Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-20
LONG TOM BROUGHT.
Arrival of the Famous Gun OF tho Gene
raj Armstrong.

The famous gun, Long Tom" which
PLAYED such part in the history OF this
country in the war of 1919. arrived in New
York late Tuesday night on board the
Portuguese steamship Vega, Captain Rosa.
from Lisbon ria the Azore Islands. The
Vega came into port with her decks cover
ed with snow.
Long Tom is 42-pouGder, and
did great service for the Union while
mounted on the private armed brig Gene
raj Armstrong. The gun was brought
over from Fayal where 1t had been
mounted in the castle of Santa Cruz for
the last seventy-nine years.
1t was the intention of this government
10 send one Of our ships of war over for
the gun. bat az no war-ship was available
Messrs. Bensaude 4 Co., of the lnsuIar-
Navigation Steamship Company Of LISBON,
offered TO bring il over free of charge, and
the proposition was accepted.
This relic of the last war with England
was once part Of the armament OF the
French line.of-battle ship iloche, which
was captured IN October. 179s, by British
squadron under Sir John b. Warren and
sent into an English port. where sho was
dIsmantled. Her armament was after
ward sold. her main battery OF i2-pound-
ers bong purchased by John b. Murray.
OF New York. who then happened 10 be IN
England, and was shipped to New York.
These guns were subsequently sold 10 the
United States Government and mounted
in the harbor Of New York. One gun OF
this battery, the present Long Tom"
was rejected on account Of an indentation
ut tine muzzle caused by a solid shot. and
was retained bv Nr. Murray. who had II
reamed out so as not to affect the bore.
Mr.. Maury, by "A contract with the En-
peror OF Hayti, fitted out three vessels Of
war g: New York IN 1904 for the defence Of
that island in the conflict with France,
one of which was the Sampson, Captain
Palmer. OF fourteen guns. and the rejected
Long Ton" was mounted on PIVOT
on the forward deck and did great execu-
tiOn in the conflict with the French pTiya-
teers.
The Sampson afterward returned 70 New
York and was d,sarmed. IL Long Tom W
being dismounted. and It lay idle until
war was declared against England IN l5l2
on TIE ARMSTRONG.
While the forces Of Engiaud's mighty
hosts we're concentrating 10 strike a blow
20 conquer Louisiana and the South 1t
tie brigantiue Of only 245 tons. called the
General Armstrong, was being rohtted
and renamed for a cruise against tho enc
my. her commander was Captain Samuel
long mines with Long Tom amldShips,
making seven guns, with a total crew OF
ninety men and officers.
The Armstrong ran through the block
ade of the British on the night Of Septem-
Der 9, 1914.
On September 2G. 1914. at noon. the
Armstrong ran into the bay of the town IF
Horta. III the island Of Fayal, 10 refill with
water.
At sundown British squadron under
Commodore Robert Lloyd hove IN sight,
being on It's way 10 reinforce Cochrano' ;
fleet at Jamaica.
There was q tremendous encounter. in
which the little priyateer fought the entire
squadron. The Americans would not sur
render, and after their vessel was rendered
helpless they retreated TO the shore IN good
order. Long Tom" did terrible work.
II took the English ten days to buly their
dead. Their loss numbered 800 killed and
wounded. while the American loss was
ouiy two killed and seven wounded.
The British fleet was DELAYED SO long at
Fayal that the movement against Louis
iona proved unsuccessful General Jack
son being able 10 win the memorable bat
tie M New Orleans. Long Tom has
laid dIsmantled in tayal for nearly a quar-
ter OF century.
Tie return of the gun to the United
states was arranged through Colonel Sam
uel G. Reid. Of this city, who was IN Fayal
in 1890. Colonel Reid IS the SON Of the
commander of the Armstrong lie went "a
Fayal with aview Of obtaining sketch Of
the harbor and bny for his work on the
memoirs Of his father. When he visited
the castle OF Santa Cruz he saw Long
Tom" On his return 10 Washington he
induced President Harrison 10 cause our
then Minister To Lisbon. General Batchel-
Ter. to be instructed TO request the trans
fer OF the gun % this government, 70
winch the King OF Portugal, Dom Carlos
I consented