The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-09-21
THE CAPTURE or THE PRIyATRHR
GENERAL All MsTRONG,
nYAc MN

The New York IIcnld,a Few days since,
published the following succint history, from
the gallant commander Of the private armed
brig Gen Armstrong Of that heroic action
in the port Of Fayal, out ofwhich have grown
the claims af our gr"crnmcut upon Portugal,
CaptRcid's letter is a completion Of the Eng
ish statements Of that difficulty. However
littlc need bc said on that point at present
\ vague rumor from Washington, states that
Portugal has consented to pay the claim.
To riir EpiToR.,-lt l. ,aid that one .to-
~ I. COOL until anoihcri. told aud hear
10th sides, is Away. advisable before judy
mcut
lna-much ~ YOU have recently published,
IN your journal very extensive extracts from
English paPtr- touehing tho claim for the H.
legal capture, pluudoriug aud burning the
Brig Gen. Arm, trong,' (Which ycsscl,I had
tiir hptrpr er1rtn-nti.a Rriii-l fleet ia
the neutral pori Of Fnyal, pormitmc 90 -'a-v
some of the facts as they really and truly oc-
CURED in that conflict being still fresh and
vivid in my recollection.
AllfI lfNNllIE WV lfNhf Z NlN ililFffl W wv
port ofFayal, Sept t2cth,isit, about noon. I
Immediately called On Mr. Dabucy. our con
sui, with whom dincl At5 T.. NJ. went
on boarl my vessel "ln"companicl by the Con-
sal and several other gentlemen, and while
converting on the subject Of British cruisers
Sc, Sc bring then about c +. M,wc disco,-
cred the British brig Caruation, ct twenty
guns, suddenly rounding the northeast head
ofthc port, within gunshoi whcn she fir, APP
TI-arsrir ------- ------.--.-.-..---
A. the Caration was duly informed of
our character by the pilot, appearance oT our
nag, then flying at our main peak, shr vUry
untcrcmopiously hauled in close alongside
of Us, within hailing distance, | thought
this was being rather socablc for an enemy,
and Immediately demanded of the Consul if
hc thought they would regard the neutrality
Of the port, when hc assured me that need
not give myself any uncasincsv, n they would
never trouble us while at anchor.
At the same momcnt, the Planiagcnct -,
and Rota frigatc, hove in sight, and in active
intercourse, 10y signals continued some time
between the Carnnhon and the Commodore.
ship ranAgcnt
The result was that the Carnation proceed
cd To throw out all her boats despatched one
to the Commodorc's ship-and appeared 9th
crwisc 10 be making unusual cxcrtons. A
brilliant MON, clear sky, and smoothe sen,
enabled rs 10 nhacrYc- their nlarrrcnia- Ill.
great minutcncss. The armingnnd manning
of the boats were distinctly heard and seen.
aud the men were observed alotl ,on the yards
of the Carnation preparing the sails for get
ting under way at moments warming So
near were the two vessels that the words of
command on board the Carnation were fire.
qucnty heard by those on board the Gen.
Armstrong. The object of these manuuyres
on the part of the enemy, were but too clear
I y and distinctly understood, and could not
possibly bc mistaken 10y any person having
the slightest knowledge Of nautical affairs
7 II WAS cvIricHt trum these operations, that the
enemy had not the most distant idea of nav.
ing any regard whatever to the neutrality of
the port. hut that the whole object from out.
set, was 10 capture the General Armstrong
Hence the great hurry aud eagcrness to man
and arm the boats, in order to make the at.
tlrts as carly as possible, whilo thGrc VIA.
little or no wind fearful that, should n fresh
breeze spring up,wc might make sure escape
during the flight
On calling these circumstances to the motto,
of our Consul, he seemed to have his doubts
| told him we were about to have trolbcan
thai very SOON whereupon he and his friend,
Immediately after took leave and went OF
Y shore. -'
IL was now between and p. NJ, and a,
ttiiJ'tS ffriTr
the cnemy's boats moncptly, va conclude,
to clear ship for action, det under way.ant
crawl in shore, out of his heighhorhood, as We
were then lying much exposed TO his fire
should he be Inclined to cover his boats in tn,
attack. We weighed our anchor with as liz
tie noise a, po~,iblS, aud began to sweep IN
shore. The iustan, the Carnation saw us un.
dc' way, she dropped hcr tupsails cut her
cable, aud wa- under sail iu q mou,,p4 IA.