Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-07-22

liant one to keep bright for his vessel. The
ports of Azores had not seen British
cruiser for months, and the American con-
sui assured the gallant tar that he was
safe from attack under Portuguese protec-
ton. The food and water were hoisted on
board about dark and the schooner was
left ut anchor for an early sail next day.
AS night closed in British vessel was
seen rounding point to enter the harbor,
within gunshot. While the American cap
tain and the consul stood on the schooner's
1eck watching the Brton, two other YES
sells hove in sight, and vigorous signal
ing took place between the strangers. The
consul insisted that no enemy would at
tack vessel anchored in neutral port,
and owing to prevailing calm Reid de-
cided not to attempt to escape, though the
odds would be against him in a fight
The British vessels were in fact the adj
vance of squadron bound for America to
aid in attacking New Orleans. They were
the flagship Plantagenet of seventy-four
guns; the frigate Rota. forty-four, and the
brig Carnatiou, eighteen, carrying lit
tie army of sailors and soldiers-about
2,0CO men. The Carnation, leading off,
boldly anchored within pistol shot of the
privateer, having learned her character
from the Fayal pilots After some signal
ing she began to throw out boats and take
on very busy airs. Seeing this. Reid de-
cided to warp his schooner to shore under
the guns of the castle of the Portuguese
governor of the island.
The moon was bright and nothing could
be concealed The decks of the privateer
were closed for action and the Carnatlop,
suspecting the Yankees purpose of hug
ging the shore for protection, cut her cable,
made sail and sent four boats loaded with
men to pursue the schooner. Reid was in
trim to receive his enemies, but he first
hailed them and warned them, without,
however, receiving reply His vessel
carried seven guns and ninety men. One
gun was a Long Tom, II large center can
non on a pivot. The Armstrong was owned
by Samuel Adams, was we'll equipped and
ore of the stanchest and most formidable
of her kind 1t was Reds first cruise in
her, but he had seen service in the regular
navy, and was a fighting skipper by blood
and training.
The British launches held about forty
men each, and as they drew near to the Yam
kee the oarsmen answered the chal lenges
from her decks by pulling at higher speed.
Finding that the Britons ignored his sig
nal, Reid opened fire with the Long Tom
and with muskets The volley was re
turned from the boats and one seaman
and the second lieutenant on the privateer
were wounded. The men in the boats
shouted for quarter at the second Yankee
volley and hauled off,
Reid went on undisturbcd and moored
his vessel within pistol shot of the Portu-
guese castle. The decks were prepared for
the hottest action, for the skirmish had
| been just CORY enough to rouse the British
ire In a short time after the four launches
retreated to the Carnation the whole fleet
was astir and more launches filled with
men were lowed up under cover of IA ledge
of rocks within short range of the prva-
teer The huge warshps stood by over
towering the little schooner and hemming
her up in the narrow harbor During the
whole evening the preparations were
pushed for battle, and the sloping, semi
circular shores were lined with people who
waited for the spectacle under favorable
moonlit sky.
About midnight the British Launches
moved slowly from their cover and paraded
to the number of fourteen in one long
line, keeping close order They were
rowed steadily toward the Armstrong, and
when within gunshot the crew Of the pri
vateer who all this time lay resting at
quarters. greeted them with "a stunning
volley. The Long Tom made terribl,
havoc and for a moment the boats helC
up, the line broke and all was in cOnfu
sion However, some of the assailant'
were unhurt, and they answered the Yam
kee fire with muskets and carronades.