1810	Capture of Amboyna, &c.	315

mounting nine long 12-pounders, and one brass 32-pounder carronade, both batteries with very thick parapets. There were also two batteries on the heights : one, named Wannetoo, mounted five 12, two 8, and two 6 pounders, and two 5� inch brass howitzers ; the other, named Batto-Gautong, and situated about 1500 yards from the former, mounted four 12, and one 9 pounder. Both the last-named batteries commanded, as well the town of Amboyna, as the castle and anchorage of Victoria and the anchorage at Portuguese bay. The several forts were garrisoned by 130 European, and upwards of 1000 Javanese and Madurese troops ; exclusively of 220 officers and seamen, many of whom were Europeans, late belonging to the three vessels sunk in the inner harbour, and exclusively, also, of the Dutch inhabitants and burghers.

On the 16th, in the morning, the plan of attack was arranged ; and, at 2 p.m., every thing being in readiness, the Dover, Cornwallis, [should probably read Akbar, having been renamed in 1806], and Samarang weighed and stood across the bay, with the apparent intention of working out to sea. But the ships, by keeping their sails lifting, and other manoeuvres, contrived to drift towards the spot fixed upon for a landing ; the boats, all the while, remaining on the opposite side of the ships out of sight of the enemy. Upon a nearer approach, the three ships, by signal, bore up together, with a fine breeze ; and, passing within a cable's length of the landing-place, slipped all the boats at the same moment, also by signal. The ships then opened their fire ; and a smart cannonade was kept up between them and the different batteries on the shore.

The party in the boats consisting of a detachment of 46 officers and privates from the honourable company's coast artillery, 130 officers and privates of the Madras European regiment, and 225 officers, seamen, and marines belonging to the ships, in all 401 men, under the command of Captain Major Henry Court of the first-named corps, landed without opposition. Immediately a division of 180 men, under the command of Captain Phillips of the Madras European regiment, marched to the attack of the battery at Wannetoo ; which, after a determined opposition, was carried, with a loss to the garrison of two officers killed and one desperately wounded. Under the able direction of Lieutenant Duncan Stewart, of the artillery, who, although wounded, continued at his post, three of the Wannetoo guns were brought to bear upon the enemy in his retreat, and subsequently upon the position at Batto-Gautong; which had opened a fire upon the British, the instant the latter had taken possession of Wannetoo.

With the remaining force, Captain Court proceeded along the heights, to turn the enemy's position at Batto-Gautong. This division endured, with the greatest spirit and patience, a most fatiguing march ; ascending and descending hills, over which there were no roads, and many of which were so extremely

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