The medal for the battle of Albuhera was the same as that conferred for
other actions of this period, and of which an illustration is given for
Talavera; but there appears also to have been one awarded by the Spanish
monarch, for in a letter, dated Gonesse, 2nd. July, 1815, addressed to
Marshal Lord Beresford, G.C.B., the Duke of Wellington wrote, “You
should recommend for the Spanish medal for Albuhera, according to the
rules laid down by the King of Spain, for the grant of it. I think it
should be given only to those who were there, and actually engaged.”
When the silver war medal was authorized, it is almost superfluous to
state that a bar was granted for this victory.
CAPTURE OF JAVA.
AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 1811.
The British government resolved to complete its dominion in the East, by
the conquest of the island of Java, of which the Dutch had held
undisturbed possession for more than one hundred years. The extent of
the island,—six hundred and forty miles long, and about a hundred broad;
the luxuriant and fertile character of the soil, the mountain districts
yielding the vegetables and grain of Europe, and the plains the
delicious fruits and other vegetable productions of the East in
abundance, without the necessity of laborious tillage, and to so great
an extent, as to occasion it to be sometimes called the granary of the
East; rendered the island of Java a valuable acquisition to the United
Provinces, and its principle city, Batavia, was the capital of the Dutch
settlements in the East Indies. Holland having become a part of that
empire which Napoleon was forming to prepare the way for universal
dominion, it became necessary to deprive the Dutch of this large and
fertile island.
Lord Minto, the Governor-General of India, planned the expedition, and
in order to carry out his idea, gave orders for the collection of a
number of troops at Madras. The squadron was placed under Rear-Admiral
the Honourable Robert Stopford, and the land forces were commanded by
Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty; whilst his lordship determined
to accompany the armament.
A landing was effected on the 4th. of August, 1811, at Chillingching,
within twelve miles east of Batavia, which was taken possession of on
the 8th. of that month without opposition. The possession of Batavia was
of the utmost importance. Although large storehouses of public property
were burnt previous to the retreat of the enemy, and every effort made
to destroy the remainder, some valuable granaries and other stores were
preserved. During the night of the 8th. a feeble attempt was made by the
enemy to cut off a small guard, which had been sent for the security of
the place; but the troops of the advance had reinforced the party early
in the evening, and the attack was repulsed. The advance under Colonel
(afterwards Major-General Sir Robert Rollo) Gillespie occupied the city
on the 9th. of August.
On the 10th. a sharp affair took place with the _élite_ of General
Jansen’s army; the British had advanced from Batavia, and found three
thousand select men of the Gallo-Batavian troops in a strong position at
Weltervreeden, defended by _abattis_; this post was stormed and carried
at the point of the bayonet by the troops under Colonel Gillespie, many
of the enemy being killed, and their guns captured; the remainder
retreated to the entrenched position at Cornelis, between the great
river Jacatra and the deep aqueduct of Slokan, neither of which was
fordable. In this affair the grenadier company of the 78th., and the
detachment of the 89th. regiment, were particularly distinguished in
charging and capturing their adversaries’ artillery. The British loss
was trifling compared with that of their opponents, which was estimated
at about five hundred men, with Brigadier-General Alberti dangerously
wounded.
Although success had thus attended the British troops, further progress
became extremely difficult, and somewhat doubtful. The position of the
foe was extremely formidable. Seven redoubts, and many batteries,
mounted with heavy cannon, occupied the most commanding ground within
the lines, the whole of the works being defended by a numerous and
well-organized artillery. As the season was too far advanced, the heat
so violent, and the number of troops insufficient to admit of regular
approaches, the only alternative was to attempt to carry the works by
assault, and in aid of this design, some batteries were erected for the
purpose of disabling the principal redoubt; a heavy fire was kept up by
the British for two days, from twenty eighteen-pounders and eight
mortars and howitzers. Their execution was great, and although answered
at the commencement of each day by a far more numerous artillery, the
nearest batteries were daily silenced, and every part of the position
was considerably disturbed.
At dawn on the 26th. of August, the assault on Cornelis was made. To
Colonel Gillespie, a gallant and experienced officer, the attack was
entrusted. He had the infantry of the advance and the grenadiers of the
line with him, and was supported by Colonel Gibbs, with the 59th.
regiment and the fourth battalion of Bengal Volunteers. They were
intended, if possible, to surprise the redoubt, No. 3, constructed
beyond the Slokan, to endeavour to cross the bridge over that stream
with the fugitives, and then to assault the redoubts within the lines,
Colonel Gillespie attacking those to the left, and Colonel Gibbs to the
right. Lieutenant-Colonel William Macleod, with six companies of the
69th., was directed to follow a path on the bank of the great river, and
when the attack had commenced on the Slokan, to endeavour to possess
himself of the left redoubt, No. 2. Major Tule, with the flank corps of
the reserve, reinforced by two troops of cavalry, four guns of horse
artillery, two companies of the 69th. and the grenadiers of the reserve,
was to attack the corps at Campong Maylayo, on the west of the great
river, and endeavour to cross the bridge at that post.
The remainder of the army, under Major-General (afterwards General Sir
Frederick) Wetherall, was at the batteries, where a column under Colonel
Wood, consisting of the 78th. regiment and the fifth volunteer
battalion, was directed to advance against the enemy in front, and at a
favourable moment, when aided by the other attacks, to force his way, if
practicable, and open the position for the line. General Jansens was
fully prepared for the conflict, and was in the redoubts when it
commenced. After a long detour through a close and intricate country,
Colonel Gillespie came on the enemy’s advance, routed it in an instant,
and, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry, rapidly possessed himself
of the advanced redoubt, No. 3. Passing the bridges with the fugitives,
under a tremendous fire, he assaulted and carried with the bayonet the
redoubt No. 4, after a very obstinate resistance. Here the two divisions
of the columns separated. Colonel Gibbs turned to the right, and with
the 59th. and a portion of the 78th., which had now forced their way in
front, carried the redoubt No. 1. At the instant of its capture an
explosion of the magazine occurred, which destroyed a number of officers
and men who were crowded on its ramparts, which the foe had abandoned.
The redoubt No. 2, against which Lieutenant-Colonel William Macleod’s
(69th. Foot) attack was directed, was carried in equally gallant style,
but that officer fell in the moment of victory. The front of the
position being thus open, the assailants rushed in from every
quarter.[45] The cavalry, towards the rear, and horse artillery forced a
passage through the lines, the fort of Cornelis was carried, and the
British were triumphant at every point. Nearly two thousand of the enemy
were killed, and about five thousand prisoners were taken, including
three general officers.
General Jansens, with about fifty horse, the remnant of his army of ten
thousand men, escaped into the interior, where, having collected a small
force, he made a feeble attempt at further resistance, which resulted in
the surrender of himself and his troops in September, with the island of
Java and its dependencies, to the British arms. This valuable island was
annexed to the dominions of the British crown, but was restored to
Holland at the termination of the war, by the treaty of Vienna, in
1814.[46]
The 14th., 59th., 69th., 78th., and 89th. regiments were present at the
capture of Java.