1811     CAPTURE OF JAVA     37

divisions. On the 30th, at daylight, the boats sailed through the channel formed by the east end of Madura and Pulo 'I Lanjong, and by 30 minutes past midnight effected a landing, without discovery, at a pier-head about three miles from the fort.

At 1 h. 30 m. a.m. on the 31st, two columns, composed each of 60 bayonets and 20 pikemen, flanked by a 12, 4, and 2 pounder field-piece, having in reserve the marines of the Hussar, began their march, in the utmost order, towards the fort. Silence among the men was so rigidly observed that, notwithstanding the governor had intimation of the Dasher's having weighed and being seen entering the harbour, and that the British boats had been seen standing in for the town, the Dutch garrison at the fort did not discover the approach of the storming party, until the outer gate, which had been left open, was passed. The gallantry of the rush at the inner gate prevented the Dutch from securing it, and only allowed time for two or three guns at the south-west bastion to be fired. The assault was as sudden as it was resolute ; and by 3 h. 30 m. a.m., after a 10 minutes' feeble struggle with 300 or 400 Madura pikemen, who with their chief were made prisoners on the ramparts, the British became masters of the fort of Samanap, a regular fortification, mounting sixteen 6-pounders.

On the appearance of daylight, observing French colours flying on a flagstaff at the east end of the town, and perceiving the natives begin to assemble in numbers, Captain Harris despatched Captain Pellew, at the head of a column of 100 bayonets and one field-piece, with a flag of truce to the governor, calling upon him to surrender in 10 minutes, and promising that private property should be respected. To this was received an answer, requiring Captain Harris to evacuate the fort ; and Captain Pellew sent intelligence, by midshipman John William Oldmixon, described as an intelligent young officer, that the Dutch force appeared to be about 2000 men, protected by four field-pieces in front, and posted on a bridge, possessing every advantage of situation, the troops of an enemy having to advance along an even and straight road for a quarter of a mile before they could force the bridge.

Not at all daunted by this alleged superiority of force, Captain Harris sent orders to Captain Pellew, to advance when the first gun was fired from a column that the former would lead out of the fort, and with which he meant to turn the enemy's left wing. Accordingly, with 70 small-arm, and 20 pikemen, supported by a 4-pounder field-piece (leaving in the fort, as a reserve, 40 or 50 men), Captain Harris proceeded to put his bold plan into execution, and soon had the satisfaction to observe the Dutch governor, whose force, as acknowledged by himself, consisted of 300 muskets, 60 artillerymen, and from 1500 to 2000 pikemen, armed each with a long pike, a pistol, and a crees, draw off two

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