Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-10-24
The Battle OF Fayal.
HOW 1T WAS WON BY THE BRIG
GENERAL ARMSTRONG.

HOW 1T WAS WON BY THE BRIG
GENERAL ARMSTRONG.
1t is somewhat singular that but
one or two of the school histories OF
the United States have ever made
any mention of the famous battle OF
Fayal, and consequently it is but lit.
tie known to the present generation,
The result OF this battle proved OF
the greatest Importance to our coun-
try at large. 1t was one Of the most
desperate, romantic, and heroic sea.
fights that ever occurred on the
ocean. 1t won distinction for the
chivalrous character of American
prowess. 1t shed lustre of glory
over the land, and added to our ma
tional history one Of its most bril-
liant pages.
war with England in 1914 that the
reverses which had attended our
arms on land, the bankrupt condi.
tion of the government, and the cap
ture and burning of Washington,
our national capital, on the oath of
August 1914, had thrown a general
gloom and dependency over the
country-it was under these circum
stances that the news of the battle
of Fayal, and the extraordinary vic.
tory of the private-armed brig Gem
eral Armstrong over the superior
force of British squadron, sent a
thrill of joy and enthusiasm through
the hearts Of the American people.
The Armstrong was little brigan-
tine of only two hundred and forty
six tons, manded by Captain
Samuel Chester Reid, and manned
with six long mines, with Long
Tom," a forty-two FOUNDER, amid
ships, and a total crew of ninety
men and officers.
The attack on Washington was
only intended as demonstration to
cover the real design of England for
the conquest of Louisiana and the
territory west of the Mississippi,
which for one hundred years she had
tried to wrest from France. For
this purpose she was assembling her
hosts of battleships and vete-
ran troops at the West Indian Island
of Jamaica. On the 10Th of Sep.
tember Admiral Sir Thomas Coch-
rane, Earl of Dundonold, who COM
mauded his great fleet of fifty war
ships, sailed from Chesapeake to ia
maica, there to await the arrival of
the squadron of Commodore Robert
Lloyd, which was on It's way from
On the 9th of September, ten DAYS
before Admiral Cochrane left the
Chesapeake, the fleet-winged Arm
strong ran the gauntlet of the block
ade of the British warships off Sandy
Hook, and at noon on the Goth of
put into the bay of the
Azorian Island of Fayal for water.
About sunset the same day hove
in sight the squadron of Commodore
Lloyd, consisting of the line-Of-bat
tie ship Plantagenet of seventy-four
guns, the frigate Rota of forty-four
guns. and the brig of-war Carnation
of eighteen guns, with a crew of
over two thousans men and officers.
Lloyd had been Informed by the pi-
lot out ut sea that the Armstrong was
In the bay, and although aware that
1t was a neutral port belonging to
Portugal was determined, in viola
tion of the laws of nations, to cap
ture the Armstrong as a most useful
adjunct In the expedition against
New Orleans.
AT eight p. M. four large launches
with sixty armed men in each COM
menced the attack. They were
driven of with great slaughter after
a severe conflict, having cried for
quarter, and their boats being in a
condition.
1t was midnight. The silvery
sheen of brilliant September moon
up the bay, the hills, and the
sea walls of the town Of Da Horta.
On the opposite island, about four
miles distant, the towering peak of
Mt. Pico looked down upon the bat
tie scene below. Fourteen large
launches opened their fire, surround
ing and boarding the Armstrong;
Her decks ran with human gore.-
Amid the roar and smoke of guns
and the clash Of steel we're heard
the shrieks Of the dying and wounded
then the battle-cry and the shout
of victory rang out, re-echoed over
the hills and valleys of Horta, Many
OF the gunboats were sunk, others
filled with their own dead. The
white-capped waves were crimsoned
with the blood of England's brayest
and best.
= The American flag still fioated de-
family at the peak of the General
Armstrong, which now lay close un.
der the guns of the castle of Santa
Cruz. AT daybreak the sun rose on
the morning of the 9th to witness
another scene of slaughter and de-
feat Of the British forces. The Car
nation, of eighteen guns, now en-.
gagged the Armstrong, opening broad
side after broadside. "Long Tomn
was doing splendid execution. The
of the Carnation soon
fell by the board. SO great was the
loss Of her men and officers that she
was forced TO retire. Deeming all
further resistance fruitless Captain
Reid, to prevent the capture of his
vessel, scuttled her near the beach,
and went ashore with his heroic
crew. The British, in revenge, then
set her on fire, and the Armstrong
blew up in blaze of glory. In the
three engagements the British loss
was two hundred and ten killed and
one hundred and forty wounded.
The American loss was but two killed
and seven wounded.
The wonderful battle of the Arm
strong resulted in so great delay of
the squadron that consequently the
fleet at Jamaica did not effect land
ing from the British troopships until
four days after the arrival Of Gen.
eral Jackson, which enabled him to