Virginia Argus (Richmond, Va.), 1797-12-23 00:00:00

The VIRGINIA ARGUS Extra.
NO. 73 OF VOL. V.]
A FREE PRESS MAINTAINS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE.
[WHOLE No. 488]
RICHMOND, (VIRG.)—PRINTED (ON TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS) BY SAMUEL PLEASANTS, JUN. NEAR THE VENDUE OFFICE.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1797.
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NORFOLK, December 18.
Late Foreign News, Received by the ship Hazard, Capt. Hopkins, arrived yesterday in 56 days from Liverpool.
LONDON, October 14.
COMPLETE OVERTHROW OF THE DUTCH FLEET, By the BRITISH.
We have the happiness to communicate to the public the joyful and glorious event of the complete overthrow and ruin of the Dutch fleet by Admiral Duncan. The action rivals the first of June, and the advantages this country must reap from the result are incalculable. It once more asserts to the world, that if British seamen will be loyal and dutiful, ENGLAND will still possess the Empire of the Ocean, and it puts (we hope) an early end to the boasted scheme of invasion, with which our vaunting enemy has dared to threaten us.
This signal victory was yesterday announced by the following,
London Gazette Extra.
Admiralty Office, Oct. 13. Lieut. Brodie, of the Rose cutter arrived early this morning, with a letter from Admiral Duncan, commander in chief of his Majesty's ships employed in the North Seas, to Evan Nepean, Esq. of which the following is a copy:
Venerable, off the coast of Holland, the 12th of October, by Log (11th) three P. M. Camperdown, B. S. E. eight miles, wind N. by E.
SIR, I have the pleasure to acquaint you for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that at 9 o'clock this morning, I got sight of the Dutch fleet; at half past 12 I passed thro' their line, and the action commenced, which has been very severe. The Admiral's ship is dismasted, and has struck, as have several others, and one is on fire. I shall send Capt. Fairfax with particular, as soon as I can spare him.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, ADAM DUNCAN.
Oct. 17. Admiralty Office, Oct. 16, 1797. Capt. Fairfax, of the Venerable, arrived early this morning with dispatches from Adam Duncan, Esq. Admiral of the Blue, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships, &c. employed in the North Sea, to Evan Nepean, Esq. Secretary of the Admiralty, of which the following are copies.
Venerable, at Sea, 13th October, 1797, off the Coast of Holland, SIR,
I have the pleasure to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that, judging it of consequence their Lordships should have as early information as possible of the defeat of the Dutch Fleet under the command of Admiral de Winter, I dispatched the Rose cutter at three P. M. on the 12th (11th) inst. with a short letter to you immediately after the action was ended.
I have now further to acquaint you, for their Lordships information, that on the night of the 10th inst. after I had sent away my letter to you of that date, I placed my squadron in such a situation as to prevent the enemy from returning to the Texel without falling in with them.
At nine o'clock in the morning of the 11th I got sight of Capt. Trollope's squadron, with signals flying for an enemy to leeward; I immediately bore up and made the signal for a general chase, and soon got sight of them, forming in a line on the larboard tack to receive us, the wind at N. W. As we approached near I made the signal for the squadron to shorten sail, in order to connect them; soon after I saw the land between Camperdown and Egmont, about nine miles to leeward of the enemy, and finding there was no time to be lost in making the attack, I made the signal to bear up, break the enemy's line, and engage them to leeward, each ship her opponent, by which I got between them and the land, whither they were fast approaching. My signals were obeyed with
great promptitude, and Vice-Admiral Onslow, in the Monarch, bore down on the enemy's rear in the most gallant manner, his division following his example, and the action commenced about forty minutes past twelve o'clock.
The Venerable soon got through the enemy's line, and I began a close action, with my division on their van, which lasted near two hours and a half, when I observed all the masts of the Dutch Admiral's ship to go by the board; she was, however, defended for some time in a most gallant manner; but being overpressed by numbers, her colours were struck and Admiral De Winter was soon brought on board the Venerable—On looking around me, I saw the ship bearing the Vice Admiral's flag was also dismasted, and had surrendered to Vice Admiral Onslow; and that many others had likewise struck—Finding we were in nine fathoms water, and not farther than 5 miles from the land, my attention was so much taken up in getting the heads of the disabled ships off shore, that I was not able to distinguish the number of ships captured; and the wind having been constantly on the land since, we have unavoidably been much dispersed, so that I have not been able to gain an exact account of them, but we have taken possession of 8 or 9; more of them had struck, but taking advantage of the night, and being so near their own coast, they succeeded in getting off, and some of them were seen going into the Texel the next morning.
It is with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction I make known to their Lordships the very gallant behaviour of Vice-Admiral Onslow, the captains, officers, seamen and marines of the squadron, who all appeared animated with the truly British spirit, at least those that I had an opportunity of seeing.
