The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-10-22
THE BATTLE OF FAYAL.
The Most wonderful Naval Battle on
Record,

The Most Wonderful Naval Battle on
Record,
A writer in the Cincinnati E,lgtire,
gives a vivid account of the battle OF
kayal, " the most desperate, heroic and
romantic naval action that ever took
place on the ocean" II was toward the
close of the last war with England. in
1914, that the reverses which had at
tended our arms on land, the bankrupt
condition of the government, and the
capture and burning of the city of Wash
ington, on the twenty fourth of August,
| 1914, had thrown q general gloom and
despondency over the country. 1t was
under these circumstances that the news
of the battle of the United States private
armed brig General Armstrong (named
after the then secretary of wary and her
extraordinary victory, sent thrill of
JOY and enthusiasm through the hearts
OF the American people.
On the ninth of September. 1914, the
General Armstrong, of only 246 tons,
carrying but seven guns and ninety
men, including officers, sailed from
Sandy Hook, New York, on a cruise.
She was commanded by the late Com
modore Sam G. Reid, then only thirty
years of age, who had been a midship-
man under Commodore Truxton. On
the twenty-sixth of September the Arm
strong put into Fayal, one of the Azore
islands, for water. About shutdown
large British squadron, consisting of the
ship OF the line Plantagenet, of seventy
four guns; the frigate Rota, of forty
four guns; and the brig Carnation, of
eighteen guns, commanded by Commo-
dore Lloyd, were discovered entering the
harbor. The total force of the squadron
was 1876 guns and about two thousand
men.
This squadron was part of the expe-
ditiOn then assembling Mt the island of
Jamaica for the capture of New Orleans
under the command of Sir Admiral
Cochrane. who had already succeeded in
burning Washington, and was awaiting
the arrival of Lloyd, both expeditions
having been planned at the same time
by the British Cabinet. Lloyd, consid-
ering that the Armstrong would make
a useful auxiliary to the expedition, re-
solved upon her capture. The brig Car
nation came to anchor, and from the ex-
change of signals and the throwing out
OF four large boats or launches, into
which men and arms were being passed,
it became evident that an attack was
contemplated. 1t being about full moon.
and the night perfectly calm and clear,
every movement could be distinctly seen.
Although Captain Reid had been assured
OF the safety of his vessel by the authori-
ties, he being in neutral port belonging
to the dominions of Portugal, he never
theless prepared for action.
About 8 p. NJ, the boats, containing
about forty men each, were seen rapidly
approaching the Armstrong.
AS they neared his vessel, Captain
Reid hailed them repeatedly, and warned
them to keep off, to which they paid no
butt pulled alongside, when
the British officers cried out, "Fire and |
board my lads !" and as the men rose from |
their seats, Captain Reid ordered his ma
rinesalSo to fire, which wasssalmost sim
ultaneous on the part of both. One man |
on board the Armstrong was instantly |
killed, and the First Lieutenant, Fred. |
A. Worth, a brother ofthe late General |
w orth, of the United States Army, was |
wounded. The men in the boats met |
with great slaughter, large number |
being killed and wounded, when they !
hastily retreated, The Armstrong now |
slipped her cables and pulled in under
the jaws of the bastile for protection, the |
Portuguese Governor having sent n re-
TO Lloyd protesting against
any further attack. Lloyd answered
that he W determined to capture the
American vessel at all hazards, and
would destroy the town il any protection
was offered.
CONSERVATION spread through the
town; the windows of the houses near
est the scene were filled with women,
while the walls and shores were lined
with the inhabitants anticipating a re-
newal of the attack. At midnight four
teen large launches, containing from
forty to fifty men each, commanded by
-he best officers of the squadron, were
seen approaching in rotation. When
they got within gunshot, tremendous
md effectual fire was opened by the
which threw the boats into
confusion. They now returned a
spirited fire, but the Americans kept up
so continual a discharge it was almost
impossible for the boats to make any
progress. They finally succeeded, after
loss, to get alongside, and at
empted to board at every quarter,
,heered by the officers with a shout OF
- No quarter, which could be distinctly
heard on shore, as well as their shrieks
md cries. The termination was near
lbout total massacre. Three of the
boats were sunk, and but one Door soli-
ary officer escaped death in boat that
contained fifty souls, and he was
wounded. The Americans fought with
desperation and firmness never eaualed.
some of the boats were left without a
Jingle man to row them, others with
hree or flour. The most that any re-
urned with was about ten. Several
boats tloated on shore full of dead
bodies. But three British officers es-
,aped, two OF whom were wounded.
At daylight on the next morning, the
wenty-seventh of September, the brig
Jarnation. of eighteen guns, approached
he General Armstrong within gun-shot
md opened a heavy fire. discharging
several broadsides.- The crew of the
General Armstrong still grimly stood
by their little craft, returning broad
,ide for broadside with wonderful effect.
Tho Onaintovp,oet &c H. O.. i. a. - ---'