Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-12-22
From the Nationa hatelligencsr.

Faydt, 5th Oct 1914.
SiR--I have the honor to state to YOU
that most outrageous violation ofthe neu
trality of this port, in utter contempt of the
laws OF civilized nations, has recently been
committed here by the commanders of his
Britannia Majesty's ships Plantagenet, Ro-
ia and Carnation, against the American
private armed brig Gen. Armstrong, Sam.
uel Z Held, commander but have great
satisfaction in being able TO add that this
occurrence terminated in one of the most
brilliant actions on the psr, cf capt. Reid
his brave officers and crew, that can be
found on naval record
The American brig came to anchor in
this port III the afternoon OF the Goth Sep
TENDER and at sunset of the same day the
above named ships suddenly appeared in
these roads ; it being nearly calm in the
port, was rather doubtful if the privateer
caaid escape if she got under way; and re
lying on the justice and good faith Of the
brlsn captains, it was deemed most pru,
ueat 10 remain at anchor. A little after
dask, capt. Reid seeing some suspicious
movements on the part OF the British, be-
gan to warp his vessel close under the guns
OF the castle, and while doing SO, he was at
about eight o'clock P Nj approached BY
four boats from The ships filled with armed
men. After hailing them repeatedly and
wArning them to keep off, he ordered his
men to fire on them and killed and wound
ed several men. The boats returned the
fire and killed one man and wounded the
nrst Lieut. of the privateer, and returned
to their ships, and, as it was now light
moonlight, it was plainly perceived from
the brig as we'll as from the shore, that
formidable attack was premeditating Soon
after midnight, twelve or more large boats
crowded with men from the ships and arm
ed with carronades, swivels ard bunder-
buses, small arms, &c. attacked the brig !;
a severe contest ensued which lasted about
forty minutes, and ended IN the total de.
ieat and partial destruction of the boats
VISA most unparalleled carnage on the
part OF the British 1t is estimated by good
judges that near four hundred man were in
the boats when the attack commenced, and
no doubt exists in the minds of the hume
rous spectators Of the scene that more than
hait OF them were killed or wounded; Sc
yeral boats were destroyed; two of them
remained along side of the brig literally
loaded with their own dead. From those
Two boats only seventeen reached the shore
aiiye; most of them were severely wound
&C. The whole of the following day the
British were occupied in burying their
dead among them were two lieuts. and
one midshipinan of the Rota--the first Lit
OF the Plantagenet, it is said, cannot sur
vlVe bis wounds, and many of the seamen
Who reached their ships were mortally
wounded and have been dying daily. The
BRUSH, mortified at this signal and unex-
pected defeat, endeavor to conceal the ex-
tent of the loss /; they admit however they
engagement, upwards of 100 of the flower
OF their officers and men The captain of
the Rota told ne he lost 20 men from his
ship. Two days after this affair took place
the British sloops of war That's and Calypso
came into port, when capt Lloyd immedi-
ately took them into requisition to carry
home the wounded officers and seamen--
they have sailed for England, one on the
Sd and the other on the ith inst each ear
ried rs badly wounded Those who were
slightly wounded, to the number, j am
informed, or about 80 remained on board
OF their respective ships, and sailed last e.
vening Tor Jamaica. Strict orders were
given that the sIoops of war should take
no letters whatever to England, and those
orde.s were rigdly adhered to.
la face of the testimony of all Fayal and
a number of respectable strangers, who
happened to be in this place at the moment,
the British commander endeayors to throw
the odium of this transaction on the Ameri-
can captain. Reid, alledging that he sent
the boats merely to reconnoitre the brig,
and without any hostile intentions; the pi-
lots of the port did inform them of the pri
vateer the moment they entered the port
To reconnoitre an enemy's vessel in
friendly port, at night, with four boats,
carrying by the best accounts l20 men is
certainly strange proceeding The fact
is, they expected, as the brig was varying
In, that the Americans would not be pre-
ns red 10 receive them and thew had homes