
which he and his army shortly after experienced, by his
adoption of a contrary plan. Lord Rawdon had collected
all his forces into Camden, within thirteen miles of which
General Gates had advanced unmolested. At a place
called Clermont, he gave out the order of battle for his
premeditated attack on the position which was held by
the enemy. This order of battle havinsf been mven, the
Adjutant-General's return of the whole effective force un-
der Gates, amounted to nine hundred continental infantry,
rank and file, and seventy cavalry, exclusive of Colonel
Porterfield's and Major Armstrong's light iniantr\^, consist-
ing of about two hundred and fifty, and Colonel Amand's
492 GLORY 0^ AMERICA.
legion of one hundred and twenty men ; giving an aggre>
gate acquisition of three hundred and seventy, besides a
lew volunteer cavalry* A detachment had been sent off
to the assistance of Colonel Sumpter, which was also not
included in the Adjutant-General's report. General 1 -ord
CornwalUs, unexpectedly to Gates, arrived at Camden,
and of course superseded IjOrd Rawdon in his command.
The Americans had advanced about half way to Camden,
by about half past two a. m. on the 16th, Avhen a firing
began by the advance of each army, both Generals having
been desirous to brins" on an enor-atrement. Some of Colo-
nel Amand"s cavalry were wounded, and the others v/ere
throwm into disorder ; in consequence of which the Mary-
land reofiment in front of the column was broken, and the
whole line put into confusion. By reason of this unex-
pected disaster^ a council of war was called, to whom, on
this intellig-ence havino- been communicated, General
Stevens declared it as his opinion, that it was too late to
retreat, to which no imjiiediate reply beins^ given. Gates
ordered on to battle. Baron de Kalb, however, advised
Gates to fa,ll back to E.uo;elv's mills, which was a very eli-
gible position, and there wait the attack. Some expressions
escaped from Gates on the occasion, which hurt the Baron's
feelings, and induced him to give his horse to his servant,
and take the comniand of his division on foot, and reply at
the same time to Gates Vvith som.e warmth, '-Well, sir, a few
hours more will let lis see who are the brave." The
Baron commanded the right wing of the army, which,
v/ith the reserve, had to sustain the whole heat of the
action, in consequence of the flight of the left and centre.
This wing was composed of the second continental bri-
gade, consisting of ^laryland and Delaware troops, and
as no order had been given to retreat, the battle raged in
this quarter with unabated fury, and the Americans even
gained groimd. When broken, they formed again oiid
renewed the contest. The flio^ht of their left and centre,
with the Commander-in-chief, permitted Cornwallis to
bend the whole of his strength against the right wing and
the reserve. De Kalb and his ofiicers performed prodigies
of valour, and were most ably supported by the men under
BARON DE KALB. 493
their command ; but Cornwallis, charging with his cavahy
and the bayonet, at once closed the contest. The Baron
received eleven wounds and was taken prisoner, as was
his aid-de-camp, Colonel De Buysson, who was also
. wounded, but remained with him, and announced his
rank, at the same time begging the enemy to spare the
Baron's life. The Baron expired in a short time, thouo^h
he received the most particular attention from the British.
He spent his last breath in dictating a letter expressive of
the vv^armest affection for the officers and men of his divi-
sion, of his being charmed with the firm opposition they
made to superior force, when abandoned by the rest of the
army the greatest satisfaction in the testimony given by
the British army of the bravery of his troops of the
pleasure he received from the gallant behaviour of the
Delaware regiment, and the companies of artillery attach-
ed to the brigades, and of the endearing sense he enter-
tained of the merit of the whole division he commanded.
He was buried in the vicinity of Camden, near the
place where the battle was fought, which terminated his
earthly existence. The spot that encircles his remains,
has been, enclosed, and over it has been placed a handsome
marble, on wliich is sculptured an epitaph expressive of
his worth and generous services, the expense of which
was borne by the citizens of Camden.
Congress, to do honour to his memory, resolved, that a
monument should be erected in Annapolis, Maryland,
with the following inscription :
" Sacred to the memory of Baron de Kalb, Knight of
the Roya,l Order of Military Merit, Brigadier of the armies
of France, and Major-General in the service of the United
States of America. Having served with honour and reputa-
tion for three years, he gave a last and glorious proof of his
attachment to the liberties of mankind, and to the cause of
America, in the action near Camden, in the State of South
Carolina ; v/here, leading on the regular troops of Mary-
land and Delaware, against superior forces, and animating
them, by his example, to deeds of valour, he was wounded
in several places, and died the 19th of August following,
in the forty-eighth year of his age. The Congress of the
42
494 GLORY OF AMERICA.
United States of America, in ackno\yled.gment of his zeal,
of his services, and of his merit, hath erected tliis monu-
ment.-'
Conofress must have been unacquainted with his age,
and set it down at forty-eight at hazard, from his heahhy .
appearance : for as has been a.] leady observed, he stated it
himself to have been sixty-three. His extreme tempe-
rance enabled him to enjoy the bloom of youth, until he
passed the barrier betvs'een time and eternity. In his diet
he v.^as very abstemious, and water was his only beverage.
