and transports in consequence removed from their former anchorage towards Batavia. I beg to acquaint you, the Captains Sayer, Testing, and Owen, had the direction of disembarking the troops, and have since continued attached to the army. * * * * I have great pleasure in acknowledging the zeal and ability displayed by all the above-named officers in the execution of their orders, and that the most perfect harmony has subsisted between the army and navy on all occasions.
The Hon. Robert Stopford to the Secretary of the Admiralty, Aug. 28, 1811.
I have to request you will acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, with the unconditional surrender of the capital city of Batavia, on the 8th inst., and the destruction or capture of the greatest part of the enemy’s European troops, by a successful assault made upon a strongly entrenched and fortified work, called Meester Cornelis, on the morning of the 26th, by the army under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, who had also with him the royal marines of the squadron.
Previous to this important and decisive advantage, the Lieutenant-General had caused batteries to be erected, consisting of twenty 18pounders, which were entirely manned by 500 seamen from his Majesty’s ships, under the direction of Captain Sayer, assisted by Captains Festing, Maunsell, Reynolds, and Stopford.
The enemy was enabled to bring 34 heavy guns, (18, 24, and 32-pounders) to bear upon our batteries; but from the superior and well-directed fire kept up by the British seamen, the enemy’s guns were occasionally silenced, and on the evening of the 25th completely so; their front line of defence also appeared much damaged, and many of their guns were dismounted. So favourable an opportunity was therefore seized by the General, and the fortunate result of the assault, on the morning of the 26th, followed, as before mentioned.
The fatigue of the seamen was great, and much increased by being exposed to the hot sun of this climate, for three successive days, during which time the fire was kept up with little interruption; but it was borne with their characteristic fortitude, Captain Sayer and the officers above mentioned setting them noble examples[1].
As a farther proof of the high estimation in which Captain Sayer’s conduct was held by the superior authorities, we here
- ↑ Meester Cornelis was an entrenched camp, situated about nine miles from the city of Batavia, and defended by two rivers, one on the east, the other on the west, with a number of redoubts and batteries guarding each pass. The circumference of these fortified lines was nearly five miles, and there were mounted in different parts of them 280 pieces of cannon.
