Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-08-14
The General Armstrong"
NORTHUMBERLAND, Aug. 10, 80.

10 the EHfW % Me LecS6HTS Ch'o"0'c'
Sir-EIav;ng noticed number
Of imperlec, accounts OF the loss OF the
"GeaerM armstrong" prvateer, going
the rounds Of the papers, since our demand
upon the Portuguese government, lake
the liberty of sending you a copy Of the
letter of Capt. Reid, officially announcing
the loss of the schooner, and giving at the
same Time modest and truthful detail OF
the action which preceded The destruction
of tha, vessel. In several Of the letters
have seen published il has been erroneous!y
stated lha, the British forces were success
iuI in the last attack, and closed the action
by burning the privateer TO the waters
edge This is unjust TO Capt.Reld and his
gallant officers and crew. since the fact is
not a British foot touched her decks until
some time after the Americans had gone
on shore. Every essential fact stated by
Capt. Reid in the following letter, has been
fully subs,anl;a,ed by an English gentleman
then residing in Fayal, in letter to Wm.
Cobbeit, Esq, lately published in The
"Danville Democrat" The "Sunbury
American" is mistaken in giving the Cap
iain's name as "Jtalson :" it was Sam'l G.
Reid. Here is the letter. X. B. M.
"FAYAL. Oct. 4, 1914.
"Wnh infinite regret, am constrained
to sav, it has eventually fallen TO my lot TO
state to you the loss and total destruction
OF the private armed brig, Gen.Armslrong,
late under my command.
I'VE sailed from Sandy Hook, on the
evening Of the 9th uIt. ,and about midnight,
fell in close aboard OF razee and ship
of the line. They pursued ill next day
noon, when they thought proper TO give
over chase. On The lllh. after nine
hours chase, boarded the private armed
schooner Perry John Colman, six days
from Philadelphia had thrown over all
his guns. Ga the following day, fell in with
an cncmy's gun bri /; exchanged few
shots with, aud left him. Ga the 2lih,
boarded a Spanish brig and schooner, and
a Portuguese ship, all from the Havana.
GA the 25rh, following, came to in Fayal
Roads, for the purpose Of filling wafer
called on the American Consul, who very
politely ordered our wafer Immediately
sen, of. i, being our. r..intenlion 10 proceed TO
sen, early the next day.
"At 5, PM, wen, on board, The Con-
sui and soTe other gentlemen in company
| asked some questions concerning the
cncmy's cruisers, and was told there had
been none, a, these islands, for several
weeks; when about dusk, while we were
conversing, the British brig Carnation'
suddenly hove in sight, close under the N.
Z. head Of the harLor within gun.shot when
frs, discovered. The idea of getting under
way was instantly suggested; but finding
the enemy's brig had the advantage Of a
! breeze, and but little wind with us, il was
! thought doubtful il we should be able 10
! get TO sen without haZarGing an action.
questioned the Consul, to know if, in his
opinion, the enemy would regard the ncu-
lrali,y of The port, He gave me to UNDER
stand, might make myself perfectly cas-, ;
assuring me, at The same lime, they would
never moes, US, while a, anchor. But no
sooner did the enemy's brig understand,
from the pilot boat, ~ho we were, than she
/ Immediately hauled close in, and let go her
anchor, within pis,ol.shot of US. At the
same moment, the 'Plantag genet and iriga,e
'Rota' hove in sight, TO whom The Carna-
lion instantly made signal, and constant
interchange took place for some time. The
result was, the Carnaton proceeded to
throw out all her boats, despatched one on
board the Commodore, and appeared, 9TH
erwise, 10 be making unusual exertions
From these circumstances, began TO sus
pect their real intentions. The moon was
near its full, which enabled US 10 observe
them very minutely; and now determined
TO haul in, nearer the shore. Accordingly,
after clearing for action, we got under
way, and began TO sweep in. The moment
this was observed by the enemy's brig she
instantly cut her cable, made sail, and des.
patched four boats in pursuit OF Us. Being
now about 8, PM, as soon as we saw the
boats approaching we let go our anchor,
got springs on our cable, and prepared to
receive them. | hailed them repeatedly as
they drew near, bu, they felt no inclination
10 reply. Sure of their game, they only
pulled up with the greater speed. | obser-
we'd the boats were well manned, and,
apparently, as we'll armed and, as soon
as they had go, cleverIy alongside, we
opened our fire, which was as soon return.
ed; but, meeting with rather a warmer
reception than they had probably been
aware Of, they very soon cried out for
QUO r,or, opI b,utoJ oH In III, ,L:-,,: l.