He usually arose at five in the morning, and devoted his
time chiefly to Vv^riting, in profound secret. This occupa-
tion was seldom interrupted, except by his meals or
official duties. He generally wrote in hierogU-phics, and
was very cautious in endeavouring to prevent his papers
from being exposed to public view. With an eye to this,
he was ever careful of his baggage, and was therefore
always desirous of being placed in the centre of the army,
ha^-ins: an aversion to its wincrs. lest he miofht be taken by
surprise. It was believed, that he did not take his papers
with him from the central army, when he went into South
Carolina, but that he committed them to the care of the
French Ambassador, by whom they were after his death
transmitted to his sovereign. His powers of mind were
not of the highest order, and his literary acquirements
were only moclerate : but he excelled in a practical Imow-
ledo-e of human nature, and in the investiofation of causes
and effects.
AVILLIA3I HEATH.
The Heatli family emigi^ated to j.iassachusetts. and
settled at Roxbury, in the vicinity of Boston, in the early
aofe of that colony. ]\Iajor-General William Heath was
born on the 2d of March, 1737, O. S. on tlie family in-
WILLIAM HEATH. 495
heritance, and was of the fifth generation, on whom the
estate devolved. His education was plain, and suited to
agricultural pursuits. He was bred a farmer ; but pas-
sionately fond of reading military works, which led him
to become intimately acquainted with the profession ot
arms, to which he was greatly attached. In Boston, he
was elected a member of the Ancient and Honourable
Artillery Company, in 1765. Immediately after this, at
the instance and solicitation of the colonel of the first re-
giment of Suffolk militia, he was commissioned by Gove-
nor Barnard, to command the colonel's company. He
v.^as subsequently chosen, and served first as lieutenant
and afterwards as captain of that ancient and honourable
corps, into which he had been first received.
A great intimacy and strong private attachment existed
between Governor Barnard ^and Captain Heath, while
the former remained in the government of the province,
notwithstanding a difference of sentiment between them,
on the troubles, which were then in embryo.
In the beginning of the year 1770, about the time of
the Boston massacre. Captain Heath commenced a series
of addresses to the public, signed, " A Military Country-
tnanP In these he particularly pointed out the impor-
tance of acquiring a knowledge of arms, and an acquaint-
ance with military discipline. Governor Barnard, having
been superseded by Governor Hutchinson, the latter, in
re-organizing the Suffolk militia, left Captain Heath out
of his command, in consequence of his known attachment
to the colonial rights.
When the crisis had so far advanced, that the people
of Massachusetts determined to choose their own officers,
to prepare for the final appeal for redress of grievances,
Captain Heath was chosen to command his old company
in Roxbury, and by the officers of the Suffolk county first
regiment of militia, promoted to be their colonel.
Immediately after the breaking up of the general court,
a Provincial Congress was organized, who, among other
committees, chose one of great importance in the then
state of affairs, denominated " the Committee of Safety,"
vested with executive powers. Colonel Heath was ap-
496 GLORY OF AMERICA.
pointed a member of that body, and entered on the duticji
assigned him with the greatest alacritv'".
A sum of mone}' havino; been voted, by the Provincial
Congress, to piocnre munitions of war and provisions,
quantities of each were purchased and deposited at Con-
cord. In the mean time, the strictest attention was paid
to instructing the mihtia in mihtary disciphne.
The Prorincial Cono;ress whicli then held their sittings
at Cambrido;e, on the 9th of February, 1775, appointed
Colonel Heath one of their generals. The generals thus
appointed by the Committee of Safety, were authorized
to oppose, with the militia under their respective com-
mands, the cam'ino; into execution the act of the British
Parliament, for the better regulation of the Province of
Massachusetts Bay in New-England. This was one
of the most impolitic measures the British ministry could
have adopted, and instead of producing the anticipated
result, only served to blow into a flame the embers of dis-
content, which sound policy would have induced them to
extinguish. A resistance to this act, and others, equally
unwise and t^Tannical. became ino-rafted on the minds of
the colonists as an imperious duty.
General Heath was actively employed in the fulfilment
of the duties assigned him in his respective capacities,
both as a member of the Committee of Safety, and as a
o;eneral officer. Lexing-ton and Bunkers-hill witnessed
his devotion to the colonial rights. The day alter the
affair at liCxington, he appointed Jlr. Joseph YN'ard, his
aid-de-camp and secretary. General Ward, the first on
the list of generals appointed by the Provincial CongTess,
arrived at Cambridge a day or two after the battle of
liCxington, and assumed the chief command at that
camp : v.^hile General Thomas commanded at Roxbur}^
The force with Thomas was considered too weak under
existing circumstances, while the force of Vrard was very
numerous. In order to equalize the two camps, and to
strengthen General Thomas's command, General Heath
was ordered, with four reofiments. to Roxburv. where he
remained until Julv, after the Continental Congress had
appointed Colonel Washington to the rank of command-
WILLIAM HEATH. 497
er-in-chief of all their forces, and he accordingly assumed
his station sometime in that month.
In the organization of the army by the Continental
Congress, General Heath was the fourth brigadier in
numerical order, previous to which arrangement being
known in camp, he had received, on the 21st of June, a
commission of major-general from the Provincial Con-
gress. While the Americans were fortifying themselves
ni Cambridge and Roxbury, they experienced the want
of able engineers. It was about this time, that General
Heath prevailed on Captain Henry Knox, of the Boston
Grenadiers, to join the army. The disposition of Knox
did not require much eloquence to induce him to eno-age
in defence of those rights which were ever dear to his