The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-06-07
DEFENCE OF THE PRIFATEER.
THE BoLDEsr FIGHT ON RECORD.

The annals of modern warfare do not
furnish the recital of more gallant action
,han that fought at Faval, Western Islands,
mIsl4, between British gun brig and
the boats of "a British squadron on the one
side, and on the other the little private
armed American brig General Armstrong,
of seven guns and ninety men. command
ed by Capt. Samuel C.. Reid, out of the
port of New York.
The terrible engagement of Paul Jones
with British cruiser, is scarcely a parallel
to 1t, and few naval battles, even BY large
fleets, exhibit SO great a slaughter. A
British resident of Fayal, who was witness
to the action, in letter to the celebrated
Goblet, under date of October Is, 1914,
thus describes the bold defence and noble
conduct of the daring American privateers-
man:
''Ibe American private brig Gen. Arm
strong, OF seven guns and ninety men, en-
tered here on the 26th ult., about noon, [ 6
days from that place, for the purpose of
obtaining water. The captain, seeing
nothing on the horizon, was induced to
anchor. Before the lapse of many hours,
his majesty's brig Carnation came in and
anchored near her.
About six his majesty's ship Plantagen-
ct, of IA guns, and the Rota frigate came
IN and anchored also. The captain of the
privateer and his friends consulted the first
authorities here about her security. They
all considered her perfectly secure, and
that his majesty's officers were too well
acquainted with the respect due neutral
port to modest her. But to the great sur
,,riS of Oh Al
ing, four boats were despatched, armed
and manned, from his majesty's ships, for
the purpose of cutting her out. 1t being
about the full of the moon, the night per-
fectly clear and calm, we could see every
movement made. The boat approached
with rapsdity towards her, when it tappears,
the captain of the prIvateer hailed them
and told them to keep of several times.-
They notwithstanding pushed on, and
were in the act of boarding before any de-
fence was made from the privateer. A
warm contest ensued on both sides. The
boats were finally dispersed with great
loss.
The American now calculating on
very superior force being sent; cut his ca
bles and rowed the privateer close III "a
| long side Of the fort, within half cables
length, where he moored her, head and
stern, with four lines.
The governor now sent a remonstrance
to Capt. Lloyd, of the Plantagenet, against
such proceedings, and trusted that the pri-
yateer would not be further molested; she
being in the dominions of Portugal, and
under the guns of the castle, was entitled
TO Portuguese protection.
Captain Lloyd's answer was, that he
was determined to destroy the vessel, at
The expense of all Fayal, and should any
7 pfoteetiQn be given her by the fort, he
would not leave a house standing in the
village. All the inhabitants were gathered
about the walls, expecting arenewal of the
attack. AT about midnight, fourteen laun-
ches were discovered to be coming in ro-
tation for the purpose.
When they got within clear gunshot, a
| tremendous and effectual discharge was
made from the privateer, which threw the
boats into confusion. Theynow returned
the fire; but the privateer kept up so con-
tlnual a discharge, it was almost impossI-
| ble for the boats to make any progress
| They finally succeeded, after immense
! loss, III getting along side of her, and at
tempted to board at every quarter, cheered
| by the officers with shout OF mo quar-
tersf which we could distinctly hear, as
well as their shrieks and cries. The ter.
1 ! mlnation was near about a total massacre.
! Tnree OF the boats were sunk, and but
one poor solitary officer escaped death, IN
boat that esntained fifty souls' he was
wounded. The Americans fought with
great firmness; some. of the boats were
left without single mailst row them ofh-
ers with three or four; the most that any
one returned with was aboN ten; several
boats hoated on shore full of dead bodies.
With great reluctance [ state aat they
were manned with picked men, 1d com
manded by the first, second, tin "a, and
fourth lieutenants of the PlantagePAet; first
second, third. and fourth do. of tee frlgate;
and the first officers of the brigx together
with asgreat number of midshippesn. oul
whole force exceeded four hundred men;
but three officers escaped, tA2 OF whom
are wounded. This bloody and Nnfortu'
nate contest lasted about forty minuIsss.
After the boats gave out, nothing more
was attempted TIL daylight next morning
when the Carnation hauled alongside and
engaged her. The privateers still contin-
ued TO make a most gallant defence
These veterans reminded me of Lawrence s
dying words of the Chesapeake, sDon't