10 THE GENERAL ARMSTRONG'S ESCAPE. December 21 the Prince de Neufchâtel was captured by the British frigates Leander, Newcastle, and Acasta, then searching the seas for the Constitution, which had eluded them off Boston. halyards had been shot away and his colors were down, the Americans lost an excellent chance to deliver an effective blow. Supposing that the enemy had surrendered, Captain Champlin let slip the opportunity to rake the deck of the Englishman fore and aft with his longtom. By this time the Englishman had suffered heavily from the privateer's fire; but, as the wind now rose, the American ship luffed to northward, forereached her antagonist, and by the use of what sails were left and the sweeps gradually drew out of gunshot. In this action the American vessel lost 6 men killed and 16 wounded. Champlin then made for port and arrived at Charleston on April 4.* Another distinguished privateer was the General Armstrong, of New York, which was first brought prominently to the public attention by an action with an English ship off Surinam River, March 11, 1813. The vessel, then commanded by Captain Guy R. Champlin, was chased by the sloop-of-war Coquette, which he mistook for a letter of marque and approached with the intention of boarding. When within easy range, Champlin poured in his starboard broadside. and, wearing the ship, delivered his port fire also. Then for the first time the stranger revealed her strength; the covers of her ports were triced up in rapid succession until the Americans found themselves facing 14 guns on the main deck, 6 guns on the quarter deck, and 4 guns on the forecastle. Fortunately the American gunnery was superior, which in some degree offset the great disparity of forces. For 45 minutes. the General Armstrong lay within pistol shot of the Englishman, maintaining the unequal conflict in the hope that her antagonist would be disabled by some accident or by some lucky shot. When the enemy's gaff Lossing, War of 1812, p. 1001; Adams, United United States, vol. viii., pp. 207-210; Spears, History of Our Navy, vol. iii., pp. 202-204; Coggeshall, American Privateers, pp. 241-244. On When Champlin relinquished the command of the General Armstrong that vessel was placed in charge of Captain Samuel Chester Reid. the night of September 9, 1814, the General Armstrong ran the blockade at Sandy Hook and, after a long chase. by two of the blockading squadron, dropped anchor in Fayal Roads on the afternoon of September 26 to obtain water and fresh provisions.t Before the ship could put to sea the British war-brig Carnation, 18, under Captain George Bentham, hove in sight close to the northeast head of Coggeshall, American Privateers, pp. 105109; Maclay, American Privateers, pp. 484-488; States, vol. vii., pp. 326-327. See also the extract from the log in Niles' Register, vol. iv., p. 133. American State Papers, Naval Affairs, vol. i., p. 495. THE BATTLE IN FAYAL ROADS. the harbor. A few minutes after, the British 74-gun ship-of-the-line Plantagenet, under Captain Robert Lloyd, and the 38-gun frigate Rota, under Captain Philip Somerville, hove in sight, and the three ships began an exchange of signals. Certain that mischief was brewing, though the boats were in a neutral port, Captain Reid cleared for action and with the aid of his sweeps moved nearer in shore. The moon was nearly full at the time and as the sky was clear every movement of the vessels could be seen distinctly. Reid had not gone far, however, when four barges, under command of Lieutenant Robert Faussett, set out in pursuit of the General Armstrong. As soon as Reid saw the boats approaching, he dropped anchor with springs on his cable and brought his broadside to bear. As the boats came near he warned them to keep off or he would fire.† Although this warning was repeated several times, the British persisted in holding their course until they came close alongside, when, perceiving that the boats were well manned and apparently heavily armed, Reid could no longer doubt that they intended to attack him and opened up so steady and well aimed a fire that they soon cried for quarter and hauled off in a badly crippled condition. According to American re*American State Papers, Naval Affairs, vol. i., p. 495. Reid's report in Fay, Official Accounts, p. 270. Regarding the propriety of the conduct of the British officers in thus approaching, see the affi 11 ports, the British loss in this encounter was more than 20 killed or wounded; whereas Captain Reid had one killed and his first first officer wounded.