with the enemy’s patroles, who, but for Captain Cole’s alacrity and promptitude in making the above signal, without waiting to complete the arrangement of boats, &c., as usual in such cases, would have taken post in a wood at the back of the beach, and might have occasioned great loss to the invading army. We should here observe, that Captain Cole had previously volunteered to command the naval battalion appointed to serve on shore; but the presence of Captain Sayer, who was senior in rank to himself, and equally desirous of the honor, prevented Commodore Broughton from placing him in that honorable post. He subsequently obtained permission from Rear-Admiral Stopford to proceed to head-quarters and make an offer of 400 additional seamen, to be commanded by himself, to assist in storming Meester Cornelis, or any of the enemy’s positions; but his co-operation was necessarily declined, as such an increase of force was not wanted, and might have served to discover the General’s intention to the enemy.
The following is an extract from Rear-Admiral Stopford’s despatches relative to the reduction of Java, dated Scipion, Batavia Roads, Aug. 28, 1811:
“I send this despatch by the Caroline, and I am happy to have so good an opportunity as is offered by Captain Cole who has had a large share in every thing relating to this expedition, and from his knowledge of all the parts of the operations, can communicate to their Lordships, the fullest account of them[1].”
Captain Cole arrived in England towards the close of 1811, and soon after received a letter from the Secretary to the Admiralty, informing him that he was to be honored with an appropriate medal for the capture of Banda, and enclosing a copy of the letter which had been written to Vice-Admiral Drury, in answer to his despatch announcing the conquest of that island.
- ↑ Commodore Broughton, on being succeeded in the command of the fleet by Rear-Admiral Stopford, expressed “great pleasure in acknowledging the zeal and alacrity displayed by Captains Cole, Elliot, and Pelly,” on the day of disembarkation.
