Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1880-02-06
THE PRIVATEER.

was probably the most desperate, fearful
and romantic that ever took place on the
ocean. She was a little brigantine of
only two hundred and forty-six tons, be-
longing to New York, and carried but
seven guns and ninety men, including
officers She was commanded by very
young officer, Capt Sam. c. Reid, then
only thirty years of age, who had been
a midslipman under Commodore Trux-
ton. On the 26th of September, 1914,
the Armstrong put into the neutral port
Of Fayal, belonging TO Portugal, for the
purpose of obtaining water. Toward sum
down the British brig-of-war CarnatiOn,
Of eighteen guns, hove in sight, stood up
the haTbor, and anchored within half
cables length of the Armstrong. Soon
after, the frigate ROta, of torty-4our guns,
and the ship OF the line Plantagenet, of
seventy-four guns, came to anchor in
the roads Admiral Lloyd, who COM
manded the feet, had previously been
informed by the pilot that the Arm
strong was III the harbor, and he at once
determined upon her capture. The brig
Carnation Immediately began signaliz-
ing with the feet, threw out four large
launches, O. boats, and commenced pass
ing arms into them. All the movements
could be seen and the orders given we're
distinctly heard on board the Armstrong.
Capt. Reid Immediately gave secret
orders to clear the decks for action, and
cautioned the crew to make as little noise
as possible. He then cut his cable, got
out sweeps, and commenced pulling in
shore to castle. The CarnatiOn imme-
diately dropped her top-sails and made
sail, to prevent the privateer from going
out of the harbor should she attempt il,
while the boats, which were living along
side, were ordered in chase of the Arm
strong. 1t was now about eight o'clock
in the evening.
At this time one of the large launches,
which was considerably in the advance,
pulled up under the stern of the Arm
strong, when Capt. Reid, with speaking
trumpet in hand, being in his shirt
sleeves, and all hands at quarters, hailed
the boat three times. No answer was
returned except by one of the sailors,
who asked in a gruf voice what was the
matter. The officer replied, Make no
answer, sir; Dull away, my lads" At the
next moment the word was given to
''toss cars" and with their boat-hooks
they hauled alongside under the port
quarter Of the privateer. The officer in
the boat then cried out, Fire and board,
my lads" and as the men rose from their
seats, Capt. Reid instantly gave the word
to his marines to fire. which was almost
simultaneous on the part of both. One
man on board the privateer was instantly
killed, and the first lieutenant, Fred. A.
Worth, a brother of the late Gen. Worth,
of the United States army, was wounded
The men in the boat were severely cut
up, and they called out for quarter, while
the other three boats, pulling up at full
speed on the starboard side Immediately
opened their fire. They were received
with full broadside of grape and canis-
ter, which was followed by the shrieks
and groans of the wounded and dying
A fierce struggle now ensued, in which
the enemy made desperate attempt to
board put staggered and appalled, by
the Calling fire of the privateer, they
cried cut for quarter, and the boats pulled
of IN a sinking condition, with great
loss, Capt. Reid refusing to take them
prisoners.
The Gen. Armstrong then weighed
anchor and pulled in toward the shore,
about half pistol shot from the castle
where she was moored head and stern
near the beach with her port side next
to the shore. The Carnation in the mean
while sailed down the feet, and it was
soon evident that they had determined
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served standing in with large feet of
boats in tow, numbering fourteen, and
carrying between forty and fifty men
each. When within gun-shot the boats
cast off from the brig, and took their
stations in three divisions under cover
of a small reef or island of rocks, with
in musket-shot of the privateer. The
brig kept under weigh to act with the
boats, in case the privateer attempted to
escape.
At length, at midnight, the enemy re-
solved upon the attack, and the boats
were observed in motion. Instead Of |
approaching in divisions, as Capt. Reid |
expected, they came out in solid column |
in direct line. When about twenty |
five yards of, Capt. Reid ordered his
men to stand by after the fire, to run in
the guns and lash in the ports, in order
to prevent the enemy from getting
through the portfolios on boarding. as
they would not have time to reload The
guns before the enemy would be along
side. The men were then cautioned to
wait for the word, and to be sure of their
object.
The "Long Tom," heavy forty-eight
pounder, placed on pivot amidships,
was sighted with fearful accuracy. On /
came the British boats with undaunted
intrepidity, when thcy werea again hailed
by Capt. Reid, but no answer was re-
turned. The fatal command was then
given, and tremendous fire was opened
on the enemy. They warmly returned
the fire, renamed their oars, and giving
three cheers, came on most spiFitedly.
The crew of the priyateer asked If
they SHOULD return the cheer. aHo,H re-
piled Capt, Reid eno cheering until we
have gained a victory" In moment
they succeeded in gaining the bow and