CAPE HENLOPEN HISTORY

REVOLUTIONARY WAR

JOSHUS 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 broke off the chase without

a shot being fires 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 merchant 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 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 Bartinski's “Joshua Barney'.