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field-pieces and break his line, in order to oppose the small but resolute column advancing against his left. Both British columns discharged their volleys nearly at the same time, and, for nearly five minutes, a sharp fire was given and returned ; but as Captains Harris and Pellew and their respective parties advanced nearer, the Dutch gave way, and an animated charge by the British left them masters of the field, the colours, and the guns. The governor and the other Dutch inhabitants were made prisoners ; and Captain Harris accepted a flag of truce from the rajah of Samanap, who was present, on condition that none of the inhabitants of the district should again arm themselves against the British. This very gallant exploit was not achieved without a loss on the part of the latter of three men killed and 28 wounded ; and the loss on the opposite side, although it could not be ascertained, was known to be severe, including among the killed the commander-in-chief of the native troops, second in rank to the rajah, and his two sons. This success was followed up by the total overthrow of the French authority in Madura and the adjacent isles. The spirited conduct of Captain Harris, in bringing matters to such a close, proves that his own element is not that alone in which a naval officer, possessing zeal, activity, and judgment, may be enabled to distinguish himself. Among the wounded in storming the town of Samanap, was Lieutenant Roch of the Sir-Francis-Drake's marines, who was speared twice by two natives, while resolutely endeavouring to wrest the colours out of the hands of a French officer. During the time that Captain Pellew, by the direction of Captain Harris, was negotiating with the governor of Madura, Lieutenant Roch, with a column of marines, destroyed, in the face of the enemy, a fort at the mouth of the river, which leads, as we suppose, to Samanap, mounting twelve 9-pounders. In order to intercept the retreat of General Jansens from Cornelis to the eastward, Rear-admiral Stopford, on the 31st of August, detached the Nisus, Présidente, and Phœbe frigates, and Hesper sloop, to Cheribon, a seaport about 35 leagues to the eastward of Batavia. On the 3d of September, at dark, the three frigates anchored off the port ; and at daylight on the 4th Captain Beaver, having despatched Captain Warren with a flag of truce to summon the French commandant of the fort to surrender, weighed with the frigates, and anchored as near the fort as the depth of water would admit ; when, instantly, the French colours were hauled down and the British hoisted in their stead. The marines of the three frigates, amounting, including a party belonging to the Lion 64, to 180, immediately landed, and took possession of the fort. Just at that moment General Jamelle, the commander-in-chief of the French troops, who had arrived at the landroosts from Buitenzorg, was, while changing horses to proceed to the eastward, taken prisoner by Captain ^ back to top ^ |
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