Fifteen thousand Marines were voted for the service of 1795.
In consequence of the reverses of France at Toulon, and in the
battle of the 1st of June, her commerce was neglected, and her
Sailors became dispirited. Limiting nearly the whole of her
energies to one element, she was thus enabled in every quarter, to
pour from her frontiers a host of Soldiers and of Conquerors.
Holland, hitherto our ally, was over-run by her legions, who,
wherever they directed their steps, found the success of their
arms already ensured by the delusive power of their principles.
Although, in reality, a province, still a shew of acknowledged
independence was maintained, and the Dutch were admitted as
principals in a treaty of alliance which was concluded between the
two republics. Thus fraternized, Great Britain had to reckon a new
and decided enemy in a recent friend.
Accordingly, orders were issued in February 1795, for the detention
of vessels and property belonging to the subjects of Holland,
an expedition was framed against the Cape of Good Hope, and an
authority to subdue her settlements in the East, were transmitted
to our Commanders in that quarter of the world.
In those distant services the Corps of Marines bore a partial, but
an active share.
The attempt against the Cape was entrusted to the immediate conduct
of Sir George Elphinstone and Major General Craig, who arrived in
Simon's Bay early in July. A fruitless summons to surrender it
having been forwarded to its Governor, a debarkation of 450 of the
78th Regiment, and 350 Marines, under Major, now Colonel Hill, was
effected upon the 14th, in time to save that town from devoted
destruction.
Our troops had been expressly restrained from hostility against
the Dutch forces, but such was their conduct that it soon provoked
retaliation. It being necessary to dislodge them from the strong
post of Mysenburgh, which was fortified with heavy guns, and
secured from approach both by land and sea, by a steep mountain
on the right, and shallow water, constantly agitated by surf, on
its left, 800 Seamen were landed under the Captains Spranger and
Hardy, which constituted a total strength of 1600 men. As they
were without cannon, the whole awaited the fortune of a wind that
would allow the ships of war to unite in the attack. This occurred
on the 7th of August, when Commodore Blankett got under weigh
with the America, Stately, Echo, and Rattlesnake; while General
Craig advanced with his little army. So judicious was the Naval
disposition, that the Dutch were driven by the fire of those ships,
and some launches armed with carronades, from one post to another,
which the troops successively occupied.
Retiring to a ridge of rocky heights beyond their camp, which
they had abandoned, the enemy were very spiritedly assaulted by
Major Moneypenny, at the head of the advanced guard, supported by
the whole of the gallant 78th. Although seconded by some heavy
guns that over-awed it from across the lagoon towards Cape-town,
and possessing a hold almost impregnable from its situation, they
were still forced from it, after a contest which closed only with
the day. In the course of it, the Dutch left behind them some
artillery, which were drilled, and once more rendered serviceable
by Lieutenant Coffin and his company of pikemen, from the
Rattlesnake.
On the morning of the 8th of August, the enemy having drawn their
whole force from Cape-town, aimed it to recover the posts they had
lost. Observing, however, the strength of the British positions,
they desisted from any attempt, and the day was chiefly spent in
skirmishing with the 1st battalion of Seamen, under Captain Hardy,
and the Marines under Major Hill, who had passed the lagoon.
General Craig says, that both Corps were distinguished throughout
by regularity in manœuvre, and the most steady resolution. Major
Hill was very ably assisted by the valuable advice of Captain,
now Lieut. Colonel Sir John Douglas, during the whole of these
fatiguing and combined duties.
A small reinforcement arrived on the 9th from St. Helena, but
the pressures of the army daily increased to such a degree, that
it became expedient, in order to alleviate them, to risque the
storm of one of the enemy's principal out-posts on the 27th of
August, which unfortunately failed. So critically were matters
circumstanced, that it was determined between the Commanders in
Chief to try the fortune of another assault in six days, if Sir
Allured Clarke should not appear with the expected reinforcements.
The Dutch had resolved, however, to anticipate this issue, which
was, in event, to decide the fate of the Colony.
A disastrous affair on the 1st of September, in which the picquet
was driven in with loss, and Major Moneypenny most severely
wounded, encouraged them to this daring effort on the 3d. With a
train of eighteen field-pieces, and all the strength they could
muster, they appeared after break of day, but were stayed in their
progress by the signal for a fleet having hove in sight.