* Knowing that a more formidable attack must soon come, Captain Reid hauled his vessel close to the beach and there anchored her head and stern. About nine o'clock the Carnation was observed towing in a fleet of boats, which were soon cast off, and took station in three divisions, under cover of a small reef of rocks, within musket shot of the privateer. At midnight the boats were observed approaching the General Armstrong in close formation. Twelve boats were counted, each carrying a gun in the bow and containing in all some 400 men.† As soon as the British boats were within point blank range the privateer opened fire. The discharge of the longtom created fearful havoc. among the enemy and for a time. seemed to stagger them. But the British responded with their carronades and musketry and then made a dash for the privateer. Their boats davits in Adams, United States, vol. viii., pp. 202205. * American State Papers, Naval Affairs, vol. i., p. 495; Coggeshall, American Privateers, pp. 373– 375, 379; Lossing, War of 1812, p. 1004. The accounts of this affair vary greatly. Lossing (War of 1812, p. 1004) says 500 men; Maclay (American Privateers, p. 496) says 400 men; Adams (United States, vol. viii., p. 206) says 200 men. See also James, Naval History, vol. vi., p. 509; Niles' Weekly Register, vol. vii., p. 255, and supplement, p. 171. A letter to Cobbett, signed H. K. F., states the force to have exceeded 400. See Fay, Official Accounts, p. 276. 12 THE BATTLE IN FAYAL ROADS. were soon under the bow and starboard quarters of the General Armstrong, and the big guns of the privateer were useless. But the Americans seized their small arms and prepared to keep off boarders. In a few minutes the British were engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict at the vessel's side, hacking at the boarding nettings and trying to climb on deck. Pikes, cutlasses, pistols and muskets now came into lively play and with deadly effect. Wherever the English showed their heads above the bulwarks they instantly became a target. Time and again the British attempted to leap over the bulwarks, but as often were repelled with great slaughter. Having repulsed the enemy under the stern and fearing that they were gaining a foothold in the forecastle, Reid and the whole after division rushed forward. The renewed activity of the fire so discouraged the enemy at this end of the ship that they retired with great losses after an action of 40 minutes. Having completely defeated the British, Captain Reid began to count his losses and those of the enemy. Two of the British boats had been sunk, two were captured literally loaded with dead and dying men, while the others full of dead and wounded made their way back to the fleet. From information received * Reid's report in Fay, Official Accounts, p. 271. American State Papers, Naval Affairs, vol. i., p. 495. Reid's report in Fay, Official Accounts, pp. 271-272; also the letter from H. K. F. to Cobbett in ibid, p. 276. from various sources, Captain Reid believed the enemy had 120 killed and about 130 wounded.* The British adImitted 34 killed and 86 wounded. The Americans had but 2 killed and 7 wounded. † After beating off the boats, Captain Reid received a note from the American consul asking him to come ashore, where he was informed that the governor of Fayal had remonstrated with Captain Lloyd, had begged him to desist from further attack, and had been answered that the privateer would be taken at any cost, even if the town had to be battered down in order to do so.‡ Satisfied that he could not save his vessel, Reid ordered the dead and wounded to be taken ashore, repaired his damages as well as he could and again cleared the deck for action. At daybreak the Carnation was discovered standing close in and in a few moments opened fire. Reid responded with his formidable battery and soon compelled the Carnation to haul off with her rigging much cut, her fore top-mast and hull wounded and some other injuries. After repairing her damages the Carnation renewed the attack and dropping anchor opened a deliberate fire on the General Arm Lossing, War of 1812, p. 1004. Roosevelt, Naval War of 1812, pp. 338-340; McMaster, vol. iv., pp. 118-119; Maclay, American Privateers, pp. 491-498; Adams, United States, vol. viii., pp. 206-207; Spears, History of Our Navy, vol. iii., pp. 186-201. American State Papers, Naval Affairs, vol. i., p. 495. ESCAPE OF THE AMERICAN CREW. strong with the intent to destroy her. Thinking he had done enough for the honor of his flag, Captain Reid scuttled his vessel and went ashore with his crew. English boats then boarded the privateer and set her afire.