[6] To prevent the Americans from receiving supplies through the port of Philadelphia, the Royal Navy established a blockade of the Delaware Bay.

[8] To transport gunpowder and arms, Robert Morris of the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety chartered the newly built brig, also called brigantine, Nancy and her captain, Hugh Montgomery on March 1, 1776.

[13] In mid-June, Barry was alerted by Morris that Nancy was headed his way, and would need protection since she had only an eleven-man crew and six cannons.

[18][19] Also at this time, the vanguard of the British fleet of over one hundred ships was set to enter New York Harbor on the morning of June 29.

[20] Late on the afternoon of June 28, a lookout on Kingfisher spotted Nancy sailing toward Cape May and began chase, followed by Orpheus.

[12][22][23] In the early hours of June 29, pursued by Orpheus and Kingfisher and blocked from entering the Delaware Bay, Nancy headed for the nearby Turtle Gut Inlet in a heavy fog.

[24] Although still out of range but sailing closer, the British fired at Nancy, while the Americans attempted to salvage the cargo, especially the gunpowder kegs.

The other transferred the cargo onto longboats and rowed to shore where local residents helped unload and secure it behind the dunes.

[1][8] Barry's role in salvaging most of the gunpowder cargo under the fire of the two Royal Navy ships was quickly noted, an important step in his career.