The Nevada Democrat., 1858-12-01
Naval Battles between the Dutch and
English
DEATH OF VAN TRoNP.

sixty sail, including frigatcs. Monk and Deanc
were with him as generals. aud had u force OF
soldiers atioat. Penn and Lawson were vice
and rear admirals. On the 18th. Van Tromp
was deserted 10 wndward, near Cape de Ia
Hognc. the wind being from the northwest
with a large fleet, in charge of a considerable
convoy. He might have carried bis convoy
away safely If he pleased, but he left them 10
windward and bore down on the English. The
van Of the English force. in which were the
three admirals. was considerably ahead OF
Monk and the main body of the feet, and were
engaged proportidnably soo0er, The combat
was begun by the chiefs. Van Trornp, in the
Bredrrode, passed ON the weather side Of the
Triumph. giving her n broadsiLe. aud gave
her another under the lee. Pcnn next passed be-
tween them |" the Speaker, with other vessels in
his wake, and more coming up, the general
action began. The cold wniry sea was soon
strewn with traces Of the fight. The battle
was doggedly fierce, as became a battle be-
/ tive Ell such rivals. Que ship might have
been seen burning fercely through The heart
of the smoke : then two ships would come
together with IA crash, aud the cry for boarders
aud bOarding-pikes, aud mad charges would be-
made, met, repnlsed, and returned in kind
Contemporary letters tell how the roar OF the
guns awoke anxious hearts on both sides Of the
Channel, aud told both nations that another
vital day had come. Towards noon arrived
Monk with the white division, and the battle
lasted all day.
Night, when it came, found Van Tromp re-
treating to gather his merchantmen under his
wings-a wounded but still pucky bird He
had lost eight mcn-oi-war 10y capture or 10y fire.
Or Blake's fleet, several had been boarded but
recOvercd; one only, the Sampson. had gone
from him. and driiied away 10 leeward, while
those OF the crew who survived her slaughtered
captain remained on board Blake's own ship.
The Triumph herself had run red with gallant
blood that day Ball. her captain, fell ; scores
/ OF her crew were mUWn down at their guns; the
admiral, too. had IA wound in his thigh. The
loss OF the Dutch was, no doubt. equally severe.
The long night was spent in sending away the
wounded and preparing Tor the morrow. Ii
turned out to be II calm morning, aud the two
fleets made ready Tor another engagement.
Van Trump enclosed his traders inside his
men-ui-wur in kiud of crescent, and steered
up the Chanucl in light breeze Bake chased.
and they met again OF Dungcness. A running
fight followed after the first stand the Dutch
made, and the close OF the second day saw five
Dutch ships lost ar ruined. aud Van Tr0mp re-
treating to Bouiugne. Defeat from without the
Dutch were disorganiZcd within. Several Of
Van Tromps captains made mean excuses for
disseminating the struggle. aud he was forced
to send them away in the night. The third day
daWned. aud Blake renewed the attack. Van
Tromp found himself obliged To send an officer
TO carry the merchantmen to Calais Roads, but
the wind was against them. aud great confusion
was caused by the mingliug Of their own men.
of-war with them during the retreat. The
English chased hard, aud drove the Dutch
admiral, with his shattered remnant, 10 take
shelter near the French coast. II was a dark
night aud it blew hard, and in the morning
Blake found that Van Tromp had got away to
the harbors of Zealand. So ended the famous
battle of Portland, in which seven Dutch and
three English captains fell, aud two English
admralS. Blake and Lawson We're wounded
The Dutch lost in men-Oi-war aud merchant
ships, what was a squadron in ITSELF London
was transported with delight. A Thanksgiving
day was appointed, aud subscriptions begun
for the wives and children of those who had
fallen. Blake remained at 81. llelen's redtling
for some weeks. ill he heard that Van Tromp
was again preparing for sea, on which news he
CT o .sed over with large force and insultcd the
Dutch fleet at TcXel He then went Dorthward
with o moderate force, leaving Monk and Dean
with larger one, in the Downs, and cruised
between the Forth aud Moray Flrths.
In June the active Dutch once more showed
on the blue waters Of the Channel, and in grand
style, with four Gdmirals aud hundred and
twenty ships. They fell in first with the blue
squadron under Lawson, whOcngaged De Ruter
In an hour. Van Tromp's bowsprit showed
through the smoke, and close broadside fight
ing followed as the other bodies on both sides
came up They fought. as usual till separated
by darkness, aud next morning, after some ma
nnuvrring. the fight was renewed. IL was
raging away on the fine summer-lit waters, |
when fresh roar Of cannonading made itself
audible through the din. Blake's force had
come down from the nOrthward and young
n nj lsa al, al
amidst uprOrous English cheering. Van TrOmp
was desperate, aud his men of the Brederode |
performed desperate exploits. They boarded
the James, Penn's ship. but were driven back
by opposing bOarders from that vessel. In a
few wild seconds, the James men gained Van
Tromp's quarterback, the sacred part OF a
man. of-war, when the admiral threw light
into the magazine which blew up the decks
and threw the bOardcrs into the air. His own
life was saved. no one knew how, but the report
of his dearh, which followed, seems to have
been the turning point OF the day. His feet
broke up and showed their sterns in all direc- !
lions, and though he shot about amongst them
in quick sailing irigate. the day was lost;
me fIngIIsu auIiITaIs- pIersvu UH tueit wake
as they flew, and ship after ship sunk forever
into an ocean grave. Van TrOmp got away.
as usual but the losses Of his force were ini-
Inense eight men-Of-war destroyed, eleven
caDtilTeQ, RllU DulCtls anu uiNH VI an iohho "
The number of many hundreds. The English, 1
on this occasion, had more than hundred men
killed and more than two hundred wounded.
aud onr squadrons were battered in hall and
rigging till the ships were sight to see. /
Arter much exertion, for the feet required
every kind of care and reinforcement. Blake
was compelled TO go ashore, i'll. During his
absence, Penn. Lawson. and Monk. fought tbe
final sea-batile Of this war, with the )nlch al,
mirals Van Tromp. Everiz, and De Ruiter. 1t
lasted three days aud on the third the famous
Van Tromp lay dead in his cabin with mns-
ket ball in his heart. The old seaman must
have felt pang btterer than death at dying
defeated; but he was true TO the last. and iew
Englislmen who love sea stories and great sea
names are likely TO pass through Delft without
pilgrimage to bis grave. The close OF me
struggle excited immense enthusiasm in Eng
and~and well it might. Holland yielded to
ms on every point: and from that point dates