Fayal Roads: A Tale of Naval Heroism in the War of 1812

In a time when the words integrity and honor carried actual meaning, these few brave men confront an entire British fleet intent on their destruction. Hard decisions in a hard time, Captain Samuel Reid must find a way to maintain his and his ship's honor and yet balance the lives of his crew against the life of his ship.

Storms rage, tempers flare and cannons thunder as the American Privateer General Armstrong's Samuel Chester Reid and his colorful crew discover a stowaway. None other than the beautiful headstrong daughter of a British Admiral, she represents a mortal danger to not only the ship, but to several of the love-smitten crew. When they encounter the British invasion fleet headed for New Orleans, cannonballs and love letters do equal amounts of damage in the Azores port of Fayal. And history takes a harsh turn to larboard.

Read the incredible but true exploits of this ship and her battles, made famous in the annals of American naval history by her extraordinary captain, Samuel Chester Reid, and his gallant crew. Marvel at the ingenious design of the Yankee topsail schooner, General Armstrong, precursor to the swift clipper ships. Thrill to the thunder of her famous cannon, the "Long Tom," which can be seen on display to this day in the United States Naval History Museum in Washington, DC.