One of the enemy's ships caught fire in the action, and drove very near the Venerable; but I have the pleasure to say it was extinguished, and she is one of the ships in our possession. The squadron has suffered much in their masts, yards, and rigging, and many of them have lost a number of men, however, in no proportion to that of the enemy.
The carnage on board the two ships that bore the Admirals flags has been beyond all description; they have had no less than two hundred and fifty men killed and wounded on board of each ship; and here I have to lament the loss of captain Burgess, of his majesty's ship the Ardent, who brought that ship into action in the most gallant and masterly manner, but was unfortunately killed soon after. However, the ship continued the action close, until quite disabled. The public have lost a good and gallant officer in captain Burgess, and I, with others a sincere friend.
Captain Trollope's exertions and active good conduct in keeping sight of the enemy's fleet until I came up, have been truly meritorious, and I trust will meet a just reward.
I send this by Capt. Fairfax, by whose able advice I profited much during the action, and who will give their Lordships any further particulars they may wish to know.
As most of the ships of the squadron are much disabled, and several of the Prizes dismasted, I shall make the best of my way with them to the Nore.
I herewith transmit you a list of killed and wounded on board each of the squadrons as I have been able to collect, a list of the Enemy's fleet opposed to my squadron, and my line of battle on the day of action.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, ADAM DUNCAN.
A list of killed and wounded on board the ships of Admiral Duncan's Squadron, in the action with the Dutch on the 11th of October 1797.
Venerable—13 seamen, 2 marines, killed; 6 officers, 50 seamen, 4 marines, wounded, Total 77. Monarch—2 officers, 34 seamen, killed; 9 officers, 74 seamen 12, marines, wounded, Total 136.
Bedford—2 midshipman, 25 seamen, 3 marines, killed; 1 lieutenant, 17 seamen, 3 marines wounded, Total 71.
Powerful—8 seamen, 2 marines, killed; 4 officers, 74 seamen and marines, wounded, Total 88.
18—1 seaman, 1 marine, killed; 3 officers, 18 seamen, wounded, Total 21.
Ardent—2 officers, 33 seamen, 6 marines, killed; 8 officers, 85 seamen, 11 marines, 3 boys, wounded, Total 148.
Agincourt—None killed or wounded. Belliqueux—2 officers, 20 seamen, 3 marines, killed; 3 officers, 63 seamen, 12 marines wounded, Total 103.
Lancaster—3 seamen, killed; 2 officers, 13 seamen, 3 marines wounded. Total 21.
Triumph—25 seamen, 3 marines, 1 boy, killed; 5 officers, 50 seamen and marines, wounded. Total 84.
Officers Killed. Monarch—Mr. J. P. Tindall, and Mr. Moyle Finlay, midshipman Ardent—Capt. Burgess, and Mr. Michael Dunn, master. Belliqueux—Lieut. Robert Webster, Mr. James Milne, master's mate.
Officers Wounded. Venerable—Lieuts. Clay and Douglas, Lieut. Chambers of the marines, Mr. Stewart, midshipman, Mr. Brown, pilot. Monarch—Lieut. Retalick, Lieut. Smith of the marines, Mr. George Maffie, Mr. Benjamin Clement, Mr. Daniel Sherwin, Mr. Charles Slade, midshipman, Mr. John Chimley, master's mate.
Bedford—Lieutenant Keenor. Powerful—Lieut. Jennings, Mr. Mel. Jones, boatswain, Mr. Daniel Rogers, midshipman, Lieut. Wolker of the marines. 18—Lieut. Charles Rea of the marines, Mr. Simon Fraser and Mr. John Walker, midshipmen.
Ardent—Lieut. James Rose, Lieut. John Sobriel, Capt. Cuthbert of marines, Mr. John Tracey, master's mate, Mr. Thomas Leopold, midshipman, Mr. John Taylor, captain's clerk, Mr. George Kilmer, flighty.
Belliqueux—Lieut. Robert England flighty, captain James Caffer of marines, flighty, Mr. James Scott, midshipman. Lancaster—Lieut. Morgan, Lieut. Sandys of marines.
Triumph—Capt. Effingham, flighty in the arm. Mr. Chapman, 1st Lieut. flighty in the head, Mr. Threllope, 2nd Lieut. flighty in the foot, Mr. Read, master, flighty bruised, Mr. Jones, midshipman, flighty in the face.
ADAM DUNCAN. List and disposition of the Dutch fleet on the 11th October 1797.
VAN.
Vice Admiral Reynies, commander. Cerberus, capt. Jacobson, 68 guns, 450 men.
Delft, capt. Verdoorn, 56 guns, 375 men taken.
