17 YEAR OLD SEA MAN SAVES CAPE HENLOPEN

CAPE HENLOPEN HISTORY

REVOLUTIONARY WAR

JOSHUA BARNEY, AMERICAN NAVY

Another article from Michael Morgan's Delaware Diary that should be of interest to those interested in Sussex County and Cape Henlopen history and the American Revolution. Enjoy if you so wish.

April 1, 1776, Joshua Barney, then 17 years old, a new navy seaman, was on board the 10 gun Hornet, an American sloop of warship, in command of Captain William Stone, which had just rounded Cape Henlopen, and was spotted by two British warships, the 44 gun Roebuck frigate and the smaller Maria. As they were approaching, Stone set the Hornet on a course toward Cape May to the north. Here the channel was too narrow for the Roebuck but the fast sailing Maria dogged the Hornet which had set it's cannon out in firing position. Ready to fire his charge Barney heard Captain Stone order not to fire. The Maria had broken off the chase without a shot being fired and the Hornet continued on to Philadelphia.

Barney remained in the Continental Navy and later became a Captain in command of the 16 gun warship, Hyder Ally, 1782 Barney sailed the Hyder Ally to Cape Henlopen where British warships were harassing several American merchants sailing ships. Barney signaled the merchant vessels to retreat up the bay and as they did so he sailed the Hyder Ally between them and the oncoming British warships. Barney yelled out a command “hard a port your helm” which was heard by the British commander who tried to turn in the same direction so the vessels were parallel on course. The Hyder Ally did not “hard a port to helm”, instead passed across the bow of the British General Monk and fired a massive broadside the British commander pulling down his flag, surrendered.

Captain Barney took possession and Joshua Barney, at age 23, found glory at Cape Henlopen.

A source: Naval History of the United States, by, James Fenimore Cooper 1839 and James Baranski's “Joshua Barney'.