|
SAMARANG
|
|
The SCIPIO taken from the Dutch by PSYCHE (32) Lieut. F.B.W. PELLEW (act. captain) off Java on 1 Sep. 1807.
Sold in 1814. |
|
|
- 1807 Richard BUCK, East Indies. She sailed with Vice-Ad. Sir Edward PELLEW's squadron (CULLODEN, OOWERFUL, CAROLINE, FOX, VICTOIRE, SAMARANG, SEAFLOWER, JASEUR and the transport WORCESTER) from Malacca on 20 November 1807 and they arrived off Point Panka (Pangkah) on the north-eastern coast of Java on 5 December. The Admiral and Lieut. Colonel Lockart, commanding the troops, sent a flag of truce ashore to negotiate the surrender of Dutch warships. They found that the Dutch had already scuttled two 70-gun ships, a 68-gun sheer hulk and a E. I.
company ship. The British forces burnt them and destroyed the guns and stores of the garrison and a battery on the island of Madura. - 1808 Richard SPENCER was appointed to SAMARANG on 8 April 1808, the date he was promoted commander, but did not join her until 23 November. (Lieut. SPENCER had been badly wounded in the spring of 1807 At the capture of the schooner CRAFTY, late RENARD, by the Spanish). East Indies.
- On 16 February 1810 DOVER, Capt. Edward TUCKER, CORNWALLIS and SAMARANG, operating off Java, attacked Amboyna. Numerous batteries had been erected around the anchorage since the island was restored to the Dutch at the Peace of Amiens and covered Fort Victoria and the anchorage.
- Marines and seamen from DOVER accompanied by troops from the Madras European regiment, since all three ships were deficient in marines, under Major Henry Court, were landed to attack batteries on the heights commanding Portuguese Bay at the same time as the ships opened fire.
The force of 401 officers and men included 35 from SAMARANG. They deceived the Dutch by standing out across the bay as though intending to work out to sea but actually they were drifting towards a selected spot on the beach before slipping all the boats which had been concealed on the opposite side of the vessels.
After two hours bombardment the landing force had occupied the heights and captured some of the batteries so the vessels were ordered to anchor. - During the night 40 men were landed from SAMARANG with two field pieces from DOVER under the direction of Capt. SPENCER and they managed to get them up the heights to cover Fort Victoria.
The following day, faced with the strength of the British positions, the Dutch commandant accepted the surrender terms he was offered and at 9 o'clock on the 19th. the original landing force marched into Fort Victoria. No less than 215 pieces of were found mounted in the fort and the batteries which had a garrison of 130 Europeans and more than 1,000 Javanese. A Dutch 12-gun national brig, MANDURESE, later raised by the British, and two cutter were sunk in the inner harbour. Their crews, which included many Europeans, numbered 220 men. - The squadron captured one ship, six brigs and four sloops, all armed and laden with supplies for the various islands during March and April as well as accepting the surrender of the islands of Saparoua, Harouka and Nasso-Laut.
- Capt. SPENCER made a successful attack on the island of Pulo Ay from which he removed the garrison and ordnance. He also captured the Dutch brig RECRUTEUR of 12 guns and 50 men. She was commanded by Capt. D. Hegenoard. The Dutch governor, distressed at being forced to surrender to such a small force later committed suicide.
- On SAMARANG's return to Madras Capt. SPENCER was appointed to command the BLANCHE frigate. When he left the sloop on 18 August 1810 he carried with him a letter from her ship's company which had been penned by one of his boatswain's mates.
It testified to their esteem for his "Fatherly Conduct and Universal attention to everything Conducive to their health and Comfort during the time they had the honour of being under his command." Being at a loss how to go about it they also sought his advice on how to present him with a sword valued at 100 guineas for which the whole ship had subscribed. - At the beginning of January 1811 SAMARANG was at Madras being used as a flagship by Vice Ad.W. O'B DRURY while his ship, CAROLINE, was occupied in the attack on Banda Neira.
- 1812 Joseph DRURY, 02/1812, East Indies.
During most of 1813 SAMARANG was at Sydney where Capt. DRURY took advantage of the fact that the Governor, Col. Macquarie, was an army officer with no authority over him, and impressed a number of convicts. - 1814 William CASE, promoted out of MINDEN (74) in August 1812, East Indies.
|
|
|
