The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-15
THE DEWEY OF 1912.
All Effortc to Erect Monument to
 Him Have Failed.

All is ephemSral-fame ana the famous as well.-Marcus Aurelius.
 F Fame, the fickle hussy. seems deter mined that Captain Samuel Chester Reid, a Brooklyn man who was famous in the War of 1872, and who served his country with honor after that historic struggle, shall be forgotten. Indeed, she seems to have a special spite against Captain Reid, for every one of the numerous efforts that have been made to place some sort of a monument over his grave has come to naught Not only that, but the very memory of the man seems to have been so completely wiped out that the mem bers of the patriotic societies have to be told who Captain Reid was and what he did. So his dust holders in an un- marked grave in Greenwood Cemetery. Yet Captain Samuel Chester Reid fought battle in the Harbor of Fayal that was not unworthy to be compared with Dew ey's enga cement in Manila Bay. And Captain Reid's defeat after an extraordi- narily long fight against overwhelming odds had an effect that was almost af important to the nation at that day as Dewey's victory did in his day.
 The fact that Captain Reid's grave ii unmarked by even the plainest of head stones Is interesting, because of the nu merous spasmodic attempts to have monument in that lonely spot in Green wood Cemetery where he lies. Some peo- pie are mean enough to say that, taking into consideration what Captain Reid did. the almost complete ignorance among the numerous patriotic societi $ which have as the excuse for their existence the war of 1872, Captain Reids famous fight is even more interesting. However, 1t must be said that such -emarks are invariably made by outsiders. It is only fair to add that ignorance of Captain Reid's exploit has been shown by rather extended in- quiries to be even more general outside of the societies than in them. As the effort to have a monument erected to the mem- ory of Captain Reid seems to come at regular intervals and as the period for new effort is now about due it may not be out of place to tell what Captain Reid did and what efforts have been made to have monument to him erect ed.
 It was on the evening of September g. 1s14 that Captain Reid got under way in the General Armstrong, and under cover of night passed Sandy Hook and lodged past the blockading force of Cap tain John Hayes, which was supposed to have closed the port of New York Few American vessels have had such a distinguished career as the private schooner, General Armstrong. She was fitted out in 1913. right here in New York by Jenkins & Havens. a shipping firm famous in its day, and named for John Armstrong. the Secretary of War. She was fortunate in her commanders, having been before this voyage under Captain Reid commanded by Capt Guy R. Champlin for nearly a year. It was a strenuous year iIf which the General Armstrong became famous for the value of the prizes which she took and for the obstinacy of several of her engagements with heavily armed vessels. Captain Reid had her reputation to maintain and he did 1t royalty.
 After a not altogether eventless pass age Captain Reid dropped anchor in Fayal Roads on the afternoon of Sep tember 26, for the purpose of getting water and provisions. Hoping to be able to put to sea early the following morn- ing he called on John Dabney first of the Dabney family, who were apparently hereditary United States consuls to Fayal for the better part of a century. He inquired the whereabouts of British cruis- CTS known to be in that part of the world. He was told that no British warships had visited the Azores for several weeks. But that very afternoon, while Dabney and some other American gentlemen, re- turning Captain Reids call, were still chatting on the privateers quarterback, a war brig suddenly hove in sight. AL ready she was in gunshot, and, as there was but little wind. and upon inquiry Captain Reid was assured that she would respect the neutrality of the port Ohe Azores were then, as now, Portugese possessions), he decided that 1t was uss- less as well as dangerous to attempt to dash past, with the 'dea of leading her a long chase at sea, and remained where he was
 The war brig was the Carnation, eigh- teen guns, Captain George Bentham in command. Within an hour she was joined by the seventy-four gun ship of the line Plantagenet. Vaptain Robert Lloyd, and the thirty-eight gunfrigate Rota, Cap tain Philip Somerville. These vessels had all told a force of more than 2,OO0 men And it was soon evident that they in tended to attack the General Armstrong; which carried only seven guns and go men, in spite of the fact that both na- tionalities were enjoying the hospitality of neutral port. The battle was one of the most remarkable naval battles on record, lasting for more than twenty four hours. Captain Reid was at last com pelled to scuttle his ship to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy, but he lost only men Killed ana ( wounded, while the British owned to a loss of 63 killed and 110 wounded, which is believed to be a conservative estimate.
 The battle was begun at night. under a full moon, which revealed every move ment of the opposing vessels with the greatest distinctness. It was opened by the Carna ton, which got out all her boats and sent them to the ship, of the line. From which Captain Reid gathered that he might expect a night attack with small boats. He accordingly cleared for action and began to sweep in shore, at which the Carnatlon cut her cables and made sail Almost immediately four boats were lowered and sent in pursuit of the General Armstrong. Captain Reid dropped anchor and, bringing his broad side to bear, warne6 the boats to keep off or he would fire This summons. re- peated several times, was disregarded by the British, and. as the boats were well manned and apparently heavily armed, and evidently intended an attack. Cap tain Reid ordered his men to open fire with their small arms and cannon.
 The boats promptly returned the fire, but the reception they met with was so unexpectedly warm that they soon cried for quarter, and hauled off in a badly crippled condition. Returning to their ships they prepared for more formidable attack, which came to a head about 9 o'clock. One again it was the Carnation or rather her boats which made the at tack, the other two vessels standing by to help when they should be needed. As early as o'clock her boats began to form hafr