[Illustration:  GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON.]

(Afterward President of the United States.)

The most famous achievement was that of the privateer General Armstrong, which carried nine long guns, the largest being 24-pounders, or “long nines.”  She sailed with a large crew, which was depleted to ninety on account of the number in charge of the prizes captured.  Her commander was Captain Samuel C. Reid, born in Connecticut in 1783, and died in 1861.  It was he who designed the accepted pattern of the United States flag, with its thirteen stripes and one star for each State.  The fifteen-striped flag, which it has been stated was carried through the War of 1812, remained the pattern until 1818, when the change referred to was made.

While engaged upon one of his successful cruises, Captain Reid put into the harbor of Fayal, one of the Azores, to provision his ship.  He was thus employed when Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, of England, reached the same port and on the same errand.  He had with him three vessels:  the flagship Plantagenet, 74 guns; the frigate Rotan, 38 guns, and the brig Carnation, 18 guns.  This powerful squadron was manned by 2,000 men, and was on the way to New Orleans with the purpose of occupying the city.

When the British admiral discovered the American privateer within the harbor, he placed his own vessels so as to prevent its escape.  Captain Reid did not think the enemy would attack him, since the harbor was neutral, but the previous experience of his countrymen warned him that it was not safe to count upon the British respecting the laws of war when there was an opportunity to destroy one of the pests of the ocean.  He cleared his decks and made every preparation against attack, and it was well he did so.

It was not long before he observed several boats, crowded with men, leave the Plantagenet and row toward him.  This was on the 26th of September.  There being no doubt of their hostile purpose, Captain Reid several times warned them off, but they paid no attention to him.  He then fired upon the boats, and a number of the crews were killed and wounded.  This was a sort of reception they had not counted upon, and the boats turned about and hastily rowed back to the flagship.

“We have got to fight,” said Captain Reid to his men; “they will attack us again to-night, and things will be lively.”

There was no thought of surrender on the part of the Americans, though, as will be noted, they were threatened by a force more than twenty times as numerous as their own.  They sent their valuables ashore and disposed of everything, as if not a man expected to emerge from the fight alive.  All were cool and confident, and the dauntless courage of the commander inspired every one around him.

Night settled over the harbor, and by and by the sounds of oars showed the enemy were approaching again.  Through the gloom seven boats, containing two hundred men, loomed into view, coming straight for the General Armstrong.  Each carried a carronade, with which they opened fire on the privateer.  The reply of the latter was so well directed and effective that three of the boats were sunk and their crews left struggling in the water.  The cries that sounded across the harbor left no doubt of the effect of the fire of the American.