The Portland daily press., 1870-10-25
Capt. Thomas Il. Parsons.

TO the Editor Of the Press:
Capt. Thomas B. Parsons who died in your
city on Sunday, at the age of SO, was born in
Parsonsfield, in this State. He was the son of
Thomas Parsons, from whom the town took its
name. have known him for forty years as a
teacher of navigation in Portland, up to the
great fire of 1866, in which his hoose was
burnt on Deer street, since which he has lived
in retirement, respected for his many virtues
His life has been varied one. He was sail
ing master of the famous privateer brig Gen.
Armstrong, of New York, and assisted in de-
tending her and heading eff the beats of a
British squadron in two attacks in the harbor
of Fayal in 1914, actions which for bravery and
desperate hand to hand fighting on shipboard
were not equaled during the war of 1872. The
brig was of $50 tons, armed with eight Id
broadsde guns, and one 48 pound gun, with a
crew of 100 men. She had successfully repell-
ed the attack Of British sloop Of war, obIiging
her to haul off, and in Sept. 1914, she went
into Fayal for water. Soon after British
squadron came in. The brig, although in a
neutral port warped up, and anchored under
the fort, fearing an attack. She was power
full vessel and had already given the enemy a
good deal of trouble. On the night of the 25th
of September, the British Commander sent
four boats containing 60 men each, to destroy
the brig, but did not succeed, being obliged to
leave in hurry, with the loss of many men,
This exasperated the commander of the squad
ron, and the next night he sent fourteen boats
armed and carrying 400 men, who made
fierce attack on the Armstrong, and after
desperate fight in which only one man sue.
ceeded in boarding, they were obliged to retire
with the loss OF 200 killed, and 90 wounded.
oapIf arsons was severely wounded in this at |
TACK. Inc brig had right to protection from |
the tort, but none was given.
lne american Consul Judged from some
expression OF the British commander that he |
was determined on the destruction of the brip
at ailnazards, and advised that she sbouId he
disabled and abandoned, which was done l,v
nnng cannon shot down the hatch through
the potion, When she grounded in shoal wafer |
near the pier The crew left her, and the nevt
morning she was burnt by the English Their
loss IN these attacks on the Gen. Armstrono
was the means OF saving New Orleans, being
SO severe that they were obliged to send two
sleeps of war to England with the wounded
and for more men. The squadron was SO dis,
abled that they could not join the Admiral at
Jamaica, to attack New Orleans as intended
He waited ten days, which gave Gen. Jack
time to prepare for the attack, which was con-
city was saved. - ""N '-o
Gapt. Parsons had previously sailed in the
prlvateer schooner Fox, built in Portland by
" m. Moulton in Clay Cove She waslarmed
~ portsmouth, and carried 10 guns and 90
~ men. She captured the British ship Balize
drv Liverpool uond bound to Quebec with cargo of
mSn gg%oas which was sold at auction in Ports
f snou'n Tor S650000. She also took Schooner
IRON Jamaica loaded with rum 00e
Wap., marsons was disabled on the coast of
Brown Of gnn iSaoRs S the u life Of sailing
Wy in boat expedition his boat fA han;n Ma
upset. For this he drew pension from "e ecu
Pasudn until his death Alter the war
until he commenced his school NJ service
captain learned his navigation of h him wh = sea
boy. w uch
Windham, Oct 3d.