The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-31
Death of a Naval Hero.

Captain Samuel Chester Reid died in New
York on the 2sth inst. He was born in New
London, Ct., in 1884, and was famous as the
hero of the wonderful defence of the privateer
General Armstrong, at the island of Fayal, in
1914 A description of this desperate engage
ment is interesting just ut the moment In
which the chief actor has left the stage:
The General Arms trong was brigantine of
only two hundred and forty six tons, and car
ried a crew of ninety men, including oucers,
with an armament of only seven guns. Wmle
lying in the neutral port OF Fayai, three Brlt-
ish men Of war, counting in all one hundred
and thirty-six guns, entered the harDor ana
came to anchor within half a cables length OF
the priyateer. As soon rs the British Admiral
ascertained that the vessel which appeared to
be almost in his power was the tTenerai Arm
strong, he made preparations for an lmme-
diate attack, Notwithstanding the fact of his
being in 4 neutral port. Four large Launches
We're speedily manned and sent against the
brig, the brave commander of which was re
solved TO receive them in becoming man
ner He made his preparations accordingly,
and as soon as they pulled up close to the yes
sci, having previously warned them oil, he
ordered his men to fire, which they did, with
terrible effect.
The boats pulled off in sinking condition,
and with the greater part of the attacking
force killed wounded. Another assault
was made upon the brig, and this time with Il
large fleet of boats, numbering fourteen, each
of which had from forty to nifty men, but II
was as unsuccessful as the first and attended
with more fearful loss to the English. Having
| failed in both these attempts, it was resolved
| to make q third and the Carnation, one of the
| fleet, carrying eighteen guns stood close in tor
| the General Armstrong, and opened heavy
fire upon the little brig. The fire was returned
| and with such precision that the Carnatlon
! was so cut up as to be Obliged 10 withdraw
| from conflict in which she was certain to be
| completely disabled, if not utterly destroyed
I Finding, however, that it was the determine
1flft In liSh Hyoir al to n
| OF his vessel, and yielding to the solicitations
| of the Governor of the Island, as well as that
| of the American Consul at the port, Captain
| Reid scuttled her, and went on shore with the
| gallant fellows under his command.
| The privateer was soon after boarded by the
English and blown up. Captain Reid was
| confined to about a dozen men in killed ana
| wounded, while the English had according tC
| their own calculation, one hundred and TWEEN.
| ty killed and one hundred and thirty wound,
ed. The news of this action was received all
over the country with the greatest rejoicing
| and subsequently Captain Reid was presented
| by the State of New York with gold sword
| i'll company with Gen. Scott, Peter Is. Porter
! and Edmund p. Gaines. In addition to thi'
| gift, he received from the city service OF sill
| yer plate
1t was Captain Reid who gave the flag o
the Union its present form by placing all thu
| stars in the form of one large star, whereas
before they were scattered without order Owe
| a blue field. One OF these, which was ma e BY
his wife and some of her lady friends, he pre-
sented to Congress, and it was hoisted on th
| Capitol He also invented and erected th
| signal telegraph at the Battery and the Mar
| rows, communicating with Sandy Hook, ant
| while Warden of this port regulated and mum
bered the pilot boats of New Y ork. We shoult
| have stated that he entered the navy at tn
age of thirteen q midshipman, and in du
time became an acting lieutenant. For tn
past three years he has been on leave, his las
active service being on board the reCeiyin;
ship North Carolina, at the Brooklyn Navy
| Yard