No danger even for an instant ing we got under weigh. I attached abated the ardour of the seamen him to colonel Campbell's comand soldiers. To their unanimity pany of the battallion of guards, his majesty and the country are in- where he acquitted himself much debted for our success. to his honour. No language of mine can do justice to the forces employed upon this occasion; and, as it is impossible to name each individual, I beg leave to state the great exertions of a few. To that excellent officer, major general Burrard, I shall feel everTasting obligation to his counsel, exertions, and ability, I am in a great measure to attribute the success of the enterprise. His majesty's guards, conspicuous upon all occasions, on this service have added to their former laurels. To colonel Calcraft, who commanded them; colonels Cunningham and Campbell, of the same corps; major Skinner, of the 23rd regiment, commanding the grenadiers; major Donkin, of the 44th regiment, commanding the light infantry; and captain Walker, commanding the royal artillery; I feel myself much indebted for their good conduct in the various services in which I employed them. In lieutenant Brownrigg, of the royal engineers, I found infinite ability and resource. His zeal and attention were eminently conspicuous; and in my opinion this gentleman bids fair to be of great future service to his country. I should not do justice to the zeal and spirit of lieutenant Gilham, of the Sussex militia, if I did not state to you, that, anxious to be employed in the service of his country, and to learn his profession, he applied to his commanding officer at Dover, the night before we sailed, for permission to join our force, He left Dover in a violent gale of wind, and came on board the morn Captain Visscher, sir Charles Grey's aide-de-camp, captain Williamson, my aide-de-camp, and major of brigade Thorley, I sent to attend the guards, light infantry, and grenadiers in their different positions, as well to give their assistance to the respective commanding officers, as to apprise me of any circumstance that might occur, so as to require my immediate information, they being thoroughly acquainted with the nature of the expedition. They conducted themselves to my most perfect satisface tion, as did lieutenant Cliften, of the royal art.llery, who attended me, capt. Cumberland of the 88rd regiment, and cornet Nixon of the 7th light dragoons, who acted as aide-de-camp to major general Burrard. In my letter of the 13th instant, I had the honour to inform you of my having accepted the services of Mr. Jarvis, a surgeon of Margate.— His great attention was unremitting, and his conduct upon this occasion is highly praise-worthy. To colonel Twiss I shall ever feel great obligation for the able assistance he gave me at Dover, in preparing the necessary instruments for destroying the sluice-gates, as well as for the instruction be was so kind to give lieutenant Brownrigg for this service. As a feint to cover the operation of bringing up the materials, and of destroying the sluices, capt. Popham and myself sent a summons to the commandant of Ostend to surrender the town and its dependencies to his majesty's forces under our command; which had the de sired effect. I have the honour to inclose you a copy of the summons, with the commandant's answer. By an unavoidable accident, the four light companies of the 1st guards, under the command of lieut.-colonels Warde and Boone, were not landed in the morning; I think it however but justice to declare, that every thing that brave men then could attempt was done at the imminent risk of their lives to accomplish it; and I am conscious the zeal and courage they manifested to partake in the dangers of their brother soldiers, would have made them ample sharers in any bonour to be acquired, or danger to be encountered on shore, had they been able to reach it. I have sent a dispatch to sir Charles Grey, by his aide-de-camp, captain Visscher; and captain Williamson, my aide-de-camp, will have the honour to deliver you this. Both these gentlemen are well qualified to give you any farther information; and I beg leave to recommend them to your notice and protection. I have the honour to be, &c, ETRE COOTE, maj-gen. Right hon. Henry Dundas, &c. &c. &c. Copy of the Summons sent for the Town of Ostend, &c. to furrender. Dated East of the Harbour of Ostend, May 19, 1798. SIR, We, the officers commanding the sea and land forces of his majesty the king of Great Britain, think it necessary to apprise you, that we shall be obliged to bombard and cannonade the town of Ostend, unless you, as commandant, shall immediately surrender the same, with its dependencies, troops, and military stores belonging to the republic, to the arms of our sovereigu. We leave you to take into your serious consideration the very formidable force now lying before the town and port of Ostend, as you cannot but be responsible for the consequences of a vain and fruitless resistance. We are willing to grant half an hour for your full consideration of the above terms, and are convinced that your humanity and good sense will point out the necessary steps to be taken to accede to our propo sals, as, in default thereof, we shall be under the necessity of immediately commencing hostilities. We have the honour to be, &c. EYRE COOTE, maj.