The National Register. — London, England, 1811-02-17 00:00:00

a THE NATIONAL. REGISTER. 110 CAPTURE OF THE ISLAND OF BANDA. The Island of Banda, protected by strong fortifica tions and garrisoned by 1100 men, has been taken by ISO seamen and marines belonging to the Caroline, P,edmontaise, and Barraconta. 'Phe enemy had no tice of their approach. Our brave fellows had to scale walls 30 feet high. The booty taken WaS very great ; in spices there were about 400,0101. worth. Banda annually exports nearly a mil- Iron to Batavia. And now we may indeed say, that Banda does complete the conquest of the enemy's Colonies. The flag of France 'Waves Rio longer in the East Indies or in the West—not a Colony is left her. The following most interesting letter contains the details of this gallant 'atchieve• Meat : " His Majesty's Sbip Barracouta, Indian Ocean, October 8, 1810. gi Having met a merchant ship on her way to England, I avail myself of the opportunity of send ing you the earliest account of the capture of Banda, and as the public dispatches cannot reach England for some time after this, I take the liberty of giving you a detailed account of the attack. " The Caroline, Piedmontaise, and Barracouta, arrived off Banda on the Bth August, and hove too at a considerable distance from the land, to avoid king seen, ',a hope which was frustrated by some fishing-boats.) At ten at night being about four miles from the harbour, the boats were hoisted out, and a.,sembled alongside the Caroline, containing 390 men. At twelve the boats shoved off, under the command of Captain Cole, the weather being then tolerably fine, it soon however became dark and squally, attended with a boisterous sea, which occa sioeed the separation of the boats ; and on arriving at the appointed rendezvous, Capt. Cole found the original force diminished to 180 men. After remaining until three o'clock, in hopes of being joined by the missing boats, it became necessary to push on for Banda Neira, still three miles off, or return to our ships, mortified and disappointed. Captain Cole fortunately determined to go on, and on approaching the shore, we found, by several alarm guns being fired, that the enemy were expecting us. The badness of the weather, which had before acted against us, now became our In.ntection, for the boats grounded undiscovered in a heavy squall of wind and rain within 100 yards of a battery of ten 24'-pounders, which xvas stormed in the rear ; the sentinel was killed by a pike, and tio men were disarmed without firing a pistol. After leaving a guard in the battery, the storming party, headed by Captain Kutch, and the reserve by Captain Cole, proceeded to Fort Belgica, by a narrow path on the skirts of the town.—The bugle was then sounding the alarm of our landing—The enemy in Belgica reserved their fire until we got close to the walls. The scaling ladders were then placed between the guns, and mounted with a rapi dity exceeding--all belief, notwithstanding a very smart Ere from the Citadel and the surrounding bushes, both very ill-directed. After gainint, s , posFession of the lower works, the ladders were hauled up and placed against the inner wall ; the tatcrval occasioned by this seemed to give the enemy fresh courage ; but when they saw the lad ders firmly fixed, they seemed panic-struck, and fled in all directions, leaving the Col.-Commandant and 10 men killed, and two Captains and 30 men prisoners. The guns near which the ladders were placed fortuwately burnt priming, owing to the heavy rains, and thus we found ourselves in posses. sion of this strong citadel, without the loss of a single man, just in time for the sun to rise on the British flag, and to shew us our commanding situa tion ; having Fort Nassau and the town imme diately under our guns. A flag of truce was dis patched to the Governor, offering protection to private property on the surrender of the island, which was refused ; however, a shot from Belgica, and a threat of storming the town and forts, pro. dnced an immediate and unconditional surrender, and 700 disciplined troops and 300 militia grounded their arms to us. Captain Cole's feelings at. this moment must have been, in unison with his fol lowers, proudly grateful. The enemy had notice of the squadron's approach at six o'clock in the afternoon, and dispatched a great part of their. force to the place where Admiral Rainier landed ; an event which Captain Cole had foreseen. " The enemy taking advantage of the flag of truce which we had flying in Belgica, opened a fire on the shipping just entering the harbour, but a few shot from that commanding fort drove them from their guns. Fortunately the nature of the attack required no firing from - the assailants, as the boats grounded at some distance from the shore, and the men had to wade up to their middle in water. The enemy were drawn up at their guns with lighted matches. " Banda Neira and its dependencies export 900,0001. worth of spices annually to Batavia ! we found about 400,0001. worth of spices at the time of the capture. - " The Piedmontese remains at Banda in charge of the island until the Indian Government send to garrison it. We are now on our way to Admiral Drury, with dispatches, and the Caroline is making arrangements to supply provisions from the neigh bouring islands. " EDMUND LYONS, Lieut. of the Barracouta." We have the satisfaction to state, that accounts have been received at Plymouth of the safety and good health of Captain PYM ) and the other brave Ofitrs and seamen, who were made prisoners on the failure of the late gallant but unfortunate at tack on the enemy's frigates in Port South East, in the Isle of France. By the terms of the cap tulation entered into by General DE CAEN with Admiral BERTIE and General An HCROM BY, which we have inserted from The Extraordinary Ga zette, all these prisoners are set at liberty, and, we trust, they may soon have an opportunity of con soling themselves for tlieir unmerited disappoint. meat, by putting their well.known skill and va. lour again to the proof, in combat with the enemy, on stations where their efforts cannot be frus trated by unknown shoals and banks ; unlike the scene of the former action, where impedi ments tutder water robbed th , ,,n f the vic tory, when nothing on its surface could stand against them. lad- and lant nen rere the ses- ►f a the tua- me- dis- to .nd, ica, ore- 3er, Jed this fol- Lice the heir ed ; of d a but gem at k )at s the ['he ted ►ort we ime rge I to iral ink; gh- :a." nits and ave on at- ast, apl- vith tich Ga- we !on. int. va. my, rUS- like edi- vie- .'A ..