The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-27
Che Capture OF the Pnvateer General
Armstrong.

To THE Enron lHs nEaaLo:-
IT Is said that one story IL good until another IL
sold" and hear both sides Is always advisable be.
fore Judgment.
son 10 believe from your form aud de-
sire TO do justice 10 all partr coming under ysur cogn
vance that you will not hesitate 10 subscribe 90 them
Therefore nasmuch have recently published ia
your Journal very extensive extracts from English pa
pers touching the claim for the illegal plan
dcring and burning of the Brig Genera Armstrong
(which vessel had the honor To command by Brit
dsh feet In the neutral port Of fayal permit me to
state OF I'll" facts they really and truly
red in that conflict, being still frtsh and vivid in
recollection
Fsyai. Sept. % 1914 about uoou Immediately
called on Mr.. Dabnsy cur consul. With whom dinet
At5P NJ. went on board vessel, accompanied
by the Consul and several other gentlemen willie
conversiec the subject OF British cruisers - b.
Cnrpator. of twenty guns. suddenly rounding the
Norh' ast head Of the port within gunshot when she
first appeared.
ter by tho pilot and the appearance of our htg then
dying mt our map-p.ak, she very unc.remootously
hauled In close alopgede Of us. within Mailing dis
tapce thought this being ra' her sociable tor
enemy, aud immediately dsmsndsd Of the Consul "
he thought they would regard the neutrality Of the
port. WHEN he assured that I need not give my
self any unsasiness rs they would never trouble US
At the same moment, the Pisntasenst "a and
Rotn frate, hove In sight. and active Intercourse
by signals; continued some time bets-.n ths carn,
lion aud the Commodore's ship Plantagenst
The result was, that the csrnsiiou proceeded to
throw out all her boat--d-spstched one TO the Com.
unusual excrtions brilliant moon, clear say. aud
smooth sea enabled us 20 observe their mov"menis
with great influences The arming and m'naint "
the boats very distinctly heard aud an the
Observer aloft. the yards NJ the CArna
ton preparing the sails Tor getting under way ut
moment's warning SO near we're the vessels that
the words of command board the Csrnsto were
frequently heard by those board the General Arm
strong The object II these the part IL
the enemy. we're nov but too clearly and distinctly
rnderstood, and could not possibly be mistaken by
any person having the slightest knowledge of naval or
nautical fairs IL evident, from these operations,
that the enemy had DOT the most d.tsnt ids 81 pay
ing any regard vhat-ver To the neutrality ~ the port,
but that the whole object from ou,srt cap.
fure the General Armstrong Hence the great hurry
and earsrness to man and IN. boats in order 20
make the attack as early pos-bls whls there Gas
little or no wind fearful that shoald fresh hr-eEe
spring mp might make our --cap. during tho night
On calling thee circumstance 10 the motto. ~ our
Consul he seemed TO have hts doubts told him we
vhsreupon he and his friends .datry after too
II was now betuern 7 aud sP. NJ. and az We had
every reason 20 expect sttzck FROM the enemy.
boss emily concluded to clssr ship for action
get under way and crawl In shore out of hi. Neigh
borhood. we we're then aging much exposed TO his
fhn ud be be inclined 20 his boats In the at
tack We weighed snchar With s' little noise a.
The Csrnation sac us der gay dropped top.
sails. cut her cable. and under sau IN moment
q. the same time despaching four boats In pursuit OF
when we seq the boats spproachng. a. We had ex.
pece5, we let 70 anchor got -prinS the cable
ard prepared 70 receiv. them The large cutter OF
pnnace. which started t-st took the lead. aud vas
ecOntilfaby In advance OF tho other three Tht-
have been the boat commanded BY Lieut. fawsett
She pulled up with all speed and rounding close under
the stern. came mp under our lsrhosrd quarter
Standing ON the tafrel at the moment sith Tn
trumpet in my hand hailed her repeatedly IS shs
approached, but they would not degu TO answer. A
she passed close under tho stern. piainy say that
she was not only veil manned, but aiso we'll armed
VIII neatly alongside. ordered them 70 keen % ~
should Gre into them. but they disre Esrded my
threats One 81 the sailors. surly cried oat
whats the matter - The Officer ~ he bat. chi linz
the sailor. said " Poll away ard rive no sn.wrr " ia
moment after thsy tossed their ard pu' 4
alongside under the main chains sud whcn w the
OF boarding the order 20 fire given both sips
a. The sane instant and the fire from both parties
simultaneous
In the skirmish With this boat they killed one 81
my the spot. aud wounded my GrsL lirutenani
severely Now this the boat sid t. he ,rmcdi
after killing and wounoipg tvo % nv cree. Af,ei
f.uci. e this boat. the fher three bu.ts ius'
pullirg VI etafhe-rd side I hailed then tlsa
hut they rtfased 20 answer; the Grr mrHeu-od ot
Ioh sides snd they Ikewi'c sieucpd in = feu
minutes They nov pulled on 20 their thiss. aud
hes I'd nothing more from them until the midnight IT
tack when they attempted To- board With fourteer
trats and four hund ei men TIE seton ctntiauri
shout forty minute. when thry cutireiy defeat
ID wfih a Ices ~ too or three hundred m~n
rcr isrtlcr rsrtisulsrs, fefsr yVu TO th. pan
thlete q G. REID.