-general. HOME POPHAM, capt. R. N. To his excellency the Commandant of Ostend. Translation of the Commandant of Ostend's Answer to the Summons. Liberty. Equality. Garriron of Ostend, 30th Floreal, 6th Year of the Republic. Muscar, Commandant of the Garrison of Ostend, to the Commander in Chief of the Troops of his Britannic Majesty. General, The council of war was sitting when I received the honour of your letter; we have unanimously resolved not to surrender this place until we shall have been buried under its ruins. (Signed) MUSCAR, Commandant of the garrison. 'Ostend, May 20, 1798. SIR, Major-general Coote, in his disspatch yesterday, had the honour to inform you of the brilliant success of the enterprise of which he had the command, as far as related to the destruction of the gates and sluices of the canal of Bruges. The general having been severely wounded this morning, I have the (G 2) painful painful task of detailing our unavoidable surrender soon after. On our return yesterday to the beach at eleven o'clock A. M. where we had disembarked, we found, that, from an increase of wind and surf, our communication with the fleet was nearly cut off, and that it was impossible to reembark the troops. The general, well aware of the risk we ran in staying in an enemy's country, naturally exasperated against us for the damage we had recently done them, attempted to get off some companies: but the boats soon filled with water, and it was with extreme difficulty the lives of the men were saved. It then became necessary to examine carefully the ground we were likely to fight upon; and such a choice was made as might have insured us success, bad any thing like an equal force presented itself. Major-general Coote took every precaution the evening and the night afforded, to make our post among the sand hills upon the shore as tenable as possible, by directing heutenant Brownrigg, of the royal engineers, to make small entrenchments where it was necessary, and, by planting the few fieldpieces and the howitzer we had on the most favourable spots, to annoy the enemy in their approach to attack us. In momentary expectation of them, we impatiently looked for a favourable opportunity to get into our boats; but uutortunately it never presented itself. About four o'clock this morning (the wind and surf. having increased during the night) we perceived plainly two strong columns of the enemy advancing on our front; and soon after we found se veral other columns upon Our The action began by a cannonade from their horse-artillery, which was answered from our field-pieces and howitzer with great animation. Our artillery was served admirably; and, had not the enemy soon after turned our flanks, which, from their very great numbers, could not be prevented, they would have paid dear indeed for any advantage their superiority of numbers gave them. The force they employed, we have since found, was assembled from Ghent, Bruges, and Dunkirk; and general Coote and myself were very soon convinced that our case was desperate, and that we had no choice left but to defend our post, such as it was, for the honour of his majesty's arms, as long as we were able. We maintained this very severe and unequal conflict for nearly two hours, in which extreme hot fire was interchanged, particularly on our left flank, which, as well as our right, was now completely turned. Wishing, however, to make one strong effort, major-general Coote ordered major Domkins, of the 44th regiment, on the left, with a company of light infantry, to endeavour to turn that flank of the enemy which had most impression upon us, and colonel Campbell, with his own light company of the guards, to effect the same purpose by a concealed and rapid march round the Sand-Hills. The uncommon exertions of these two invaluable officers, when the signal was made for them to advance, are above all praise; their companies in the attempt were much cut down, and col. Campbell and major Donkin, with one subaltern (captain Duff), were wounded.-About this time major general general Coote perceived that part of the 11th regiment, towards our left, had given way, and was likely to distress the other parts of the frout nearest to it. At the moment he was endeavouring to rally them, and had put himself at their head to regain the lost and advantageous ground from which they had retreated, at that most critical period, when most conspicuous for gallantry and conduct, he received a very severe wound in his thigh; and being unable to go on, he sent for me from the right, where I was stationed. We both found that our front was broken, and our flanks completely turned, the enemy pouring in upon us on all sides, and several valuable officers and many of our best men killed and wounded. It was evident we could not hold out ten minutes longer; and therefore we thought it more our duty to preserve the lives of the brave men we commanded, than to