The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-11-21
THE BATTLE or FlYAL.

A writer in the Cincinnati Eaqutrer
gives vivid account Of the battle a
Fayal, 1.-The most desperate. heroic aud
romantic naval action that ever took
place on the OCEAN" Il was toward
the close of the las: war IN England. in
1914. that the reve!ses which had 1t
tended our arms on land. tue bsnkrup pt
condition of the Government. aud the
capture and burning Of the CITY OF
Washington on the 2ith Of Angust.
1911, had thrown general gloom aud
despondency over the country. Il Wa,
under these circum stances tba. the news
OF the battle of the private armed bri.
General Armstrong tnamed after the
then Secretary oi War and her extra
ordinary victory. sent u thrll. If Joy
end enthusiasm through the hearts OF
the American people.
On the 9th of Seitember. 1911. the
General Armstrong. Of only 24G tons,
carrying but seven guns and but uinety
men. including officers, sailed from
Sandy Hook, New York. She was
commanded by the late Commodore
Sam G Reid. then only thirty years Of
age, who had been a mid'hipman under
Commodore Truxton. On the 26th of
September the Armstrong put into
Fayal, one If the Azore Islands, for
water. About suGiown large British
squadron, consisting of the ship of the
line Plantageuet. OF "a gun; the friga,e
Ro:a, Of Al guns. AID the brig Caraa
ton, Of Is guns, comm sudei by Com
modore Lloyd. were discovered! enter
ing the harbor. The tutal force of the
squadron was 1856 guns AMI about 20t0
men.
This squadron was part Of the ex
petition then assembling at the Island
OF Jamaica for the capture OF New Or
leans, under the command Of Sir Ad-
miral Cochrsnc. who had already src-
ceedcd in burning Washington. and was
awaiting the arrival Of Lloyd. both ex
petitions having been planned at the
same time by the British Cabinet .
Lloyd considering that the Armstrong
would make u,eful auxiliary to the
expedition, resolved upoa her capture.
The brig Carnat,oa came ~ anchor, and
from the exchange Of signals. and the
throwing ont If fur large boats or
launches. into which m,n and arms
were being passed. it became evident
that an attack was contemplated. 1t
being about full moon, AID tho night
pcrfec,l. clear and calm. every move
men, could be distinctly seen. Although
Captain Reid bad been assured Of the
safety Of his vessel by The authorities
he being IN u neutral port belonging 70
tho dominion of Por,ugal-hc never
thcless prepared for action.
About 8 Pm. the boats containing
about forty men each were seen rapidly
approaching the Armstrong.
AS they neared his vessel, Captain
Reid hailed them repeatedly and warn
ed :hem to keep of. to which they paid
no attention. but pulled alongside,
when the British officers cried out.
Fare anh board. my lad,!' aid, as the
men rose from their seats. Captain Reid
ordered his marines also t. fire, which
was almost simultaneously on tue part
Of 10th One man on board the Arm
strong wa. instantly killed. and the
First Lieutenant, Fred A Worth. a
brother Of the late General Worth. OF
the United States Army, was wounded.
The men in the boats met with great
slaughter. n large number being killed
and wounded, when they hastily re
treated. The Armstrong then slipped
her cables aud pulled in under the jaws
Of the bas;iie for protection. the Portu-
guese Governor having sent q rcmon-
str.nce to Lloyd protesting against any
further attack. Lloyd answered that
he was determined to capture the
American vessel at all hazards. and
would destroy the town if any proiec-
tion WAS offered.
CONSERVATION spread through the
town; the windows Of the houses near
est tue scene were filled with women 4,
while the walls aud the shore were
lined with inhabitants anticipating q
renewal of the attack. At midnight
fourteen large launches. containing
from forty to fifty men each, command
ed by the best Of the officers were
approaching in rotation. When they
got within gunshot. Tremendous and
etiectual fire was opened 10y the Arm
strong, which threw the boats ln'o con-
fusion. They returned spirited fire.
but the Americans kept mp so continual
discharge that it WAS almost Impossible
for the boats to make any progress
They finally succeeded. after immense
loss. to get alongside, aud attempted TO
board at every quarter. cheercd by the
officers with a shout of "No quarter,
which could be distinctly heard on
shore, as we'll as their shrieks and cries.
Tim termination was near about total
massacre. Three of the boats were
sunk, and but one poor. solitary oihcer
escaped death in boat tha: ccn:a'ned
fiity souls, and he was wounded. The
Americans fought with a desperation
and frmness never equaled. Some o'
the boats were left without . single
man to row them; others three or four.
The most that any returned with was
about ten Several boats foated on
shore full Of dead bodies: But three
British officers escaped. two OF whom
were wounded.
At daylight the next morning 'ne
twenty seventh Of September. the orig
Carnstion. Of is guns. approached tue
Armstrong within gunshos and opened
a heavy fire. dischsrging several broad
sides The crew Of the General Arm :
strong still grizzly stood by their little
craft. returning broadside for broadsde
with wonderful effect The ms'ntop-
mas, Of the Carpstion soon fell oy 'ne
board, aud she became so much cut