Backside of Albany, ’tan Lake Champlain: One little pond, half full a water-- Plattsburg dare too, close upon de main-- Town small--he grow bigger do, hereafter. On Lake Champlain, Unkle Sam set he boat; And Massa Macdonough he sail ’em-- While Gen’ral M’Comb, Make Plattsburg he home, Wid he army, whose courage nebber fail ’em. Eleventh day of September In eighteen hundred and fourteen, Gubbenner Probose, and he British soldier, Come to Plattsburg, a tea-party courtin’. An’ he boat come too, Arter Unkle Sam boat-- Massa Donough do, look sharp out he winder, Den Gin’ral M’Comb, Ah! he always home! Catch fire too, jiss like tinder! Bow! wow! wow! den de cannon ’gin t’ roar; In Plattsburg, an’ all ’bout dat quarter-- Gubbenner Probose try he hand ’pun de shore. While he boat take he luck ’pun de water, But Massa Macdonough Kick he boat in de head! Break he heart, broke he shin, ’tove he calf in-- An’ Gin’ral M’Comb, Start ole Probose home! Taught me soul den, I must die a laffin. Probose scart so, he left all behind-- Powder, ball, cannon, tea-pot an’ kettle-- Some say, he cotch a cold, perish in he mind, ’Bloig’d eat so much raw and cold vittle. Unkle Sam berry sorry To be sure for he pain-- Wish he nuss heself up, well an’ hearty-- For Gen’ral M’Comb An’ Massa Donough home When he notion for a nudder tea-party. CHAPTER VIII SAMUEL C. REID OF THE _GENERAL ARMSTRONG_ STORY OF THE DESPERATE DEFENCE OF AMERICA’S MOST FAMOUS PRIVATEER--SHE WAS LYING IN NEUTRAL WATER WHEN FOUR HUNDRED PICKED BRITISH SEAMEN IN BOATS THAT WERE ARMED WITH CANNON CAME TO TAKE HER BY NIGHT--ALTHOUGH SHE HAD BUT NINETY MEN, AND THERE WAS TIME TO FIRE BUT ONE ROUND FROM HER GUNS, THE ATTACK WAS REPELLED WITH FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER--SCUTTLED WHEN A BRITISH SHIP CAME TO ATTACK HER--THE CUNNING OMISSIONS AND DELIBERATE MISSTATEMENTS OF THE BRITISH HISTORIANS EXAMINED IN DETAIL--THE HONORABLE CAREER OF CAPTAIN REID IN AFTER LIFE--A PICKED CREW OF BRITISH SEAMEN AFTER THE _NEUFCHÂTEL_--A THREE-TO-ONE FIGHT WHERE THE YANKEES WON--OTHER BRAVE MILITIAMEN OF THE SEA. In the foremost rank of the most desperate and valorous conflicts recorded in the annals of the sea stands that made by Captain Samuel C. Reid, of the privateer schooner _General Armstrong_, in the harbor of Fayal, in the Azore islands, beginning early in the evening of September 26, 1814, and lasting, with intervals of peace, all night.