Future Books by Annabelle
On the 26th of September the British 74-gun ship Plantagenet, the 38-gun frigate Rota, and 18-gun brig-sloop Carnation, carrying barges to aide in the assault on New Orleans by Admiral Cochrane, discovered the American privateer schooner General-Armstrong at anchor off the city of Horta in Fayal, one of the Azore Islands.
The General-Armstrong was newly commissioned as a privateer and carried Letters Of Marque from the US Government. Under the command of Captain Samuel Chester Reid she carried seven guns, including a long 24 or 32 pounder on a traversing carriage, and about 90 men.
Captain Robert Lloyd, aboard Plantagenet and in charge of the British flotilla, was under orders to stay in Horta to assemble three other British warships that were due in two days and then proceed to meet with Chochrane in the Gulf of Mexico. Except for this slight stayover, he was not to delay, the barges and the ships were in desperate demand for the assault on New Orleans.
On seeing the American privateer in the harbor, Captain Lloyd sent the Plantagenet’s pinnace, fully loaded with marines, into the port to ascertain the force of the schooner, and to seize her if possible. Captain Lloyd gave this order despite the fact that the privateer was in a neutral port and was protected by international law.
Captain Reid hailed the pinnace, and desired the obviously heavily armed boat to keep off, but the British persisted and drew up to the stern of the schooner. Captain Reid then ordered the General-Armstrong guns to open fire, killing two and wounding seven of the crew of the British pinnance. In near sinking condition, the British boat withdrew.
What happened next is the startling story of Captain Robert Lloyd’s seemingly insane desire to sink the General-Armstrong no matter what the cost and Captain Reid’s refusal to be sunk.
The story makes a good read. Get a copy of the book when it comes out in May 2011.
(Scheduled for publication May 2011)