“The weather proved so unfavorable for boat-service on the night of the 8th, that although nearly 400 officers and men had been selected for this occasion, yet, on assembling under Great Banda, at two o’clock in the following morning, I found that the state of the weather would deprive us of the services of some valuable men under Lieutenant Stephens, of the royal marines, and the greater part of the detachment of the Madras European regiment, from whom I had expected the most steady support and assistance. The attempt was now to be made with less than 200 men, consisting of the seamen and marines, and about 40 of the Madras European regiment, or our labors in the boats through a dark and squally night, in the open sea, must have ended in the severest mortification. After getting under shelter of the land, the same circumstances of the weather which before operated against us, were now favorable to us; and the confidence I had in the handful of officers and men about me, left me no hesitation: and, with a degree of silence and firmness that will ever command my heartfelt acknowledgments, the boats proceeded to the point of debarkation[1].
“A dark cloud with rain covered our landing within one hundred yards of a battery of 10 guns; and by the promptitude and activity of acting Captain Kenah, and Lieutenant
- ↑ The men selected for shore service, 390 in number, took a nap with their arms by their sides whilst the ships were standing towards the land. At 11 P.M. they were ordered into the boats, and directed to rendezvous close under the lee of the point of Great Banda; but at 3 A.M. a few boats, containing 180 officers and men only, had reached the place appointed, the rest having been driven to leeward. Some large (ires denoted the exact situation of Banda Neira, the seat of government, which island was strongly fortified, having a citadel, and numerous sea batteries, two of which, mounting ten 18-pounders each, with Fort Nassau, commanded the harbour. As no time was to be lost in attempting something before daylight, this small force, under the personal direction of Captain Cole, accompanied by the acting Commander of the Baracouta, pulled immediately across the harbour, with the intention of surprising the two 10-gun batteries and spiking the guns, that the ships might take their anchorage at day-light with the less difficulty.
companied by thunder, lightning, and rain; and the alarm having been spread throughout the islands, all hopes of surprising them by the ships was at an end.
