On February 30, 1799, the "United States," under Barry, gave chase to a French privateer. A well-aimed 24-pound shot was sufficient to "cut the career of the privateer short," for the ball went through her hull so that she quickly began to fill and settle. Captain Barry ordered the boats of his frigate to the rescue of the crew. Midshipman Stephen Decatur being in the first boat to reach the wreck and rescue the crew. "They were plaintively imploring for help," wrote an eye-witness, "with earnest gesticulations, not only from men but from God and although it is 'true they had abolished all religion they had not, it seemed, forgot the old way of invoking the protection of the Omnipotent.'"
The vessel was the "Amour de la Patrie," of 6 guns and 80 men. All her crew were saved. The "United States" also captured the "Tartufe," of 8 guns and 60 men. Desiring to relieve himself of his prisoners and hoping to make exchange of Americans imprisoned at Guadeloupe, Captain Barry sailed to Basse Terre flying a flag of truce, but was fired on by the French batteries. Hauling down the flag Barry returned the fire and battered the walls so effectively that the marks of the American shot were visible for many years. The "Merrimac," Captain Moses Brown, captured "Le Bonapart le Phenix," 14 guns, 128 men, and "La Magiciene," 14 guns, 63 men. The "Portsmouth" took "La Bonapart" (No. 2), "Le Bullante," "Le Tripon" and "Le Bon Peré," of 6 guns and 52 men. Seven other captures made by the squadron.
It is not within the scope of this narration to record the operations of the fleet or the exertions of the several commanders of the respective vessels composing it, but much that was creditable to our naval forces was done though little that could be called brilliant or conspicuous, beyond the capture of the "Insurgente" by Truxtun and the "Amour de la Patrie" and "Tartufe" by Barry. The main service of the fleet was in protecting our merchant vessels and convoying them to safe waters.
Commodore Barry was not in good health while on this expedition. This, the Secretary of the Navy, writing to him, 15th March, 1799, chose to "attribute to vexation for not being able to fall in with the French" than to the effects of the climate. He had the "most entire confidence" that when joined by the other vessels Barry would "afford the greatest possible protection to our commerce and punish the depredation on it."