CHAPTER XI.

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CAPTAIN REID'S CRUISE-ARRIVAL AT FAYAL-ACCOUNT OF HIS GALLANT DEFENCECOPY OF A LETTER FROM THE AMERICAN CONSUL AT FAYAL TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT WASHINGTON-CAPTAIN REID'S ARRIVAL AT SAVANNAH-HIS RECEPTION AT THAT PLACE-PUBLIC DINNER GIVEN HIM AT RICHMOND, VA.-TOASTS, ETC.-CONTINUATION OF PRIZES AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF PEACE-ESCAPE OF THE PRIVATEER-BRIG WARRIOR FROM A BRITISH FRIGATE AND A SEVENTY-FOUR''--SHE ARRIVES AT NEW YORK-BRIG TAGUS, FROM SMYRNA, CAPTURED BY THE LETTER-OFMARQUE BRUTUS, OF BOSTON BRITISH PACKET WINDSOR CASTLE, FROM FALMOUTH, ENGLAND, FOR HALIFAX, CAPTURED BY THE ROGER AND SENT INTO NORFOLK-TRANSPORTSHIP MOSELY, CAPTURED BY THE LETTER-OF-MARQUE RAMBLER, AND SENT TO BOSTON -BRITISH BRIG BOURWAN, FROM PENANG, WITH A VALUABLE CARGO, CAPTURED BY THE JACOB JONES, AND SENT TO BOSTON-EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE PRIVATEER MC DONOUGH, AT MORLAIX, FRANCE-PRIVATEERS PREPARING FOR SEA, WHEN THE NEWS OF PEACE ARRIVES IN THE UNITED STATES

CRUISE AND CAPTURE OF THE PRIVATEER-BRIG GENERAL ARMSTRONG, SAMUEL C. REID, COMMANDER.

Captain Reid sailed from Sandy Hook on the 9th of September, 1814, bound on a cruise. On the same night after leaving port, Captain Reid was chased by a British frigate, and a ship of the line. He outsailed them both, when at noon the next day, they thought proper to give up the chase. On the 11th, two days after leaving port, he boarded the private armedschooner Perry, six days from Philadelphia. The Perry had thrown all her guns overboard, being hard pressed by the enemy. The next day, on the 12th, Captain Reid exchanged a few shots with a British man-of-war brig, and then proceeded on his course. On the 24th, boarded a Spanish brig and a schooner, and also a Portuguese ship, all from Havana. He allowed them all to proceed on their respective courses. On the 26th of

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September, Captain Reid came to anchor in the Fayal Roads, for the purpose of filling up water, and obtaining refreshments. From this date I shall leave the brave captain to tell his own story; here follows the relation of that gentleman :

"I called on the American Consul, who very politely ordered our water immediately sent off, it being our intention to proceed to sea early the next day. At 5 P. M. I went on board, the Consul and some other gentlemen in company. I asked some questions concerning the enemy's cruisers, and was told there had been none at these Islands for several weeks, when about dusk, while we were conversing, the British brig Carnation, suddenly hove in sight, close under the N.E. head of the harbor, within gun-shot. When first discovered, the idea of getting under way was instantly suggested, but finding the enemy's brig had the advantage of a breeze, and but little wind with us, it was thought doubtful if we should be able to get to sea without hazarding an action. I questioned the Consul to know, if in his opinion the enemy would regard the neutrality of the port? He gave me to understand I might make myself perfectly easy, assuring me at the same time, they would never molest us while at anchor. But no sooner did the enemy's brig understand from the pilot-boat who we were, than she immediately hauled close in, and let go her anchor within pistol-shot of us. At the same moment the Plantagenet and frigate Rota, hove in sight, to whom the Carnation instantly made signals, and a constant interchange, took place for some time.

"The result was, the Carnation proceeded to throw out all her boats; dispatched on board the Commodore, and appeared otherwise to be making unusual exertions. From these circumstances, we began to suspect their real

intentions. The moon was near its full, which enabled us to observe them very minutely, and I now determined to haul in nearer the shore.

