The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-06-19


crowded with the inhabitants. awaiting with
int nse excitement and breathless expecta-
ton the coming attack. There lay tho
American brig. with her tall. tapering spars.
sleeping on the moonlit waters as quiet and
as peaceful as an -wearied child. There
she lay. like the appartion OF phantom
ship; not movement was TO be seen. not "a
sound was heard to break the stiffness OF
her decks and seemingly deserted, from the
death-lke silence which prevailed. Not
withstanding. Capt. Reid had made every
preparation 90 receive the enemy on all
sides. and his crew were then lying con-
cealed at their quarters. In this position
the bellgefcnts remained Tor noarly three
hours, watching each other with painful
interest. When IL is considered that the
crew of the Armstrong had nothing 20 gain.
and had no motive for remaining by thor
vessel hut the defense OF their countrys
honor. when they saw the terrible odds that
opposed them. and which threatened
fearful ret hutton with no hope OF reward
except death for tHe defense OF the Ameri-
can flag while "a leap TO the shore held out
To them the inducement OF safety. IL Is re-
markabe that they stood so firm. and their
wonderful discipline may be imagined.
AT length. at midnight. the enemy seemed
resolved upon the attack. and the boats
were Observed in motion. lnstead OF APP
preaching by dyis ons. as Captain Reid ca
pected. they cume ON in solid column In
direct line. Wren about twenty-five yards
of. Captain Reid ordered his men 10 stand
10y after the fire. TO run In tho guns and
lash in the ports. in order to prevent the
enemy from getting through the PORTFOLIOS
OH boardin r. as they would not have time
20 reload the guns before the enemy would
be alongside. J he men wers then eau
toned to wait FOR tho word, and TO be sure
OF their object The Long Tom, n heavy
49, FOUNDER. placed on PIVOT amidships.
was sighted with fearful accuracy. On
came the British boats with undaunted In
trepldity, when they were aga n hailed by
Captain Reid. but no answer was returned.
The fatal command was then given. ana "a
tremendous fire was opened on the enemy.
the thunder and crash OF which broke the
Z aimed stiffness OF the before quiet mid
night scene. Keeling back and recoiling
from the nil sles Of death. they warmly
returned the fire. renamed their oars.
and. giving three cheers, came on
most spiritedly. Tho crew OF the pri-
vatcer asked if they should return the
cheer? NO" replied Captain Reid; mo
cheering until we have gained Il victory.
In moment they succeeded in gaining the
bow and starboard quarter OF the Arm
strong. The cry of the officers command
Ing the boats was. Up and aboard. my
lads-give the enemy no quarter!" At the
same instant they opened terrific fire with
cannonades. swivels, blunderbuses and
musketry. They were galanty met by the
crew of the privateer in their black leather
boarding caps strapped with steel. looking
like demons. with boarding pixies. muskets,
battle axes, pistols and cutlasses. The YES
sci soon became one broad sheet of fire.
the red glare OF which strangely contrasted
with the brilliant light of the moon. now
riding high in id-heaven. Shrieks and
yells. orders and oaths, amid the clang Of
sabres. were heard on both sides through
the din and roar OF the musketry. Again
and again the enemy, led by their officers.
attempted to gain the decks of the priva-
teer but were repulsed az all times with I'M
mense loss. The battle now ragged with the
greatest fury. The Americans fought with
tho desperation of ilends. Making n last
desperate effort TO board. the enemy gained
the spritsail-yard and bowsprit Of the
privateer. and were pressing their
way TO her decks, when the Ameri-
can sailors. welding their battle-aXes
with the skin and might of knight OF old.
drove back highlands best and bravest
men with horrid slaughter. The second
lieutenant Of tho Armstrong. Mr.. Alex. o.
Williams. was killed at this moment while
CALAMITY leading on his forward division;
and the third lieutenant. NJ. Robert John
son. also fell dangerously wounded. At the
same instant Capt. Reid, who commanded
the after division, was engaged beating o n
two large launches. the men and officers o.
which had succeeded in climbing up the
sided Of the privateer. One OF the latter.
the first lieutenant OF the Plantagenet, had
engaged Capt. Reid in hand-to-
Qhnu DRnJ WIN culld-Stss anu once
or twice came near ovCrpowering him.
Capt. Reid being left handed used
his right in firing pistols. which the
powder boys handed him, while he contin-
ued 10 fight with the British Lieutenant
with his lott hand. disdaning TO shoot down
his adversary. At last. the British lieuten-
ant. making Il TENT. brought down n desper-
ate blow. which Capt. Reid had just time TO
break the force o. cutting the Captain
slightly across the head. and nearly sever
ing his thumb and foIeiinger. Before the
Fnglishman could recover. Can't. Reid
struck him down. and he fell back "a corpse
into the boat.
II was at this critical juncture that Cap
tain Reid was informed OF the death of his
second lieutenant and that his third
lieutenant was badly wounded. Hav-
ing succeeded in beating the boats Oft
the quarter and thus left the only officer
on the deck. he perceived that the fire had
slackened on the iorecastle. At once rally
ing the whole OF the after division. they
rushed forward with "a shout and opened
fire. while be ordered the forward division
10 hcave cold Shot into the boats and sink
them. as those men were out OF cartridges.
The enemy, appalled, with CONSERVATION
and dismay. fell back 10 their boats and
retreated. when Captain Reid, bringing the
Long Tom TO bear upon them. fired the
gun himself (Which flew off the carriage) +.
doing fearful destruction, and ending in the
total defeat Of the British. Teen il was
that Captain Reid cried out, Now is the
time. my boys. 10 cheer" and three wild.
enthusiastic cheers re-echoed over the bay
| from shore TO shore. The Americans
among the crowd on the beach hailed the
| privatcer. and asked ii Captain Reid was
| safe. and. being answered in the affirmative.
| gave three tremendous cheers in return.
The scene which now presented itself was
! one of indescribable horror. The silvered
waters of the bay were crimsoned with
blood. Dark forms OF numerous dead bodies
floated around on every side. while the
| groans and death shrieks OF the wounded
| struggling around the boats pierced the
very air. Many of the boats had been sunk.
| Two large launches belonging to the lrigate
| Rota lay alongside the privateer, with two
other boats. literally loaded with their own
| dead. In boat belonging to the Plan
| tHgenet all were killed save four. In an
other boat which had contained ility souls.
| but one solitary officer escaped. and he was
| wounded. -Four boats ilouted ashore full
| of dead bodies. Some OF the boats were
| left with but a single man. while others had
| but three or four 10 row them. The ter
mination was nearly a total massacre. This
action lasted about forty minutes. The
| English force. estimating forty men 10 q
| boat. was about $50 men. The English
I themselves acknowledged "A loss In this at
tack Of 100 killed and 130 wounded. but il
must have been tar create The loss o.
the Americans in tnis action was but two
| killed AMI six wounded
The deck OF the Armstrong. which was In
such confusion and slippery with human
q sk.