Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-09
TIE BATTLE OF FAYAL.
The Most Wonderful Starlight In
History.


Revenge. against II Spanish fleet ut Flores,
IN tho Azores. has been celebrated by the
English laureate in ono of the most stirring
nuliaus oil the languages; but II grandor bat
Tic evon than that OF tho RoyUngo was fought
III the samo watcvs scvcnty-il Ave years ugo
and has never been COMMUNICATED in song
or story. II was more important engages
ment than thRt o; Sir Richard, because IL
directly influenced the result OF ono OF tho
decisive BATTLES of history. and insured vic
tory 10 America i'll what has been called tho
s sSSa war OF Independence. tho war OF
iols. Tho Kevengo snlnntly fought and
iost. put tho American privuteer. ARM
strong. moro galantly fought and won.
", II was about II month alter tho burning OF
washington. i'll AUGUST. 1914. that the British
neet. destined for Now Orleans, had sailed
from tho Chesapeake for tho island OF ia
mt'c'. TO walt reinforcemcnts from England
when tho United States private armed brio
General Armstrong. commanded by Captuin
Samuel q. Reid. smiled from New York on n
cruise. and put into tho harbor Of Faynl ono
Oh inc Azor" Islands. September &c. Cap
tain Reid. then hardly thirty yours of age
had served as midshipman under ComIno-
dofc TruXton and was Il mun of indomitnblo
courage and splendid scamanly qualities.
inc Armstrong was Ii small briguntine of
only 246 tons. carrying but seven guns and
dcers.
Capt,in Reid had dinod that day wit, tho
American Consul. MIR. John ID. D,lbncy,
who. with u number OF other gentlemen
returned with him n board his vessel. To-
wa d shutdown The British brig Of war;
Carantion. OF eiSh con guns. hove in swht
stood up the harpor, and anchored within
half cables length OF tho Armstrong
Soon alter the fiisato fotn. OF forty-four
guns. and the shi p Of the line Plantanenet
o, seNcnty-iour guns. came 10 anchor in
ths roads. Admiral Lloyd. who commanded
the flcct. had previously buen informed Inv
the quot mat the Armstrong was in the has
Dor. and hn AT ono, determined upon her
capture. The brig Catnation immediately
began signalizinr with tho fleet, threw ont
iour large lunches or bonts, and COM
mcncod passing arms into them. All these
movements G Jud be seen. and the orders
given wcro distinctly heard on bonrd tho
Armstrong At the Same timo the British
brie made every preparation to intercept
tho rr.vatecr should she attempt to escapc.
Although Captain Roid had boon assured of
the perlcc. sufcty OIL his vesse! by the Amer
1cph Consul, being in Il neutral port ho now
lett certain. from tho manUuvors OF tho
iieet and tho prcpn ations going on. that
there would DO trouble. and ho accordingly
toll the gentlemen that they had better 70
Oh shore. After their departure a council
was hold among tho officers OF the Arm
strong. and it was first suggested that they
should mako an effort 10 get Out to son: but
tho wind being very light twas determined
10 haul close in under tho guns OF tho cast;e
for protection.
Capt. Reid immediately eave secret or
doris to cleur the dec; for action, and eau
toned tho crow to make rs little noise us
possible. He then cut his cable. got out
sweeps and commenced pulling in shore to
the castle. Tho Carnution Immediately
dropped her top-sails and mndo sail to pro-
Won't tho privatocr from going out Of tho iinr-
Dor should she attompt 1t. while tho boats.
which wore lying alongside, were ordered
In chase OF tho Armstrong. 1t was now
about eight O'Clock in tho evening. Tho
moon, which was near its full. was gradu-
ally rising. and silvcr-sprinling with its
beams tho beautiful bay. while not ripple
broko the stiffness OF the glttcring surface
save the splash of tho oars of tho iour largo
Launches, well-armed. carrying about for
ty mon each, which were pulling swiftly
-oward tho priyateor. Capt. Rcid immedl-
ateiy ceased pulling towards the shore. lot
go an anchor. and got springs on his cable
so as to bring tho vessel broadside to the
enomv.
At this timo ono OF tho largo launches.
which was considerably in tho advance
pulled up under tho storm OF tho Armstrong
whom Capt. Reid. with speaking- trumpet in
hand, being in his shirt socyes, and all
hands ut quarters. hailed the boat three
times. No answer was returned except by
one OF tho sailors. who asked in crufr
voice what was the mnttor. Tho officer re-
piled: Make no answer, sir; pull away, my
lads. and tho next moment tho word was
given to toss onrs and with their boat
hooks they hauled aion ssido under tho port
quarter OF tho privatccr. The officer in tho
boat then cried out: Fire and board, my
lads" And. rs tho mon 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 tho privatoor was instantly killed,
and the first lieutenant. Fred A. Worth, n
brother OF the late Gen. Worth. OF tho
Unitod States army. WAS wounded. Tho
mon in the bout were severely cut up, and
they cried out ior quarter. while tho other
three boats. pulling up at iull speed on tho
starboard side. Immediately opened their
fire. They were received with u full broad
side OF grape and canister. which WAS fol-
lowed by the shricks und groans OF tho
wounde and dying. ilcrce struggle now
ensued. in which tho enemy made des-
pernte attempt to board: but. staggered
and appalled, By the CALLING fire OF tho
prlvatcer' they cried out for quarter. and
with great loas. Capt. Reid refusing to tako
them prisoners.
The Gen. Armstrong then weighed anchor
and puliod in toward the shore, about half
pistol shot from tho castle, where she was
moorcd head and stern near tho beach, with
bcr port side next to the shore. Tho Car
nation. In the meanwhile. sailed down TO
the ileet. and IL was soon evident that they
had determined OH n more formidable at
tack. Tho American Consul at this timo
had written noto to the Portuguese Cover
nor demanding protection for tho prlyateor.
but the Governor simply dispatched noto
20 Admiral Lloyd, requesting him to abstain
from further hostiities. To this note Lloyd
replied that. rs tho Americans had first fired
cation. he now determined to tako tho pri-
yateer ut all hazards and IL protection wore
afforded her. he would fire into the town.
About p. M. tho wind having breezcd.
in with large fleet of boats In tow. num-
boring fourteen. and carrying between forty
and fifty men eaoh. When within gum shot.
tho boats cast off from tho brig. and took
their stations in three divisions under covor
OF q small rect or island of rocks, within
musket-shot OF the privateer. Tho brig
kept under way TO act with the boats. in
caso tho privateer attempted to escape. In
the meantime terror and CONSERVATION had
spread through tho town. Tho windows OF
the houses noarest the scene were filed
with women. and tho whole shore was
crowded with the inhabitants. awaiting with
intense excitement and brenthless expecta-
ton the coming attack. There lay the
American brig. with her tall. taporing spars.
sleeping on the moonlit waters as quiet and
as peaceful as an over-woaried child. There
sho lay. like the npparition OF a phantom
ship; not movement was to be seen. not q
sound was heard to break the stiffness OF
nor decks. and seemingly deserted, from tho
death-lke silence which prevailed. Not
withstanding Capt Reid had made every
preparation TO receive the enemy on all
sides. and his crew were then lying CON-
cealed at their auarters. In this nnsiiion