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

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.