Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-02-09
DESPERATE SEA FIGHT.
Particulars of Naval Engagement in the War of
i8l2---PIucky American Privateersmen.

title "The Brig Armstrong" has been
before the government in one form or
another for 65 years. Tt has been the
subject OF almost interminable diplomat
lc difficulties. 1t was once submitted to
Louis Napoleon for. arbitration. It's
history recalls one of the most brilliant
naval engagements in the annals of mod
ern warfare-an engagement in which
Americans displayed almost unparalleled
prowess against almost overwhelming
numbers. The brig General Armstrong
was an American privateer, commanded
by Capt. Sam Q. Reid. Shewas small
vessel, carrying but Z guns and 80 men,
and was actively engaged in the war of
1924 between the United States and
Great Britain. The brig put into the
harbor of Fayal, belonging to the
neutral power of Portugal, September
26, 1914, in search of fresh water. At s
o'clock that evening British squadron
came to anchor in that harbor. This
squadron consisted of the ship-o -the-line
Plantagenet, of "a guns; the frigate
Rota, of A guns, and the brig Carnation,
of Is guns-a total force of 1876 guns and
1000 men, commanded by Admiral
Lloyd. These vessels were on their way
from Washington having
just been burned-to Jamaica, to rein
force Cochrane, who was gathering
fleet there for the capture of New Or
leans. Lloyd decided to capture the
brig Armstrong.
The full moon shone on the waters of
the bay when the first attack was made
by four armed boats carrying in all 100
men. Reid warned them to keep away,
but they pushed on and had begun to
board the privateer before any resist
ance was made. Then Reid opened fire.
and killed and wounded many of the at
lacking party. The boats were repulsed
and the privateer lost but one man.
The inhabitants Of Fayal gathered upon
the walls, expecting renewal of the
battle. They were not disappointed.
An Englishman of Fayal, who saw the
second attack, described it as follows in
letter written to William Cobbett, of
London.
At midnight IA launches were discov-
cred to be coming in rotation for the
purpose. When they got within gun
shot, tremendous and effectual dis
charge was made from the privateer,
which threw the boat into confusion
They now returned a spirited fire, but
the privateer kept up so continual dis
charge it was almost impossible for the
boats to make any progress. They final
ly succeeded after immense loss, to get
alongside of her, and attempted to board
at every quarter, cheered by the officers
with q shout of mo quarter, which we
could distinctly hear, as well as their
shrieks and cries. The termination was
the boats were sunk, and but one poor
solitary officer escaped death in boat
that contained so souls He was wound
ed. The Americans fought with great
frmness. Some of the boats were left
without single man to row them;
others with three and four. The most
that any one returned with was about TO-
Several boats hoated ashore full of dead
bodies. With great reluctance [ state
that they were manned with picked men,
and commanded by the first, second,
third and fourth ieutenants of the
Plantagenet; first, second, third and
fourth Lieutenants OF the frigate, and
the first officer of the brig, together with
great number of midshipmen. Our
whole force exceeded 400 men. But
three officers escaped, two of whom are
wounded. The bloody and unfortunate
contest lasted about 40 minutes
After this remarkable encounter, the
British did not again modest the priya-
teer until morning. Then the Carnation
hauled in alongside, and opened heavy
fire with all her guns. But the Ameri-
can seemed invincible. In short time
the Carnation was so badly cut up that
she was obliged to haul off for repairs.
Thinking it useless to contend longer
against so superior force, Reid scuttled
the Armstrong and went ashore with his
men. The British then burned the priva-
teer. The most remarkable feature of
the battle was the almost miraculous es-
cape of the crew of the Armstrong. The
English eyewitness wrote:
''For three days after we were en-
ployed in burying the dead that washed
on shore in the surf The number of
British killed exceeds 100, and 80 wound
ed. The enemy, to the surprise of man.
kind, lost but two killed and seven
wounded. We may well say, God de-
liver us from our enemies, if this is the
way the Americans fight. After burn
ing the privateer, Commodore Lloyd
made demand on the governor to de-
liver up the Americans as his prisoners,
which the governor refused. He
threatened to send 500 men on shore and
take them by force. The Americans i'm
mediately retired, with their arms, to an
old gothic convent, Knocked away the adj
joining drawbridge, and determined to
defend themselves to the last. The COM
modore, however, thought better than
to send his men.
For 10 days the squadron was detained
at Fayal making repairs, and two sloops-
of-war, the That's and Calypso, were
sent back to England with the wounded
Jackson is said to have conceded that
the heroic action of Capt. Ried and his
men saved New Orleans from capture.
The battle not only detained Lloyd for
10 days at Fayal, but also delayed the
whole fleet at Jamaica for week after
Lloyd's arrival there, so that Cochrane,
L. Il