Richmond palladium., 1849-06-13
Defence Of the Priv :atcer.
THE DoLDEsr FIGHT on RECORD.

Il
ton than that fought at Fayal, Western
Islands, IN 1914, between a British, our
brig and the boats of British squadron
on the one side, and on the other the li:te
private armed American brig Cen. Arm
strong, of seven guns and ninety men,
commanded by Capt Saml c. Reid, ou,
of the port Of New York
The terrible engagement, Of Paul Jones.
with a British cruiser, is scarcely a paral-
lei to it. and few naval battles, even bv
large fleets, exhibit so great slaughter.
A British resident Of Fayal, who was wit
ness to the action. in q letter to the cele-
brated Goblet, under date of Oct 9Th,
1914, thus describes the bold defence and
noble conduct of the daring American
privateerSman:
1.-The american privateer brig. General
Armstrong. of New York. Capt. Samuel
G. Reid. Of 7 guns and ninety men, en-
tered here on the oGth ultimo. about noon.
II days from tn at place, for the purpose of
obtaining water. The captain. seeing moth,
on the horizon was induced To anchor
Before the lapse of many hours. his ma
iestv's 5 brig Carnaton came in and anchor
ed near her.
About six his majesty's ship Plantagcn-
ct, OF "a guns, and the Rota irigate came
in and anchored also. The captain of
the privateer and his friends consulted
the first authorities here about her securi-
ty. They all considered her perfectly
secure. and that his malestv's officers
were too we'll acquainted with the respect
due neutral port to modest her. But TO
the great surprise OF every one. about Q
in the evening. four. boats were dispatched
armed and manned, from his ma lesty 5
ships for the purpose of cutting her out
1t being about the full of the moon. the
night perfectly clear and calm. we could
see every movement made. The boats
approached with rapidity towards her.
when 1t appears the captain of the prva-
tcer hailed them and told them to keep off
several times; they Notwithstanding push
ed on, and were in the act of boarding
before any defence was made from the
privateer. A warm contest ensued on
both sides. The boats were finally dis
persed with great loss.
| The American now calculating on a
very superior force being sent. cut his ca
bic and rowed the prvateer close in along
side of the fort. within half cables length,
where he moorcd her, head and stern,
with four lines.
The Governor now sent a remonstrance
to Capt. Lloyd, of the Pantagenet. against
such proceedings. and trusted that the
privateer would not be further molested;
she being in.the dsminions of Portugal
apd under the guns of>i,e castle, was en-
titled to Portuguese protection.
Captain Lloyd's ans,~er was, that he
was determined to destroy the vessel, az
the ex pense Of all Fayaf and should any
protection be given by her fort he would
not leave a'house standisg in BE village.
All the inhabitants We're gafhNed :aboYt
its walls, expecting a renewal Of f9e at
tack At about midnight, fourteen launch.
es were discovered in rotation for the pur-
pose. When they got within clear gun
shot. a tremendous and effectual dis
charge was. made by the privateer, which
threw the BOATS into confusion. fIhey nov
rreturSed the fire. but the privateer..kept up
so cQntinuar a discharge, it was almost
for the boats to make any 30
gfesk They finally succeeded. after ign
'mense loss in getting alongside Of her.
and attempted to board at every 2uarer.
cheesed. .6y the ~fIicers with a S Sou,-..of
MOI 4tsartsrs!' which we could distinctly
heaE as yell as their shrieks and cries.
mhs' mhsxsr%es,'0n sa1n was near sAeut a '.,sl
+ inree n the .bovstwere sunk nd but
opepoor Solitary -officer escaped dea.h.
IN : boat that containsd fifty Souls .an1he
wasr wouafded. frhs. AmeslcanS fotAhj
wi3 greet 'firna,t 22fomA Of 6e bods
weee !eft without single maato reaE them;
others with three Sr fcur; the most mat ea5sv
one returned with was about ten; several
boats floated on shore full of dead bodies
With great reluctance state that they
were manned with picked men, and com
manded by the first, second, third and
fourth lieutenants of the Plantagenet; first.
second. third and fourth do. of the frigate:
and the first officers of the brig. together
with great number of midshpnen. Our
whole force exceeded 100 men: Dut three
officers escaped. two of whom are wound
ed. This bloody and unfortunate contest
lasted 40 minutes.
After the boats gave out. nothing more
was attempted till daylight next morning.
when the Carnation hauled alongside and
HCi. PliN dtceI SIIll COUtiIi-
ued most gallant defence These vete-
rams reminded me of Eawrence's diving
words of the Chesapeake. Don't give up
the ship.' The Carnation lost one of her
top-masts, and her ysrds were shot away:
she was much cut up i'll her rigging. and
received several shots in her hull. This
obliged her to haul off to repair, and to
cease her firing.
The Americans now finding their prn-
cipal gun Long Tom,) and several others
dismounted, deemed it folly to think of
saving her against SO superior force:
they therefore cut away her masts to the
deck. blew hole through her bottom, took
out their small arms. clothing. &c, and
went on shore. | discovered only two
shot holes in the hull of the privateer, tho
much cut up in the rigging.
Two boats crews were afterwards des-