Captain Truxtun was assigned "from St. Christopher's to Porto Rico," with two or three vessels of 14 and 18 guns. Captain Decatur, with one brig of 16 guns, "the vicinity of Havana," and Captain Tingley in the "Ganges," "between Cuba and Hispaniola," to give security to the trade of Jamaica.
The expedition was designed "to rid those seas as well of French armed vessels as of the pirates which infest them."
Barry was directed to "proceed as early as possible to Prince Rupert's Bay in the Island of Dominica, where the other vessels" of his command were ordered to rendezvous and he was to "commence operations." Under Barry's command on this expedition were Charles Stewart, Stephen Decatur, Jacob Jones, all of whom became famous in naval annals and obtained the highest positions. Barry's training and discipline developed heroes after his death. When the squadron reached the West Indies, Barry's command consisted of the frigate "United States," the "Constitution," Captain Samuel Nicholson; the "George Washington," Captain Patrick Fletcher; the "Merrimac," Captain Moses Brown; the "Portsmouth," Captain Daniel McNeill; the "Pickering," Master-Commandant Edward Preble; the "Eagle," Lieutenant Hugh George Campbell; the "Herald," Lieutenant Charles Russell; the "Scammel," Lieutenant J. Adams, and the "Diligence," Lieutenant J. Brown. The vessels sailing from Norfolk, Virginia, in company with Barry's frigate the "United States" were the "Constellation," of 36 guns; the "John Adams," the "Congress," the "Little Adams," the "Little York," all of 32 guns; the "Connecticut," the "Boston," the "General Green," of 36 guns; the "Siren" and "Argus," of 16 guns, and the "Enterprise," 14 guns. All ships "must claim your attention as well as your own," directed Secretary Stoddert.
The "Constellation" "cruised for about three months without finding any game," until she captured the "Insurgente," of 50 guns and 700 men of whom 350 were killed or wounded. The "Constellation" met a French, 74, later but the enemy being of superior force the "Constellation" "got out of reach." The next day the "United States" met the same French vessel and after an exchange of a few shots, Captain Barry also thought it advisable to withdraw, as his ship had become "dismasted" and had to go to Bermuda for repairs, while the "Constitution" was "much disabled in her mast and spars." Later Captain Nicholson captured the "Carteret," packet "and took her to St. Pierre" and again chased a French privateer into a harbor near that port.