Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-02-15
GALLANT NAVAL FIGHT.

This Introduction and account OF gall
liant naval engagement are taken from
Harris Romance Of Yachting:
The fame of the Western Isle is in no
way diminished by naval engagement
fought at Fayal, in 1914, between Brit
ish gun brig and the boats Of British
squadron on the one side, and on the other
the little private armed American brig
General Armstrong, Of seven guns and
ninety men, commanded by Captain Sam
uel c. Reid, out of the port OF New York.
The annals Of naval warfare do not fur
nish the recital of more gallant action
than this of the Armstrong. The terrible
engagement Of Paul Jones with British
cruiser is scarcely parallel 10 it. The
details of the action Of Captain Reid (now
well stricken in years and master of one
Of our line Of battle ships have not been
well preserved in our naval histories and
l take great pleasure, now that l am re-
minded Of the facts by the neighborhood |
am in, of giving his gallant name to the
present generation, and also hope, to
posterity.
His own official account Of the ac,ionis
lost, or at any rate, not within my reach !;
but the following letter from British in
habitant Of Fayal to Goblet, published in
his famous Register at the time, will an
swer my purpose as well. His Britanic
'majesty's officers appear to have had no
regard to the neutrality Of the port, place
always sacred in the eye of honorable men
and the law Of nations nor have they ever
evinced the least regard for laws, either
human or divine; in their warfare with
other nations. Happily in this case, the
punishment due to their unmanly atrocity
was meted out on the spot. But few ma
val engagements, even of large fleets, ex-
hibit SO great slaughter.
From an English gentleman resident at
Fayal, to William Goblet, London.
'FAyAL, October Is. 1914.
'SrR--The American brig General Arm
strong of New York, Captain Samuel c.
Reid, of seven guns and ninety men, en-
tered here on the 26th ultimo, about noon,
IL days from that place, for the purpose of
obtaining water. The Captain seeing moth
ing on the horizon, was induced to anchor.
Before the lapse of many hours, his ma
jesty's brig Carnation came in, and anchor
ed near her.
about six, his majesty's ship Planta-
genet, of "a guns, and the Rota frigate,
came in and anchored also. The captain
ofthe privateer and his friends consulted
the first authorities here about the security.
They all considered her perfectly secure,
and that his majesty's officers were too we'll
acquainted with the respect due to neu.
trail port to modest her. But to the great
surprise Of every one, about 8 in the even
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 boats approached
with rapidity towards her, when, it APP
pears, the captain of the privateer hailed
them, and told them to keep off several
times. They Notwithstanding pushed on,
and were in the act of boarding, before any
defence was made from the privaeer. A
warm contest ensued on both sides. The
boats were finally dispersed with great
loss.
The American now calculating on ve-
ry superior force being sent, cut his cables
and lowed the privateer close in alongside
of the fort, within half cables length,
where he moored her, head and stern,
with four lines.
The governor now sent a remonstrance
to Captain Lloyd, Of the Plantagenet,
against such proceedings, and trusted that
the privateer would not be further modest
ed; she being in the dominions of Pcrtu-
gal, 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
protection be given her blythe fort he would
not leave house standing in the village.
All the inhabitants were gathered about the
walls, expecting renewal Of the attack
AT midnight, IA launches were discover
ed to be coming, in rotation, for the pur-
pose:
when they got within clear gunshot, a
tremendous and ef1ectual discharge was
made from the privateer, which threw the
boats into confusion. They now returned
spirited fire; but the priva:eer kept up
SO continual discharge, it was almost i'm
possible for the boats to make any progress.
They finally succeeded, after immense
loss, to get alongside of her, and attempted
to board at every quarter, cheered by the
officers, with a shout of No quarter =
which we could distinctly hear, as we'll as
their shrieks and cries. The termination
was near about total massacre.
'Ihree Of the boats were sunk, and but
one poor solitary officer escaped death, in
a boat that contained fifty souls; he was
wounded. The Americans fought with
great frmness some of the boats were left
without a single man to row them others
with three or four the most that any one
returned with was about ten; several
boats f1oated 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 ditto OF the irigate );
and the first officers Of the brig together
with great number of midshipmen. Our
whole force exceeded 400 men; but three
officers escaped, two of which are wound
-