The National Register.
London, England, 1809-08-13 00:00:00

AUG. 13.

tish troops nllowed them to advance unmolested, confining them-
selves within their trenches, and not e% returning the tire with
which they were incesqmtly d but when they had come
w it bin point blank range, a mast de...tractive tire from musketrx
and field-pieces was opened uplin tnem, and their consequent
confusion presented a fine opportunity for the employment of
that truly 13ritish weapon, the basonet. The troops instantly
advanced from the trencaes, and proceeding with a hoz= to
the charge, in an instant put :1)0 enemy to the rout. Evety
thing that could be done by the exercise of authority, or the
influence a example to rally them, and restore order, was at-
tempted in vain by the Crepe!) officers. The dispersion was so
complete, and the ptosuit so active, that the broken ranks of
the enemy could not dtrive protection from their own batteries,
to which they tied, as if a tire had been opened from the walls,
It must have been as destructive to the 11 as to the pursuing
corps. W h"n they first began to give way, one of their brave '
officers, io the hope of reanimating their courage, snatched up
a standard, and rushing forward, in the midst of a heavy fire
from our troops, planted it in the front of the British line, and
called upon his fix ing companions to rally round it. But the
panic with which they had been seized, was not to be removed
by such m.o. heroic example. They fled in all directions w lib the
loss of 509 in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The loss on our
part was also considerable; it amounted to 48 killed, and 187
svouncled. A few more such sorties would decide the fate of
Flushing, without a bombardment or a general assault, A
most afrecting occurrence took place about the commencement V
this splendid action. Two soldiers belonging to one of the British
regiments engaged, who had been made prisoners in Spain, and
forced into the service of France, were amongst the enemy
when coming to the charge, joined their old comrades in their
huzza, and directed their tire against the common enemy of
both. Since this sortie, the enemy have been quiet. Yesterday
about 500 of them spewed themselves without their walls alumni
three o'clock, hut they did not venture to come further. Timis
day some of them have again shewn themselves out, and at this
moment an intermitted cannonade is heard ; but it is supposed
here to proceed from the walls of the fortress, against some part
of the British lines.

The importance of Cadsand, with a view to an attack on
Flushing by sea, may be estimated from a very brilliant affair
which took place in the Channel bet►veen both up° the third

of this month.

W hen it was observed that the 'French were

throwing in reinforcements daily into Flushing from Cadsand, it
• was found necessary to resort to some means of intercepting this
communication. Several gun-boats were consequently snit tip
the channel between them, in order to take soundings, as a direc-
tion for stationing vessels to prevent all communication between
Flushing and Cadsand. These gun-boats were to be protected bv
the Raven sloop of war, Capt. llanchett. The batteries soon
opened on the gun-boats, when Capt. llanchett most spiritedly,
ran his vessel up between the gun-boats and the fire of the elle-

my, which was instantly transferred to his ship. He was fired
at from five batteries on Cadsand, from the whole sea-front of
Flushing, and from thirty-nine gun-boats. For four hours he
bravely maintained the unequal contest, and brought off the gun-
boats safe, after having silenced the battery of Breskens in Cad-
sand. though not before he had three of his own guns dismount-
ed, his vessel distrasted, and several times set on fire, and above
a thousand shotidischarged against him from all sides. This
gallant exploit deserves to rank..with the most brilliant in the
naval records of the country. and was no less an object of admi-
ration to the naval than to the military part of those who were
witnesses of the atchievement. Captain Hanchett has since re-
ceived the distinguished thanks of his Commander. in Chief, Sir
R. Strachan, and the most flattering assurances of the high ap-
probation of every General Officer who was a spectator of his
gallantry and devotion to the service. It must enhance the value
of such an exploit, that it has been atchieved «ithout much com-
parative lass, only the gallant Captain and 18 of his brave crew
having been wounded, anne of them badly, and not a single man
baying been killed during such a long contested action, against
such fearful odds. If ships of the line should be brought tract
against Flushing, as they can lie within pistol shot of the bat-
teries, the carnage must he dreadful on both sides. The contest
however will be short, hut must be decisive; perhaps the work
of a few hours. Unless, aided by the co-operatioa of the fleet,
at such nn expellee of blood as must unavoidably be shed in a
Contest of such a nature, and under such circumstances, the re-
duction of the fortress by the army may be a protracted business.
But though the progress of aetice hostility vents to be
attspencled for the moment in Walcheree, operatioe4 are on the