The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-02-06

to the last. No predictions were
made as to the result,-no loud talk
was INDUCED, and there was not a
single haste or confusion; but in low
firm tones tie men spoke to each
other when necessary; and every one
felt a perfect confidence in the ship
mate by his side. This mutual conf
dence does wonderful things in battle.
The launches being so numerous, it
was Of Importance to open upon them
before they should have approached
very near; and so while they were yet
thirty or forty rods distant. though
quite distinct in the moonlight,
bang went the long thirty two.
The aim had been at one Of the boats
in particular; but the shot evidently
missed her, for she kept on with the
others Perhaps the great cannon
bali, with its accompanying grape,
| had passed close to the mems heads.
In half minute the gun was re
| loaded, and it again went off. the eff
feet was watched for most intently.
There was a sharp crash and ali be
came confusion on board the boat
The sounds indicated that oars and
muskets were flung wildly about, and
| that some Of the men he'd dropped
eoverboard probably knocked sheer
over the gunTale by the heavy cannon
shot.
Without an instant's delay third
charge was rammed into the great
gun; and now the nine FOUNDER open
ed also. and the musketry too. The
Americans sprang to their work with
heart and hand, loading and firing
with all possible rapidity.
The enemy divided their force in
order to board on the bow and quarter
at once, and also to avoid as much as
practicable the fire from the broad
side guns. But everywhere they met
with fierce blaze right in their faces.
The course displayed by those stub
born Englishmen, as again and again
they pulled up close to this flaming
furnace Of death, was admirable to
the last degree.
All the launches kept up a prodig
Gus fire of swivels, howitZers and mus
kets, and the voice of the British Off
GERS could be heard encouraging the
poor fellows whom they had led to
slaughter, and urging the attack.
The cOmbatants were wholly invis
ible to each other, and guided only
by the reports and flashes Of the guns;
for the smoke had become so thick
that a man could not be distinguished
fifty feet off. The howitzers, the
swivels, the nine Founders, the mus
lets. were all going at once; and at
surprisingly short intervals the shock
of the great thirty two could be heard
over the whole, as the dreadful pivot
gun sent out its tremendous charge,
Two of the launches got fairly along
side the vessel, and their crews at
tempted to board; but Captain Reid
met them at the bulwarks with his
sabre and as those of the crew who
were not engaged with the cannon
rushed to his support with fixed bay
onets, the assailants We're obliged to
give back.
The crisis Of the battle was now
passed; and in a few minutes all of the
launches which were not disabled, nine
in number, retieated. leaving five Of
| the original f.urteen, utter wrecks
| in the harbor. their surviving men
having been taken ont of them.
Some CT these boats drifted along
side the privateer, and the spectacle
they presented was horrible. Their
sides and bows were stove III, their
| thwarts splintered, their oars lying
broken and confused; while, IN each,
a dozen or fifteen men lay dead in the
mixture of blood and water that
swashed about III her. Some lay
across the thwarts, and others We're
piled in the bottom.
In the midst Of the fight, the Port
uguese governor had sent off re
monstrance to Captain Lloyd of the
Plantagenet: but tho Englishman's
only reply was that he would have the
privateer at the risk of knocking down
the town Of Villa Orta,
Still, knowing that the whole affair
was an outrage. the British command
er felt little delicate about coming
in with his ships.
In short time the Carnation took
| up q position at the mouth OF the
harbor. and opened fire on the Arm
| strong. The distance, however, being
considerable. the pivot-thirtytwo OF
the privateer had decided advantage
over the frigate's eighteens; and the
result was that at the end of half al
hour. the Briton. with his ship badly
cut up. hauled out of range to plug
his shot-holes and repair his spars
At close quarters. he could have sunl
the American brig in ten minutes, but
he had probably received orders from
his superior not to approach near t
the town.
Captain Lloyd doubtless reasoned
that if the harbor were to be entered
by the shipping at all, it should bt
done with a display of the whole force
as by this means he might hope tC
intimidate the Portuguese authorities
ard put any interference on the par
of the fort out of the question.
Accordingly, the next movement o
, the enemy showed all their three
: ships standing in toward the town
It now became abundantly evlden
2 that this fierce scene Of attack and re
, sistance was near its close The Arm
strong coule not fight half the British
navy: ana preparations were at onc'
! made to abandon her
A number OF shots. however. as tn
; squadron approached, We're fired from
= her pivot gun, all taking effect upoI
5 the Plantagenet: for, though tn
/ fight was now hopeless, it was de
termined to give the enemy as mucI
r trouble as possible.
$! But finally, setting fire to the brig