The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-10-22
A Desperate Battle.

| sixty years ago, the last American naval
battle was fought with England, and
which proved the most sanguinary and re-
markable in its results Of that war.
The capture of Washington city and ihe
expedition against New Orleans had been
secretly planned by the British govern
ment. to succeed each other After the
burning OF Washington, the British fleet,
commanded by Admiral Cochrane, with
drew from the Patuxent to rendezvous at
the island OF Jamaica, where they We're to
await a large reinforcement from England,
previous to the attack on New Orleans.
Lord Castlereigh, the British premier,
was in Paris at the time the news reached
England Of the capture of Washington,
and openly boasted that it would not be
long before Louisiana would become Brit
ish territory
In the meantime, the American private
armed brig General Armstrong, of only
24G tons. and carrying but seven guns and
crew OF ninety men, including officers,
sailed from the port of New York on a
cruise. The General Armstrong, from
her numerous captures, had become the
terror Of the seas. She was commanded
by Captain Sam. g. Reid, whose son, $. G..
Reid is one of our foremost LAWYERS. At
noon, on the 10Th OF September, the Gen
eral Armstrong came to anchor i'm the
harbor OF Fayal for the purpose Of Get
ting supply of fresh water After fill
ing up with water, the American consul
Mir. John B. Dabney, and 4 party of gentle
men came on board to visit the American
brig, and shortly after, about F. NJ, the
British brig OF war Carnation, of eighteen
guns move IN sight' ana beng informed
ol tlle character ol tile American 9rlg by
lhe pilot OF Ihe harbof, She ran close IN
and anchored WITHIN pistol shot She was
soon followed by the Ilantagenet, ot SeN-
ehty-1otf guns, and the 1rlgate lSota, OF
lofty guns, beng portion oi the
bfltlsh Meet intended to reinforce Admiral
Cochrihe at Jamalca, ne Wnd had
dIed away, and there was no chance for
the American brig to make her escape,
While u was considered improbable that
the BRITISH lleet would attempt the cap
lure OF the American bng IN neutral
port. soon, however, the fleet commenc-
ed signaling each other When the Carna-
t,n lioh proceeded to throw out al hey boats.
me moon was near IT'S tull, a9d the enc
my could plainly tie seen passing arms
INTO the boats
Capt Reid, seeing The eyI'l"nt intention
u .ile enemy cleared ms dcckS lof tclI"h,
n tnn Iaraa ,',l'-'' 1,,,nahn a,,ai ,,t'l'
inqe ,la,,t f,tI1 ,,,l,' n,l ,,I i
nHIIo1 I'M confidontl,. tntr.r,l. tba I,,,',
a. h,.;|tr na,'tai,,' WI, i,;i;,,a.
tha,, rhraa t;HoS and Ma
allowad ,ban, a. a,nroaol, ,,l.7,l,- l,iI,l[,
sidc whan he onnnadf nnnn ,bnn, 'l. ,, rrnsI. i,,iI
;nr fro which n,.,., in,,,It,,4a,,,l,. 49,,
tnTnal rhon tI1o a,,a,,,, j., ,tta,.,,,+i,95c, Il,
hoard Wa IrTen I'LL y-ith ,rro,t .laEah '.,t7
to,. Onn ot thai,. 1,an+. ,,.,s g, snui, .,,l
soma thirtr-liva n,on / il1ad and vronniaI i,,,
In Iii ,ttac tba A,n,st,,,1,lr lst l,,,,
killed and 1hair first Iinnto1o,,t ,,-o,,nIoI
ria hno+. ha,.;nn. ,c,,,l,,rI T., M tIont
with tbo;,, ,,,'n,,do1 i u-a,. ,a,,- a,.;'Ia,,t
tIat ,,ro,,.,,.at i,,I. d.. ,,,t
fnrmidahla attacI, In thn n,aanti,no
Cant,;n Eaid sIinnnd hi. cal,lo and banl,J
his vessel cjose info The heprh Ana mndar
The onns Of thn portnocna;.,' 'castIa ,,-barn
he ,noornd hen baa1 ana storm donI1a
shotted his rI,ns 4rl nrnnorol tn,, - Io..
nar.to ottoci- Tlo pD.,,,l,,,,,,,, c,,,,.,,,,,,.
had scnt Off. . 1atta, nf Te,,,n,, S3,.anca to
Admiral llvol comnnondinr tha Aaar
who replaa if anv nr4tnction wa, offer
e" ~ tlie Ailiefi''h orig ne Wo'tld hho'h
GOWN lhe town
The moon was now sLnlne N midnight
splendor and the shore was lined with the
inhabitants awaiting the expected attack
soon fourteen large launches, containing
between tour and five hundred men, armed
with small cannon, swivels, nusket@
sabres, and boarding pixies, We're seen APP
preaching the General Armstrong iii three
divisions. As they came up Capt. Reid
opened his fire. his long pivot gun a forty
two FOUNDER doing fearful execution.
The enemy staggered for 4 moment
warmly returned the fire, and giving three
cheers came on most spiritedly In q mo-
ment they succeeded in gaining the star
board quarter of the Armstrong, when
the word was Board The large guns Of
the Armstrong now being useless, the
enemy Was aijaekeo s|Yotd n haAa' ana
WIN pixies Pi9tols anu 1AaShetfy. ne
enemy repeatedly gained me dechs OF the
anu AZ an polnts WIN great slaughter.
= Apout 'lie liiuult ~ lhe actloH, N;tpl-
helo received lhtellgence OF the death OF
N>- 'N-N
ms thlru lieulehaht was DadIy Wounded'
from lhls cause the l!fe had greatly slacA-
eheu on 'he ioreeasIle' aho captain ht!o
seeing ms peril, Immediately rallied hIs
Whoie ailer diNlsioh' "hlch had most gaI-
lahtly oFNth OH me enemy from lhe
quarter ttchs' anu WIN Wllu yeL' tltey
ruSheu lot"ard' hleeth@ the enemy III
hahd 70 hand conflict, while the decks
were sllPpefy WIN, gore ana succeeded III
aflVlng them PACK m their poatS' Wnen;;
opening a lfeSh hre' i soon alter decided
the CONNECT l ne enemy Iost many OF theE
boats several were literally loaded with
thelr own dead out or two boats all
were Killed save seventeen, who swan
ashore. In another boat all were killed
blnod bn1 lo'' sorara ~ Pay wts @ crimson son., Wig
DluO" Stro1 G III ~" II T,'lt ,'e
ltluS 1o' anu some - 'ii'' ''''i''I''i''S
N'lio'
Such was the rage OF Admiral Lloyd at
the unparalleled carnage OF his best Oil
GERS and men that he now determined to