On the 4th, Major General Craig resigned the command to Sir Allured
Clarke, not without expressing his high sense of the animated
exertions of _all_, in the face of a superior enemy, as well as
for their cheerful resignation under the greatest hardships and
fatigues.
From the powerful aids which had arrived, matters were pushed on
most briskly, and the Army moved against the post of Wyneberg on
the 14th. Here the Dutch demonstrated a shew of resistance; but
Commodore Blanket appearing in Table Bay with three ships, in
order to create a diversion, the enemy retreated, and early on the
morning of the 16th, proposed terms of surrender. By these, the
whole settlement was added to the British dominions.
Sir Allured Clarke united his cordial testimony with that of
Sir George Elphinstone, of the very meritorious conduct of the
Officers, Seamen, and Marines of the squadron, during a tedious
service of labour and even privation of necessary food. Only nine
Marines were wounded throughout.
In the East, the Islands of Ceylon and Manar, the Peninsula of
Malacca, Cochin, a seaport on the coast of Malabar, and, in fine,
most of the valuable settlements of the Dutch in Hindostan, fell
successively under the combined efforts of our Naval and Military
forces; in all of which, however, intrigue was more conspicuous
than active hostility.
It falls not within my scope to enlarge upon the many disastrous
events that took place in the West. There Victor Hughes, a man of
the most consummate talents, but which were stained by inhumanity,
acted both as the agent and the organ of republican France. He
perfectly assimilated himself to the temper of his employers;
recognizing only the rules of expediency, he was ever the ready
advocate for the most sanguinary works, and felt not the controul
of principle where it opposed his interests. His incendiary
attempts will long be reviewed with horror by those islands which
were the theatres of his plots.
This year abounded with Naval achievements.--In the Mediterranean
the French suffered a defeat, on the 8th of March, from an inferior
force, when on their way to recover Corsica. Admiral Hotham's loss,
in killed and wounded, upon this partial occasion, was 315 Seamen
and Marines.
Another action was fought on the 12th of July, which terminated in
the capture of one ship. Captains Towry and Middleton, the Seamen
and Marines of the Dido and Lowestoffe, were eminently noticed for
their gallantry in a successful contest with two of the heaviest
frigates from France, which terminated in the surrender of one;
while the other found refuge in flight.
On the coast of America the Hon. Captain Cochrane, with Captain
Beresford, were equally conspicuous in subduing their superior
antagonists; in which the former says, that the carronades on
the quarter deck of the Thetis, were very ably served by Lieut.
(afterward Captain) Paul Crebbin, and the Marines under his command.
The masterly retreat of Vice-Admiral Cornwallis, in the face of
an enemy nearly thrice his force, exhibited such a display of
cool valour, as not to produce a parallel upon our annals. The
energies of his pen bespoke the feelings of his invincible mind;
and although the merit was exclusively his own, yet he generously
shared it amongst his faithful associates, in these words:--
"Royal Sovereign, June 18, 1795.
"Vice Admiral Cornwallis returns his sincere thanks to the
Captains, Officers, Seamen, and Marines of the Fleet under his
orders, for their steady and gallant conduct in the presence of
the French Fleet yesterday; which firmness, he has no doubt,
deterred the enemy from making a more serious attack. It would
give the Vice Admiral pleasure to put the whole of their exertions
in effect by meeting a more equal force, when the Country would
receive advantage, as it now does honour, from the spirit so truly
manifested by its brave men."
This gratifying tribute was followed up to each, by the most
precious tender which can be offered to a Briton--that of the
legislative thanks of his Country.
The Marine Soldier can often be retraced upon those proud records.
It was reserved for Lord Bridport to convince the enemy of the
decisive weight of an equal force. On the 23d of June they owed
the salvation of all their Fleet to their formidable batteries,
and the strong Naval port of L'Orient. Lieut. William Jephcote, of
Marines, fell upon that day, which augmented our Fleet with three
sail of the line.
The engagement betwixt La Blanche, Captain Faulkner, and the
French frigate La Pique, fought early in 1795, off the island of
Guadaloupe, affords a lasting test of the superiority of English
discipline and courage. While our loss was confined to 29 killed
and wounded, that of the republicans exceeded a total of 212. After
exhibiting every quality of a judicious and brave Officer, Captain
Faulkner was shot through the heart, who left not behind him a
brighter example of true heroism.
The Marines of La Blanche behaved nobly, and maintained a constant
fire under Lieut. Richardson, who, with Serjeant George Dice, did
honour to their Corps.