* A A number of houses in the town were injured by the Carnation's fire and some of the inhabitants were wounded. Captain Reid had indeed done wonders; for so great was the damage inflicted upon the English that the fleet was forced to stay a week at Fayal burying their dead and attending to their wounded. Three days after the battle they were joined by the sloops of war Thais and Calypso, detailed by Captain Lloyd to take the wounded to England. This week's delay was most important; for the three vessels 13 (on their way to Jamaica to join the CHAPTER XXII. 1813-1815. THE COAST BLOCKADE: CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON: LAST NAVAL BATTLES. Beresford's attack on Lewiston, Delaware Cockburn's attack on Frenchtown, Havre de Grace and other places - Defeat of the British at Craney Island The pillaging of Hampton - The "Blue Light Treason " Capture of Eastport, Nantucket, Castine and other places - Morris' defence of the Adams Surrender of Bangor - Bombardment of Stonington — Defeat of the Americans at Bladensburg — The capture and burning of Washington Operations of Gordon's fleet-Armstrong's resignation - Death of Parker Attack on Baltimore - Defeat of the President - Destruction of the Penguin by the Hornet - Escape of the Hornet Action between the Peacock and Nautilus — Defeat of the Cyane and Levant by the Constitution — Escape of the Constitution. The declining power of Napoleon enabled England to devote more attention to the to the war in America. Rumors of a blockade began to be heard in the closing days of January * American State Papers, Naval Affairs, vol. i., p. 496. VOL, VI-2 14 BERESFORD'S ATTACK ON LEWISTON, DELAWARE. the coast. Early in February the people of Norfolk learned that a British fleet of six vessels was steaming in toward Hampton Roads. The people of the seaboard cities and towns then began to realize the dangers to which their defenceless position exposed them and made haste to protect their property. At Philadelphia, the city government having failed to concert measures of defence, the citizens assembled at the Coffee House, formed an association to defend the ports and harbors, and named a committee to prepare a plan. Another committee called on the young men to form a corps of light infantry to defend the city and the shores of the Delaware and requested the draymen, who were willing to form a corps of light artillery, to act with the first regiment of Pennsylvania cavalry.* At Wilmington a similar meeting was held and resolutions were passed to build a fort below the rocks, to enroll and arm all the men, to arrange signals, etc. They acted none too soon, for early in February of 1813 a squad See 159-167; McMaster, vol. iv., pp. 119-120. * McMaster, vol. iv., pp. 121-122. The minutes of the Committee of Defence are in Pennsylvania Historical Society Memoirs, vol. viii. ron under Captain John P. Beresford appeared in Delaware Bay and began to destroy merchant vessels. Beresford made a demand upon the mayor of Lewiston, Delaware, for "twenty live bullocks with a proportionate quantity of vegetables and hay," threatening to destroy the town on refusal.* The mayor referred the demand to Governor Joseph Haslet, who refused compliance. Accordingly on April 6, Beresford moved up the river with the Poictiers and two other frigates and for twenty-two hours maintained a steady bombardment, throwing 800 shot besides Congreve rockets and shells, after which the ships drew off. The damage inflicted on the town was estimated at about $2,000.|| This new and discreditable species of warfare was carried on by the British ships principally in the Chesapeake. While Beresford was busy in the Delaware, Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren dispatched a fleet consisting of the 36-gun frigate Maidstone, the brigs Fantome and Mohawk, and four prize schooners with 400 or 500 seamen under Rear-Admiral Sir George Cockburn, to destroy everything in Chesapeake Bay that could serve a warlike purpose and to interrupt as far as possible communi Lossing, War of 1812, p. 668. McMaster (vol. iv., pp. 122-123) says the Poictiers, but Lossing (War of 1812, p. 669) says the Belvidera, as does Brackenridge, History of the Late War, p. 128. Lossing, War of 1812, p. 669. |