sacrifice them to what, we conceived, was a mistaken point of honour. Had we acted differently, it is probable that in less than what I have just mentioned, their fate would have been decided by the bayo net. Major-general Coote, by whose bed I am writing, has enjoined me to repeat the praises (and I am witness he has justly bestowed them) on the officers and men which he had the honour to mention in bis dispatch of yesterday. And we hope, that, although we have not been finally successful in re-embarking, our conduct and exertions, in having effected the object of the enterprise, will be deemed honourable by his majesty and our country; and we rely upon his gracious acceptance of our endeavours and zeal in the attempt to extricate the troops entrusted to our charge from difficulties both unavoidable and insurmountable. Major general Coote and myself would willingly bestow praise where it is due; but, among many coinpetitors, it is difficult to select without appearing to overlook others well deserving. We have, sir, however, the honour of mentioning to you colonel Campbell of the third guards light infantry, and major Donkin, of the 44th, whose conduct, if any thing could have protracted our fate, had been equal to the difficulty of effecting it. Captain Walker commanding the royal artillery, captains Wilson and Godfrey, and lieutenants Simpson, Hughes,and Holcroft, all of the same distinguished corps, after having done every thing which men could do, spiked their guns, and threw them over the banks, at the nroment the enemy were possessing themselves of them. The latter gentleman, lieut. Holcroft, when all his men were wounded except one, remained at his gun doing duty with it to the best of his ability. Captain Gibbs of the 11th, and captain Halkett of the 23d light infantry, eminently distinguished themselves by their cool intrepid conduct during the whole time. All the gentlemen of the staff conducted themselves much to the satisfaction of major-general Coote and myself. To captain Cumberland of the 83d, and cornet Nixon of the 7th light dragoons, who flatteringly of fered to accompany me, and who acted as my aide-de-camp, I am much indebted; their attention and activity I found of most material service. Mr. Lowen, volunteer, attached to the 23d light infantry, was (G 3) twice twice wounded, and was particularly conspicuous, and remarked as a most promising soldier. We think it but justice to the enemy to say, that our wounded are treated with humanity: many of them are in the hospital of this town, and are well, attended by their surgeons. Our numbers on shore were about 1000 men, of which we are afraid there are from 100 to 150 killed and wounded. The enemy, by all accounts, have lost about the same number; but it is impossible to give any just return of the number. we have lost, till we hear from Bruges, where the prisoners were sent. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. The Right Hon. Henry P. S. A return of the killed and wounded is now more regularly transmitted by major-generalCoote. (Signed) EYRE COOTE, M. G. Ostend, June 17, 1798. Return of officers, non-commis sioned Officers, Rank and File, and Seamen, killed, wounded, and missing, on the Sand-Hills near Ostend, 20th May, 1798. Royal Artillery.-6 rank and file killed; 1 captain, 5 rank and file wounded; 20 rank and file mis si g Royal Engineers.-2 rank and file killed; 5 rank and file wounded. 17th light dragoons.-1 rank and file wounded. 1st gds.-1 rank and file wounded. 2d guards.-4 rank and file killed; 2 drummers missing, 3d guards.-6 rank and file killed; 1 colonel, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 7 rank and file wounded; 25 rank and file missing. 11th regiment of foot.-1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 serjeant, 9 rank and file killed; 2 serjeants, 28 rank and file wounded. 23d regiment of foot.-4 rank and file killed; 11 rank and file wounded. 44th regiment of foot.-1 major wounded. 49th regiment of foot.-1 rank and file wounded. Royal navy.-11 seamen killed; 3 seamen wounded. Total.-1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 serjeant, 31 rank and file, 11 sea. men killed; 1 colonel, 1 major, 2 captains, 1 lieutenant, 3 serjeants, 59 rank and file, 3 seamen wounded; 2 drummers, 45 rank and file missing. Names and Rank of Officers killed and wounded. Major-general Coote, badly wound ed. Colonel Campbell, 3d guards, badly wounded (uce dead). Colonel Hely, 11th regiment of foot, killed. Major Donkin, commanding batta lion of light infantry, wounded slightly. Captain Walker, commanding royal artillery, wounded (since dead). Captain Duff, 3d guards, slightly wounded. Volunteer Lowen, attached to the 23d light infantry, wounded se verely Royal Navy. Mr. Wisdom, Mr. Belding, mas ter's-mates of his Majesty's ship Circe, killed. From the best Accounts, M. THORLET, Major of Brigade. Ostend, June 10, 1798. Return of Officers, non.commis sioned, and Rank and File, un der the Command of Major-General Coote, surrendered Prisoners of War on the Sand-Hills, near Ostend, 20th May, 1798. Lisle.-Royal arullery-2 captains, 5 lieu |