The Washington herald., 1913-03-20
CHESTER TELLS
OF SEA Fight
Describes Naval Engagement
Between Gen Armstrong
and British Squadron.
CAPT. REED Is PRAISED
American Privateer Thought to Have
Prevented Re-enforcements from
Reaching New Orleans.

Rear Admiral Colby NJ. Chester last
night told the story Of what he regarded
as one of the most glorious events in the
annals of the American navy. The fight
of the American privateer. Gen. Arm
strong, commanded by Samuel Chester
Reed, the last naval engagement of the
war Of 1H2. was the subject of the ad-
mirars remarks at the regular meeting
Of the District of Columbia Society of the
Sons of the American Revolution At
Rauschers.
Although little of this wonderful naval
engagement in the harbor Of Fayal. of
the Azores. is generally known. the in
domitable spirit of the gallant command
er and his little crew in the face of terri
BILE odds made Gen. Jackson's victory at
New Orleans possible. said the admiral
The little American privateer delayed the
attacking British squadron, with its 1000
re-enforcements for New Orleans, until
too late.
Admiral Chester said that the engage
ment between the American privateer,
with its complement Of some ninety men,
and the attacking British squadron Of
-FOUR sloops-of-war, carrying 1000 men
to aid British operations against New
Orleans, was the most brilliant naval dual
OF our history. Capt. Reed fought his
little band in defense of the Gen Arm
strong until literally crushed by the au-
perior force of the enemy. He then or
dered his ship scuttled. and, although in
neutral harbor. found it necessary to
shut himself and command in an old
castle on the island in order to defend
the liberty of himself and men. Admiral
chester closed with the expressed wish
that the story of this brilliant sea fight
might be more often told to the chill
dren of the country.
Col Gilbert C. Kniffen. president of
the society. presided for the first time
since his election at last nights meet
ing. Several musical numbers preceded
Rear Admiral Chester's address. At the
conclusion Of the meeting a buffet lunch
con was served.
The following was prasent at the
meeting:
Col. Gilbert c. Knifren. president of the
society; Admiral Chester, Albert j. Gore.
Horace NJ. Fulton, E. B. Stocking, A. G.
Stockton. Merritt l.. Dawkins, ]. G.
Greenawalt, F. Morris Husband, Capt z.
A. kreidler, William A. Domer, John B.
Torbert. Fred D. Owen. ]. Med. Stewart.
NJ l. Finley, jr., DR.. Thomas S. Childs,
\. T. Saunders, R. n. Tallman. DIR. T.
j. w. Brown, Admiral G.. n. Baird,
Philip Walker. William L. Marsh, c. c.
Magruder. jr.. III. W. Selah. F. w. Stone,
w. A. Whitaker. Edward NJ Dawson, E.
a. Hill, John E Fenwick, Joseph n. Ben
A
Caindry, Albert D. Spangler. H. B. Jones,
A. Howard Clark, secretary general, Ma
tional Society, G. A. R.; A. ]. Chapman.
Daniel w. Howe, J. G. Johnson, ]. S.
Bukey, w. V. Cox, DIR. W. A Jack, c.
w. Sinnell, Emery Cox, John S. Barker,
Zebina Moses. W. A. Miller, A. B. Ben
nett. DIR. William Donnelly, W. Frank
Clark, A. r. Wingate, c. V Haskell. P.
A. Ridout, W. L. Brown, W. r. Hillyer,
Thomas Harrison, r. s. Moore. Robert T.
Frailey. DR.. NJ. F. Finley. A. NJ. Wheeler,
Joseph l. keefer, W. NJ. Hannay. H. X.
Bush-Brown. o. c. Luxford. A. Howard
Clark, G. F. Jewell, Henry P. Holden,
George c. Maynard, c. NJ. Bryant
a. Howard Clark. A. ]. Chipman, DR..
F. A. Swartwout. Daniel w. Howe, |
n. B. Tibbetts, F. S. Greenwalt, DIR. |
J. u. Smith. Charles E. Fairman, P. |
H. Quinn, r. Z. Auld, H. C. Beck, c. |
E. Emig. Benjamin F. Larcombe, c. |
Vaughan. DR.. Fenton Bradford, S. H. |
Cunningham, George Topham, Sidney |
l. Besselievre, William S. Torbert, H. |
w. Wells. DR.. L. B. Thompson, Ben
jamin S. Graves. Frank G. Butts, r. |
P. Hawes, William s. Parks. j. G. |
d. W. Lord, c. NJ. Batter, DR.. |
b. II. Harrison. Selden NJ. Ely, DIR. |
L. c. Rice. John Paul Ernest, William !
II. Walker. c. S. Bradley. Harry B. |
Pitts. F. c. Rose, C. N. Gregory. F. |
w. Graham, NJ. II. Avery, Walter Mil |
Ter, Frank Martin, l.. A. Merritt, DR.. |
Vaughan. George A. Howe, John H. !
Magruder. James Z. Bagley, Col |
George A. Armes, C. c. Tyler, N. H. |
Dodge. Robert A. Smith. and DR.. H.