|
BARRACOUTA
|
(18) |
|
Built in 1807, Ipswich (Cruizer class).
Sold in 1815. |
|
|
- 1807 George HARRIS, fitting out at Chatham, commissioned in September.
- 1808 William WELLS. She sailed with a convoy to the East Indies on 15 February 1808.
- 1810 Cdr. Richard KENAH (act.), East Indies. His officers were Lieuts. J. WHITE and Edmund LYONS; S. G. DAVIS, surgeon, and J SCOTT, Purser.
- 15 July 1809 the boats of BARRACOUTA joined those of MODESTE (36) under Lieut. W. PAYNE of the latter, in cutting out the Dutch 8-gun schooner TUYNECLAAR from a bay in the Straits of Sunda where she was protected by 2 batteries and 5 armed vessels.
- On 10 May 1810 a squadron consisting of the frigates CAROLINE, Capt. Christopher COLE, and PIEMONTAISE, the transport brig MANDARIN and BARRACOUTA left Madras with 100 soldiers, specie and stores to assist the garrison of Amboyna which island had recently been captured by the British, and to attack Dutch settlements en route; in particular the Dutch seat of government at Neira in the Banda Is. When they reached Prince of Wales's Island (Pulo-Penang) on the 30th. the expedition was reinforced with 20 artillery men and two field pieces.
The ships faced a passage of six weeks against the S. E. monsoon through the Malacca Strait before they passed through Pitt's Straits and entered the Java Sea on 23 July.
Bad weather which developed on 8 August proved so unserviceable for a boat attack although, when there was fine clear moonlight earlier, nearly 400 officers and men had been assembled in readiness. So the attack which was launched against Banda Neira early in the morning of the 9th. was deprived of support from the Madras European regiment. Capts. COLE and KENAH in their gigs were the only boats at the rendezvous. With no charts they had to sound practically every foot of the way as they made their approach.
Banda is 2 miles by half a mile and was protected by 10 sea batteries and two forts which mounted 138 guns altogether. Only a portion of the force consisting of 140 seamen and marines and about 40 soldiers had turned up before approaching daylight made immediate advance imperative. KENAH's party grounded on a coral reef under one of the batteries mounting 10 long 18-pounders but the seamen, leaping overboard, managed to launch the boat and reach a sandy cove without being seen.
KENAH and Lieut. CAREW led a party of seamen armed with pikes to attack the battery in the rear, killed a sentry and made 60 officers and men prisoner without a shot being fired.
COLE and KENAH then joined forces for an attempt on Fort Belgica. As they started the attack the gates were opened to admit the Dutch officers who resided outside; the British made a rush killing the commandant and 10 soldiers as they entered, then the remainder of the garrison surrendered. Under a threat of bombardment the Dutch in the town surrendered and 1,500 regulars and militia laid down their arms. There were no British casualties.
The news of the conquest of Banda Neira was carried to Bombay by BARRACOUTA. - 1811 In January Henry DRURY.
- In June William Fitzwilliam OWEN. He had been a prisoner in Mauritius since September 1808 and was released in a cartel just before the conquest in 1810.
In BARRACOUTA he took part in the blockade of Batavia prior to the invasion of Java. One of her boats with 8 men under Lieut. George TYRRELL was attacked by a pirate proa having on board 50 Malays, all of whom were killed or forced into the sea. He carried off the proa to Capt. SAYER who had just arrived in the LEDA frigate.
He tells the story in a letter home
Barracouta 30th. August 1811.
"./While the Barracouta was lying at anchor at Bantam, some of the natives came on board and told us if we could send a boat to a place they pointed out they would give us refreshments.
I was sent in the launch with eight men, armed against treachery. We left the ship at noon, and at night arrived at the place; but the things were not ready, so we were obliged to wait until morning. As we were cooking our breakfast, a proa we had been watching all morning stood towards us. I ordered everything to be got ready.
As she approached I observed she was full of men, and therefore thought it prudent to get off; but I could not as the proa out-sailed and out-rowed us. When she came near they began to fire. I was now convinced they were pirates and determined to board them, knowing that was the only chance, for if they took us they would have put the whole of us to death.
As soon as we came alongside we cleared our way with our muskets and jumped on board the proa.
There were about 50 men in her and we were only nine. In about half an hour we had cleared her.
By this time we had drifted near the shore and the few then remaining jumped overboard. I saw four or five reach the shore, most of them wounded.
I had two men killed, the other six had no wounds of consequence. Just then the LEDA appeared in the offing and we took our prize to board her. Captain Sayer made us stay on board until next morning and we got to Barracouta about noon. " - She later assisted in debarking the expeditionary force against Java. Seamen under Capt. OWEN landed with the army and took part in the operations on shore before the surrender of Batavia on 8 August 1811.
- Cdr. OWEN was promoted in May 1811 and in December he was posted to CORDELIA.
- 1812-13 Samuel LESLIE, Charles BAYLEY.
- 1814 Chas. HAWKEY, East Indies.
- 1815 Paid off at Deptford. Sold.
|
|
|