Jupiter, Vice Admiral Reynies and Rear Admiral Meskes, 74 guns, 550 men taken.
Alkmaar, captain Kraft, 56 guns, 330 men taken.
Haarlem, captain Wigger, 68 guns, 450 men taken.
Muidenkerkendam, captain Lancaster, 44 guns, 270 men, taken.
Helder, captain Dumitshilde P'Beuille, 32 guns, 230 men.
Daphne brig, lieutenant Fredericks, 18 guns, 98 men.
CENTER.
Admiral De Winter, commander in chief.
Wassenaer, captain Holland, 64 guns, 450 men taken.
Batavier, captain Souters, 56 guns, 356 men.
Vryheid (the Liberty) Admiral De Winter Van Roffem, 74 guns, 350 men, taken.
States General, Rear Admiral Story, 74 guns, 550 men.
Leyden, captain Mousquetier, 68 guns, 450 men.
Mars, captain Koff, 44 guns, 400 men.
Waakzaamheid, captain Lieut. Nicrop, 34 guns, 140 men.
Minerva, captain Ellbratcher, 24 guns, 150 men.
Galatea brig, Lieut. Rivery, 18 guns, 98 men.
Atalanta brig, Lieut. Pleu, 18 guns, 98 men.
REAR.
Rear Admiral Bloys commander.
Admiral Devries, captain Zegers, 58 guns, 450 men, taken.
Hercules, captain Van Ryfort, 64 guns, 450 men.
Brutus, Rear Admiral Bloys, 74 guns, 550 men.
Belschermer, captain Hinxt, 56 guns, 350 men.
Gelykheid, (the Equality) capt. Ruyten, 68 guns, 450 men, 1 taken.
Ambuscade, capt. Lieut. Huys, 32 guns, 270 men, taken.
Ajax brig, Lieut. Arkenbout, 18 guns, 98 men.
Haasje, (Aviso) Lieut. Hartenfeldt, 6 guns, 35 men.
ADAM DUNCAN.
N. B. Another line of battle ship, reported to be taken, name unknown.
Disposition of the Squadron in the Order of Battle, on the 12th October.
LARBOARD, or IEE DIVISION.
Richard Onslow, Esq. Vice admiral of the Red, Commander.
1. Russel, H. Trollope, captain, 74 guns, 590 men.
2. Director, William Bligh, captain, 64 guns, 491 men.
3. Montague, John Knight, captain, 74 guns, 590 men.
4. Veteran, George Gregory, captain,
64 guns, 491 men.
5. Monarch, Vice Admiral Onslow, Edward O'Brien, captain, 74 guns, 599 men.
6. Powerful, William O'Brien Drury, captain, 74 guns, 590 men.
7. Monmouth, James Walker, captain, 64 guns, 491 men.
8. Agincourt, John Williamson, captain, 64 guns, 491 men.
REPEATERS.
Beaulieu Frigate—Cutters Rose, King George, Active, Diligent—Speculator Lugger.
STARBOARD, or WEATHER DIVISION.
Adam Duncan, Esq. Admiral of the Blue and commander in chief, &c.
9. Triumph, William Henry Ettington, captain, 74 guns, 640 men.
10. Venerable, Admiral Duncan, William George Fairfax, captain, 74 guns, 593 men.
11. Ardent, Richard R. Burgess, captain, 64 guns, 491 men.
12. Bedford, Sir Thomas Byrd, captain, 74 guns, 590 men.
13. Lancaster, John Wells, captain, 64 guns, 491 men.
14. Belliqueux, John Ingles, captain, 64 guns, 491 men.
15. Adamant, William Hotham, captain, 50 guns, 343 men.
16. Iris, William Mitchell, captain, 60 guns, 343 men.
REPEATERS.
Circe frigate—Martin sloop.
ADAM DUNCAN.
Venerable, off Orfordness, Oct. 14.
In addition to my letter of the 13th inst. containing the particulars of the action of 11th, and which I have not been able to send away until this day, I have to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that from the wind continuing to blow on the Dutch coast, the ships have had great difficulty in keeping off the shore & that we have unavoidably been separated. On Friday last the wind blew strong from the W. S. W. to the W. N. W. and continued to do until Saturday morning: it then shifted to the north, when I made a signal to wear, stood to the westward & fortunately anchored here last evening, the Venerable being so leaky, that, with all her pumps going, we could but just keep her free. This morning I observed the ships named in the margin* at anchor near us, three near the Keesick Knack, and three in Holfey Bay. The wind is at N. W. and much against the disabled ships: I have therefore sent the Lancaster and Beaulieu out to render them assistance.
Sir Thomas Williams, in the Endymion, who joined me the day after the action, I also sent inshore, to keep by and assist the disabled ships; and I am informed that, in the course of the night, he fell in with a Dutch ship of the line off the Texel, and had engaged her, but I have not heard the particulars.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient servant, ADAM DUNCAN.
