The name of Joshua Barney is unlikely to be familiar with readers. He was, however, one of the principal American naval heroes of both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. We have not sufficient space here to recount his long and distinguished career as a combatant; but we will relate his daring escape from British captivity during the revolution, as it illustrates his dominant traits of resourcefulness and courage.
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In the early years of the American Revolutionary War, there existed a loose association of military men who lacked faith in George Washington’s ability to lead the Continental Army, and who were convinced he should be replaced. Although Washington’s position was never seriously in jeopardy, these undercurrents of discontent eventually broke through the surface, taking the form of a bizarre duel between partisans of both sides.
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Anyone who thinks the American Revolutionary War was a gentleman’s affair has been seriously misinformed. We are sometimes given the impression that genteel types in powdered wigs maneuvered this way and that, and at the end of the day, everything was neatly wrapped up as almost a foregone conclusion. This, however, was not the case, as D.H. Fischer’s Washington’s Crossing makes very clear. War is war, and there is no way to sugar-coat its effects and costs.
Quintus Curtius 
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