Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-07-26
THE BATTLE OF FAYAL.
The Most Wonderful Starlight in
History.

The fight of Sir Richard GrenvilIe. in the
Revenge, against Spanish fleet, at Flores,
in the Azores" has been celebrated by the
English laureate in one Of the most stirring
ballads Of the language; but a grander bat
tie even than that of the Revenge was fought
IN the same waters seventy-five years ago,
ana has never been cOmmemCraUed In song
or story. 1t was a more important engage
ment than that OF Sir Richard, because it
directly Influenced the result Of one Of the
decisive battles of history, and insured vic
tory to America in what has been called the
second war of Independence. the war of
1872. The Revenge CALAMITY fought and
lost, out the American pr1Vateer, Arm
strong, more CALAMITY fought and won.
1t was about q month after the burning of
Washington. IN August. 1914. that the British
fleet, destined for New Orleans. had sailed
from the Chesapeake for the island of ia
malca, to wait reinfOrcements from England,
when the United States private armed brig.
General Armstrong. commanded by Captain
Samuel @. Reid, sailed from New York on a
cruise, and put into the harbOr of Fayal, one
Of the Azcre Islands, September &C. Cap
tain Reid, then hardly thirty years Of age.
nad served as a mldshipman under COmmO-
dOre Truxton and was a man of indOmitable
courage and splendid seamanly qualities.
The Armstrong was small brigantine. of
only 246 tons, carrying but seven guns and
a crew OF ninety men all told, including Of
dcers.
Captain Reid had dined that day with the
American Consul Mr.. John B. Dabney,
who with a number Of other gentlemen,
returned with him on board his vessel. To-
ward sundoWn the British brig Of war,
CarnatiOn, Of eighteen guns. hove in sight,
stood up the harbor. and anchored within
a half cables length of the Armstrong.
Soon after the frigate ROta, of fCrty-fOur
guns, and the ship f-the-hne Plautaoenet,
Of seventy-four guns. came to anchor in
the roads. Admiral Lloyd. who commanded
the feet, had previously been informed by
the pilot that the Armstrong was in the har-
Dor. and he at once determined upon her
capture. The brig Carnation Immediately
began signalling with the fleet, threw out
four large launches or boats, and com
menced passing arms into them. All these
movements could be seen, and the orders
given We're distinctly heard on board the
Armstrong. At the same time the British
Drlg made every preparation to intercept
the prIvateer should she attempt to escape
Although Captain Reid had been assured Of
the perfect safety of his vessel bv the Amer
loan Consul, being in a neutral port. he now
felt certain, from the manCeuvers OF the
heet and the preparations going on, that
there would be trouble, and he accordingly !
told the gentlemen that they had better go
on shore. After their departure a council
was held among the officers of the Arm
strong. and it was first suggested that thew
the wind being very light twas determined
70 haul close In under the guns Of the castle
for protection.
Capt, Reid Immediately gave secret or
ders to clearlthe deck for action. and eau
toned the crew to make as little noise as
possible. He then cut his cable got out
sweeps and commenced pulling in shore to
the castle. The CarnatiOn Immediately
dropped her tOp-sails and made sail. to pre-
vent the prtvateer from going out Ofthe har-
Dor should she attempt it. while the boats
which were lying alongside, were ordered
In chase Of the Armstrong. It was now
about eight O'Clock in the evening. The
moon, which was near its full, was gradu-
ally rising, and silver-s prinkling with its
beams the beautiful bay. while not ripple
broke the stiffness Of the glittering surface,
save the splash Of the oars Of the fOur large
launches, we'll armed, carrying about for
ty men each, which were pulling swiftly
toward the priVateer. Capt. Reid immedi-
ately ceased pulling towards the shore, let
go an anchor, and got springs on his cable
so as to bring the vessel broadside to the
enemy.
At this time one Of the large launches,
which was considerably in the advance,
pulled up under the stern Of the Armstrong,
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 grun
voice what was the matter. The officer re-
piled: Make no answer, sir; pull away, my
lads and the next 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 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 stimuli
taneOus 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
Eney cried out Tor quarter, While the other
three boats, pulling up at full speed on the
starbOard side. Immediately opened their
fire. They were received with full broad
side Of grape and canister, which was fol-
lowed by the shrieks and grOans of the
WOunde and dying. A fierce struggle now
snsued in which the enemy made des-
perate attempt to board; but, staggered
and HDDGlleu DV the calling ure 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
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 Car
nation, in the meanwhile. sailed down TO
the feet, and it was soon evident that they
had determined on q more formidable at
tack. The American Consul at this time
had written note to the Portuguese Cover
nor, demanding protection for the priyateer, |
but the Governor simply dispatched note
70 Admlra al Lloyd requesting MIN 70 abstain
from further hOstihties. To this note Lloyd
replied that. as the Americans mad first fired
into one Of their boats without any provo
cation, he now determined to take the pri-
vateer at all hazards, and. If protection were
Afforded her. he would ire into the town.
About 8 p. me- the wind having breeZ9d
up, the enemY's brig was observed standing
Ia with large feet Of boats IN tow num-
bering fourteen. and carrying between forty
and fifty men each. When within gun-shOt.
the boats cast on from the brig, and took
their stations in three divisions under cover
of a small reef or island OF rocks, within
musket-shO5 of the priyateer. me brig
kept under way TO act with the boats, IN
case the priVateer attempted 70 escape. In
the meantime terror and considerable had
spread through the town. The windows OF
the houses nearest the scene were ntled