"Accordingly, after clearing for action, we got under way, and began to sweep in. The moment this was observed by the enemy's brig, she instantly cut her cable, made sail, and dispatched four boats in pursuit of us. Being now about 8 P. M., as soon as we saw the boats approaching, we let go our anchor, got springs on our cable, and prepared to receive them. I hailed them repeatedly as they drew near, but they felt no inclination to reply. Sure of their game, they only pulled up with the greater speed. I observed the boats were well manned, and apparently as well armed; and as soon as they had cleverly got alongside, we opened our fire, which was as soon returned; but meeting with rather a warmer reception than they had probably been aware of, they very soon cried out for quarters, and hauled off. In this skirmish I had one man killed, and my first lieutenant wounded. The enemy's loss must have been upward of twenty killed and wounded.

"They had now repaired to their ships to prepare for a more formidable attack. We, in the interim, having taken the hint, prepared to haul close into the beach, where we moored head and stern, within half pistol-shot of the castle. This done, we again prepared, in the best possible manner, for their second reception.

"About 9 P.M. we observed the enemy's brig towing in a large fleet of boats. They soon after left the brig, and took their station in three divisions, under cover of a small reef of rocks, within about musket shot of us. Here they continued manoeuvring for some time, the brig still keeping under way to act with the boats, should we at any time attempt our escape.

"The shores were lined with the inhabitants, waiting the expected attack; and from the brightness of the moon, they had a most favorable view of the scene. The Governor, with most of the first people of the place, stood by and saw the whole affair. At length, about midnight, we observed the boats in motion (our crew having laid at quarters during the whole of this interval). They came on in one direct line, keeping in close order, and we plainly counted twelve boats. As soon as they came within proper distance we opened our fire, which was warmly returned from the enemy's carronades, and small arms. The discharge from our long-tom rather staggered them; but soon reconnoitring, they gave three cheers and came on most spiritedly. In a moment. they succeeded in gaining our bow and starboard quarter, and the word was board. Our great guns now becoming useless, we attacked them sword in hand, together with our pikes, pistols and musketry, from which our lads poured on them a most destructive fire.

"The enemy made frequent and repeated attempts to gain our decks, but were repulsed at all times, and at all points, with the greatest slaughter. About the middle of the action, I received intelligence of the death of my second lieutenant; and soon after of the third lieutenant, badly wounded. From this and other causes, I found our fire had much slackened on the forecastle, and fearful of the event, I instantly rallied the whole of our after-division, who had been bravely defending, and now had succeeded in beating the boats off the quarters. They gave a shout, rushed forward, opened a fresh fire, and soon after decided the conflict, which terminated in the total defeat of the enemy, and the loss of many of their boats; two of which belonged to the Rota, we took possession of them, literally loaded with their own

dead. Seventeen only escaped from them both, who swam to the shore. In another boat, under our quarter, commanded by one of the lieutenants of the Plantagenet, all were killed

saving four. This I have from the lieutenant himself, who further, told me that he jumped overboard to save his own life.

The duration of the action was about 40 minutes. Our decks were now found in much confusion, our longtom dismounted, and several of our gun-carriages broken; many of our crew having left the vessel, and others disabled. Under these circumstances, however, we succeeded in getting long-tom in his berth, and the decks cleared, in order for a fresh action, should the enemy attack us again before daylight.

"About 3 A.M. I received a message from the American Consul, requesting to see me on shore, where he informed me the Governor had sent a note to Captain Lloyd, begging him to desist from further hostilities. To which Captain Lloyd sent for answer, that he was now determined to have the privateer at the risk of knocking down the whole town; and that if the Governor suffered the Americans to injure the privateer in any manner, he should consider the place an enemy's port, and treat it accordingly. Finding this to be the case, I considered all hope of saving our vessel to be at an end. I therefore went on board, and ordered all our wounded and dead to be taken on shore, and the crew to save their effects as fast as possible. Soon after this it became daylight, when the enemy's brig stood close in, and commenced a heavy fire on us with all her force. After several broadsides she hauled off, having received a shot in her hull, her rigging much cut, and her fore-top-mast wounded (of this I was informed by the British Consul). She soon after came in again, and anchored close to the