Middletown transcript., 1898-07-30
lHE HERO OF FAYAL.

I
debted for the flag in its present form
lies in an unmarked grave in Green
wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, unknown,
W. honored and unsung p A pitiful
proof of the saying tha. republics are
ungratefnl. So complete has been this
furgesfulDess that il is only few
mouths since the exact place of his
burial was definitely determined. Yet
this man, Capt Samuel Chester Reid,
is not only credited with designing the
American flag in its present form, but
he is also famous as the hero Of one of
the most brilliant a Movements in the
naval history of the war of 1912. While
iu command of a privateer brig, the
Gen. Arm>trong, carrying only nine
guns and ninety men, CAPT. Reid so
disabled and delayed a British squadron
at Fayal. in the Azores Islands, on its
way to assist in the capture of New
Orleans, that when the enemy's vessels
did reach that city, Gen. Jackson's IA
nous victory over the British forces
had been historical fact for four Gays.
THE BATTLE OF FAYAL.
Capt. Reid's gallant battle against
overwhelming odds in the harbor Of
Fayal is without parallel in the naval
annals of the United States. On Sep
tember 20, lol4 while in the neutral
port of Fayal, in the Azores, he found
himself attacked by British squadron,
comprising the flagship Plantagenet,
the frigate Rota and the brig Carna-
tion, 1876 guns in all, and crews amount
ing to almost 1000 men. To oppose this
force Capt. Reid had only his nine guns
and ninety men, yet after two days.
fighting, when Reid scuttled his vessel
and took bis men ashore, the British
had 120 men killed and 1s0 wounded,
while the American loss was two men
killed and seven wounded.
Capt. Floyd, who commanded the
British squadron, began the attack
after dark, with fourteen launches filled
with men. The Americans opened
vigorous fire upon the approaching
boats, and aimed SO we'll that tne at
tacking party WIS thrown into great
confusion, and sought the protection Of
some rocks near by, where they re-
manned concealed for several hours. In
the meanwhile the Carnation, like the
Gen. Armstrong, being of light draft,
approached within range of the priva
teer, to be ready in case the latter
should endeavor to slip out to see.
At midnight the Americans saw the
British boats again approaching through
the bright moonlight, and as soon as
they were within gunshot continuous
and effective fire was poured into them
by Capt. Reid's en-. The British,
who had been firing from carronades
mounted in the bows of the launches,
returned spirited fire, but it was only
after suffering an immense loss that
they finally got alongside the American
vessel. They attempted to board the
latter from every side, encouraged by
the cries of their officers, who, enraged
at the terrible loss of life, shouted,
i" No quarter" The Americans with
pistols and long pixies, we're dealing out
vigorous blows in defense Of their ves-
sl. They had taken the precaution to
place netting about the brig, and ths
attacking party found themselves help
lessly entangled in it.
At daylight the Fayal authorities re
quested Capt. Floyd to stop further
hOstilities in the harbor. He replied
that he would have the privateer, aud
be noLified the Fayal authorities that
if they permitted the Americans to de-
stroy or injure the vessel, he would
wreak his vengeance upon the town.
When Capt. Reid heard of this threat
he had his dead and wounded taken
ashore, together with the most valuable
of the crews effects. and then he
coolly prepared for another attack. The
brig Carnation came within short
distance and poured broadside after
broadside into the Gen. Armstrong,
whose return FIRE was not effective, as
she had much smaller guns and only
half as many. Long Tom," the pri-
vateer's best gun. was finally brought
to bear on the British brig. The first
shot cut down her foremast, the second
started serious leak, and in short
time she was so badly injured that she
retired from the fight. The other
British vessels came to her aid, and
Capt. Reid, to avoid capture. scuttled
the privateer, and with his men ef capped
| in small boats to the shore.
TO HONOR THE GREAT CAP.
TAIN.
The only sign to-day that Capt. Reid
had aught to do with preserving the
beautiful proportions of the I" Star
Spangled Banner" is modest little
flag planted above his newly discovered
grave on Memorial day by the members
of Rankin Post. G. A. 3.
Capt. Reid was a sailing master in
the United States navy until his death,
serving at the same time as harbar
master and IS warden Of the port Of
New York. He was decidedly Of an
inventive turn of mind, and before the
days of the magnetic telegraph he in
vented semaphore system OF signaling
between the battery and the Narrows,
by means Of which the arrival Of ves-
Seis could be known in the city as soon
as they entered the lower harbor, He
established the irst lightship of Sandy
Hook, and be also regulated and num-
bered the pilot boats in New York