Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1861-03-13

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alleled In the history Of n naval
warfare, in which the British lost
between three and four hundred
lcn killed and wounded, Capt. Reid
was compelled % abandon his YES
sci, losing however, but four men
killed aud eight men wounded,
when the British set ire To the
American brig, and she blew up
The bravery, daring and gallant
conduct of Capt Reid, in the
last cruise of the Armstrong,
well earned for him the title of the
Paul Jones OF the second war of in
dependence.
The fleet was to compose q part
of the British squadron then redcz'
vousing at Jamaica, under the com
mund of Admiral Cochranc, inten-
dcd ior the expedition against New
Orleans. The terrible disaster
which happened the hcct in the en-
raremcnt with the Gen. Armstrong,
was the means of causing a great
delay of the expedition against this
city' and which absolutely saved
Louisiana from the hands of Great
Britain. The battle Of Fayal vas
fought on the 2Gth September, 1911.
The British were three days occu-
pied in burying their dead, and two
sloops-of-war were afterwards TAX
en- into requisition to send back
their wounded men. This caused a
DELAY of the whole squadron ut Ja-
maica, which was awaiting the ar
rival of tile fleet commanded by Ad-
miral Lloyd, of some fifteen days,
The squadron afterwards arrived OF
tho Mississippi River, carly in Dc
cember, only four days after the ar,
rival of Gen. Jackson. So that, had
il not been for tae delay occasioned
bv the gallant defence of the ARM
strong, Now Orleans would, weeks
previous, before Gen. Jackson could
have arrived with his forces, have
fallen an easy conquest TO othe haugh-
ty Blrtons.
Louisiana well deserves to pay a
tribute to the memory of this gal
liant sailor, and it would be but an
act Of becoming justice that poster
ifv should associate and honor his
name with the history Of our State
Capt Reid was born in the State
of Connccticut.in the year of peace,
1888, and was consequently in the
year Of his age. lie
was the father Of Sam G. Reid, Esq,
a lawyer of this city, for some
years past connected with the edi-
torial department. Of this journal,
and with whom we sincerely con-
dole for the loss he has sustained
The loss Of the brig Gen. Armstrong
became the subject Of a long pros
ccution by the United States Gov
against Portugal, and
which finally was left to the arbitra-
tion of Louis Napoleon, who decid-
ed the claim in favor Portugal, and
virtually in favor Of the English
Government. 1t was afterwards
prosecuted for years before the Con
gress of the United States by Mr.:
Reid. and the Court Of Claims and
the Senate gave u judgment in IA
vor of Capt. Reid, but the bill fail
ed in the house for want of time.
Capt. Reid had been midship-
man in the navy under Commodore
Truxton was the designer OF the
flag of the United States, as estab-
lished by an act of Congress in 1878,
and had also rendered great SER
vices to his Government and the
marine. He established
the first marine telegraph in the
United States, on Staten Island, in
the harbor of New York, also pro-
cured the first lightship to be an
chored off that harbor. lie was
the author ola sot of marine signals.
He established the Nautical Society
ofN. York, and regulate the pilot sys-
TEN Of that port, and caused the pl-
lots to be numbered; beside many
other serviccabIe acts. lie enjoyed
the confidence OF some Of our most
distinguished men, and he has pass
ed to the grave without his coun-
try's award of justice, and without
a tribute of gratitude to his mem
ory; in Capt. Reid's case, 1t may
well be said Republics are migrate
ful..N. O. Picayunc.