Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-07-07

The fight of the brig Gen. Armstrong
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 a very
young officer, Capt. Sam. c. Reid, then
only thirty years of age, who had been
a midshipman 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 sun
down the British brig-of-war Carnation,
OF eighteen guns, hove in sight, stood up
the harbor, and anchored within half
acable's length of the Armstrong. Soon
after, the frigate Rota, of torty-four guns,
and the ship of the line Plantagenet, of
seyenty-four guns, came to anchor in
the roads. Admiral Lloyd, who COM
Wanded the fleet, 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 fleet, threw out four large
launches, or boats, and commenced pass
ing arms into them. Allthe movements
could be seen and the orders given were
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, cot
aut sweeps, and commenced pulling III
shore to castle. The Carnation imme-
Stately dropped her top-saIls and made
sail, to prevent the privateer from going
e no l1 q, 81, -
while the boats, which were living along
side, were ordered in chase of the Arm
strong. 1t was now about eight O'Clock
m 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
rnmpet 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 gruff voice what was the
matter. The officer replied, Make no
answer, sir; pull away, my lads" At the
Nexr moment the word was given to
toss oars" and with their boat-hooks
they hauled alongside under the port
quarter of the privateer. The officer m
the boat then cried out, Fire and board,
my fads," and as the men rose from their
seats, Capt. Reid instantly gave the word
10 his marines to fire, which was almost
Simultaneous on the part of both. One
n2au on board the privateer was instantly
Killed and the first Lieutenant, Fred. A.
Worth, brother of the late Gen. WORTH
O. 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 but staggered and appalled, by
the CALLING fire Of the privateer, they
cried out 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
10 the shore. The Carnation in the mean
while sailed down the fleet, and it was
soon evident that they had determined
on a more formidable attack.
About nine p. NJ, the wind having
6reezed up, the enemy's brig was OBJ
served standing in with a large fleet OF
boats in tow, numbering fourteen, and
carrying between forty md fifty men
each. When within gun-shot the boats
east off from the brig, and took their
stations in three divisions under cover
of small reef or island Of rocks, with
In nusket-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 i'll solid column
insa direct line. when about twenty
five yards off. Capt. Reid ordered his