On the 31st Jan. 1804, a squadron consisting of the Theseus 74, Captain John Bligh, senior officer; Hercule, Captain Richard Dalling Dunn; Blanche and Pique frigates, Captains Zachary Mudge and Charles B. H. Boss; and Gipsy schooner, commanded by Mr. Michael Fitton, arrived off the town of St. Ann, Curaçoa; having been sent by Sir John T. Duckworth to demand the surrender of that island upon liberal conditions, and in case of a refusal, to endeavour to reduce it by force. The following is an outline of the operations that ensued; and by comparing it with the account given by Mr. James, our readers will be enabled to correct several material errors in that part of his naval history.
Captain Ross having embarked on board the Gipsy, was despatched with a flag of truce and a summons to the Dutch governor, to surrender the colony to the British. At 9-30 A.M., the Gipsy stood out of the harbour, with a preconcerted signal displayed, announcing that the proposed terms had been rejected.
“The passage into the harbour is so narrow, that even with a fair wmd, (and it now blew off the land) a line-of-battle ship can with difficulty enter; and the batteries that command the harbour and town, including Fort République, against which, from its situation, an attack by storm is impracticable, mounted nearly 100 pieces of cannon. In the harbour were lying the Dutch 36-gun frigate Hatslaar, and two French privateers. Under these circumstances, no alternative remained but to try the effect of a landing. Leaving, therefore, the two frigates, as well to blockade the harbour, as to cause a diversion of the enemy’s force. Captain Bligh, with the two 74’s and schooner, bore up for a small cove which had been pointed out by Mr. Fitton as the most eligible spot for effecting a disembarkation.[1]”
According to a previous arrangement, the boats of the squadron, containing 605 officers, seamen, and marines, had assembled alongside the Hercule; and the whole detachment was placed under the orders of Captain Dunn.
- ↑ James, v. iii, p. 414.