Evan Nepean, Esq. * Monarch, Powerful, Lancaster, Beaulieu.
WHITEHALL, Oct. 17.
The King has been pleased to grant the dignity of a Viscount of the kingdom of Great Britain to Adam Duncan, Esq. admiral of the Blue squadron of his Majesty's fleet, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, stile, and title of Viscount Duncan, of Camperdown, and of Lundie in our shire of Perth.
The King has also been pleased to grant the dignity of a Baronet of the kingdom of Great Britain to Richard Onslow, Esq. Vice Admiral of the Red squadron of his Majesty's fleet, and the heir male of his body lawfully begotten.
LONDON, October 12.
The information of the Dutch fleet having put to sea was sent to Admiral Duncan by captain Trollope, who, in the Russel man of war, accompanied by two other line of battle ships, was cruising off the Texel.
As soon as the intelligence was received, an express was sent off to his Majesty at Windsor for the particulars. Mr. Winchester the Messenger, was sent south with dispatches to Yarmouth, to be forwarded to Admiral Duncan; and Mr. Basset set off for Dublin, with instructions to the Lord Lieutenant, in case the armament should be destined against Ireland.
October 14.
From Lieut. Brodie, the officer sent by Admiral Duncan with the dispatches received yesterday, further particulars have been learnt, which the public will no doubt be happy to know till the official details
shall come regularly before them.
The gallant Admiral made but two signals, the first for each ship to engage its opponent in the enemy's line; the second to break the enemy's line, which was immediately done by Adm. Duncan himself near the centre, and by Admiral Onslow in the rear, who, by this manoeuvre, cut off five line of battle ships and a frigate, which he very soon made strike to the superiority of the British fire.
Upon Admiral Duncan's getting through the enemy's line, a very severe action commenced with the van and centre of the Dutch fleet, in which the Dutch Admiral de Winter displayed great skill and gallantry. He maintained a brisk and close action of about two hours and a half, in which his ship, the Jupiter, of 76 guns, was totally dismasted, & having become wholly unmanageable, he was obliged to strike to the Venerable, the flag ship of Admiral Duncan.
Lieut. Brodie, counted 8 ships with their colours struck, one of which had been on fire, but the flames had been extinguished by the exertion of our seamen. A ninth ship he saw almost a wreck, with the Russel close up with her. Mr. Brodie has no doubt but that 9 ships of the Dutch line and a frigate were taken, and amongst this number were two flag ships, that of Admiral de Winter and another.
Boats from the British fleet were employed, when Mr. Brodie was despatched, in taking possession of the ships that had struck, and at the same time as the ships of the enemy that had suffered least were attempting to form in order to cover the retreat of some featured ships, the signal had been made for a general chase; and as the Formidable and two other fresh ships had joined Admiral Duncan immediately after the action, there was every hope that several more of the enemy's ships would be driven on shore and destroyed, if not captured.
The battle was fought off Camperdown, near Scheveling; and, as we yesterday stated, so near the shore, that thousands of Batavians were spectators of the ruin of their navy.
By advices received last night, it appears that Admiral Duncan had, with his disabled ships anchored off the mouth of the Texel, for the purpose of repairing the damages sustained in the action.
The Executive Government of France has at length, it is said, released Sir Sydney Smith on his parole, and he is at large in Paris. By the flag of Truce which arrived 11 week, with letters to M. Charretier, we understand that an offer has been made to exchange Sir Sydney Smith for a favorite Captain, who is named, and 400 seamen.
October 17.
Admiral Duncan has, in his second letter, that the Endymion had, in the course of the night, fallen in with a Dutch ship of the line off the Texel, and had engaged her, but that he had not heard the particulars. The engagement took place in the night; and we learn, that owing to the heavy fire of the enemy, the Endymion was obliged to desert from the coast, and the Dutchmen escaped into the Texel.
This afternoon the Admiralty have received the welcome intelligence of the arrival of captain Trollope, in the Russel, in the Downs, bringing in three of the Dutch prizes. It was at first reported, that these were captured since those which Admiral Duncan mentions, but we do not find that they are to be so considered. Capt. Trollope has been fortunate enough not to have a man killed, though several of his crew are wounded.
It was yesterday reported in the city, that two more of the Dutch ships had been taken. Of this circumstance no account had been received at the Admiralty, either through the Telegraph, or through any other channel. The fact is therefore highly improbable.
The two fleets were equal in number, each having sixteen two-decked ships. The number of guns and men on board the British fleet was however rather superior. The British ships contained 1,066 guns and 8,313 men. The Dutch force amounted to 1,032, and in men to 7,175; the balance in favor of the British was, in guns 34, and in men 1,138.