The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-10-29
THE BATTLE OF FAYAL.

THE BATTLE OF FAYAL.
Tho Most Wonderful Naval Baltic on
Record.
A writer in the Cincinnati Enquirer
gives vivid account of the battle Of
Fayal. "the most desperate, heroic and
romantic naval action that ever took
place on the ocean," 1t 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 a 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 war; 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
wears of age, who had been 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 sundown q
large British squadron, consisting of the
shin 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 l36 guns and about two thousand
men. .
This squadron was part of the expe,.
dition then assembling at 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-
erine that the Armstrong would make
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 ind 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
attention, but 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
rines also to fire, which was. s..almost sim
ultaneous on tie part of both. One man
on board the Armstrong was instantly
killed. and the First Lieutenant. Fred:
A. Worth, brother ofthe late General
Worth, 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-
monstrance to Lloyd protesting against
any further attack. Lloyd answered
that lie was determined to capture the
American vessel at all hazards, and
would destroy the town ii 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
the best officers Of the squadron, were
seen approaching in rotation. When
they got within gunshot, tremendous
and effectual fire was opened by the
Armstrong, which threw the boats into
confusion. They now returned q
spirited fire, but the Americans kept up
so continual discharge it was almost
impossible for the boats to make any
progress. They finally succeeded, after
immense loss, to get alongside, and at
tempted to board at every quarter,
cheered by the officers with shout OF
"No auarler,n which could be distinctly
heard on shore, rs well as their shrieks
and cries. The termination was near
about total massacre. Three OF the
boats were sunk, and but one poor soil
tary officer escaped death in a boat that
contained fifty souls, and he was
wounded. The Americans fought with
adesperation and firmness never equaled:
The number of British killed and
wounded was nearly three hundred;
while, to the surprise Of mankind, our
loss was but two killed and seven
wounded. The enemy were employed
for three days in burying their dead:
Commodore Lloyd then made de-
mand on the Portuguese governor to de-
liver up the crew of the Armstrong as
his prisoners, and threatened in case OF
refusal to send 500 men ashore to take
them. The Americans Immediately re-
tired with their arms to an old gothic
convent, which they fortified, knocked
away the adjoining draw-bridge, and
determined to defend themselves to the
last. The British commodore, however,
felt his loss already too great to execute
his threat.
The squadron was delayed ten days at
Fayal repairing, which delay proved
fatal to Sir admiral Cochranes expedi-
ton to New Orleans, as it did not ar
rive until four days after General Jack
son and his troops. New Orleans. pre-
vious to that time, was totally defense
less, and had Corchrane arrived even q
week sooner, it would have fallen an
easy prey to the enemy.
ssAll Mine"
An Oregon correspondent, writingthe