"No; at daybreak one of the British vessels, the _Carnation_, made another
attempt. She began with a heavy fire, but the gunners of the _Armstrong_
fired shots at her so rapidly and so well directed that she was soon so
badly cut up that she hastened to get out of their range.

"In all this fighting the British had lost over three hundred in killed
and wounded, while only two Americans were killed and seven wounded. But
the _Armstrong_ was a good deal damaged and Captain Reid saw that he could
not stand another fight such as she had just gone through, so he directed
her to be scuttled to prevent her from falling into the hands of the
enemy."

"Scuttled? What's that, grandma?" asked little Ned.

"Making holes in the bottom or sides of a vessel, so that the water can
get in and sink her, is called scuttling. It was done to prevent the
British from taking possession of her. After our men had left her,
however, they boarded, and set her on fire."

"Grandma Elsie," said Grace, "I think I remember reading that that victory
of Reid's--or perhaps I should say successful resistance--had much to do
with the saving of New Orleans."

"Yes; that British squadron was on its way to Jamaica, where the British
vessels were gathering for the expedition to move against and take New
Orleans, and their object in attacking the _Armstrong_ was to secure her
for themselves and make her useful in that work. Had they succeeded in
taking her they would have reached New Orleans while it was utterly
defenceless, General Jackson having not yet arrived there. But Reid, in