The Placer herald., 1858-07-10


1t was at this critical juncture that Capt.
Reid was informed of the death of his second
lieutenant, and that his third lieutenant was
badly wounded. Having succeeded in beat
ing the boats off the quarter, and thus left
the only officer on the deck, he perceived
that the fire had slakened on the fore
castle. At once rallying the whole of the
after division they rushed forward with a
shout, and opened fresh fire, while he or
dered the forward division to heave cold shot
into the boats and sink them, as these men
were out of cartridges The enemy, appalled,
with CONSERVATION and dismay, fell back to
their boats and retreaied, when Capt. Reid
bringing the Long Tom to bear upon them,
fired the gun himself (Which flew off the car
riage) doing fearful destruction, and ending
in the total defeat of the British. Then it
was that Captain Reid cried out, "Now is the
thusiastic cheers re echoed over the bay from
shore to shore. The Americans among the
crowd on the beach hailed the privateer. and
asked if Captain Reid was safe, and being
answered in the affirmative, gave three tre-
mendous cheers in return.
The scene which now presented itself was
one of indescrbable horror The sivered
waters of the bay were crimsoned with blood
Dark forms of numerous dead bodies foated
around on every side, while the groans and
death shrieks of the wounded struggling
around the boats pierced the very air Many
of the boats had been sunk. Two large laun-
ches belonging to the frigate Rota lay along
side the privateer, with two other boats, lit
eralv loaded with their own dead In a
boat belonging to the Pantogenet all were
killed save four In another boat which
had contained fifty souls, but one solitary
officer escaped, and he was wounded. Four
boats foated ashore full of dead bodies
Some of the boats were left with but single
man, while others had but three or four to
row them. The termination was nearly
total massacre. This action lasted about
forty minutes. The English force, estimat-
ing forty men to a boat, was about five hun
dred and sixty men. The English themsel-
YES acknow edged loss in this attack of one
hundred and twenty killed and one hundred
and thirty wounded, but it must have been
far greater. The loss of the Americans in
this action was but one killed and six wound
| ed.
The deck Of the Armstrong which was in
much confusion, and slippery with human
gore, was now cleared up, the Long Tom re-
mounted and preparations made for fresh
action, should the enemy again attack her.
About this time Captain Reid received the
following note from the American Consul:
"CApTA1N REID-DEAR SlR,-You have
performed most brilliant action in beating
off fourteen boats of the British ships in this
road. They say they will carry the brig,
cost what it will, and that the English brig
will haul close in to attack you at the same
time the boats do My dear fellow do not
uselessly expose yourself if attacked by an
overwhelming force, but scuttle the brig near
the beach, and come on shore with your
brave crew.
"Yours truly, J. B. DABNEY.
"1wo o'clock, Tuesday morning, Sept 27,
le14''
Captain Reid then went on shore, and after
receiving the congratulations of the Consul
was informed that the governor had again
written to Admiral Lloyd demonstrating
against any further attack, but Lloyd sent
for answer that he was determined on the
capture of the prvateer, and that if the Gov
ernor suffered the Americans to injure her
in any manner, he should consider the place
an enemy's port, and treat it accordingly
Returning on board Captain Reid gave up all
hope of saving his vessel, but determined
to defend her to the last. He accordingly
ordered the dead and wounded to be taken
on shore, and prepared for the worst. AT
daylight on the morning of the 9th, the
Carnation was observed under weigh, ant
stood close in for the privateer, when she i'm
mediateIy opened heavy fire with all bel
force. The crew of the Armstrong, as i
supernatural spirits or holding charmed lives
still grimly stood by their little bark, re
turning broadside for broadside with wonder
ful effect. The maintopmast of the Carna
, ton soon fell by the board, and she became
so much cut up in her hull and rigging, ant
with the loss of men, that her guns became
silenced, and she was forced to retire. |
was sublime spectacle, that the little priva
teer, with but handful of men, fighting
,, hopeless battle against such tremendous odd
in vindicaton of her rights and her country
E honor, with her colors still victoriously fly
ing in reckless defiance.
Finding all further resistance fruitles:
Capt. Reid blew hole through the bottom
of his vessel ard scuttled her to prevent til
English from getting possession of her, an
> then went on shore with his gallant crew
The enemy soon after boarded the privatee
! and set her on fire, when she blew up, an
= thus ended the fate of this noble little Graf
; STRONG TEsTIMoNY.-At trial before
l. Justice Of the Peace in this town last weel
s. says the Crescent City Herald, witness calIe
9 to testify as to identity OF a certain COW, d.
q clared himself so we'll acquainted with tt
e animal that to use his own language
a would "know her ashes in HI" He was NJ
is cross-examined.
t, ~ GREW THE REsT."-A boy three yea
te of age was asked who made him. With
% little hand leyalad foot above the floor,