AL
NORTH -CAROLINA WEEKLY ADVERTISER.
" Ours arc the Plans of fair delightful Peace,
" pnwarp'd by Party Rage to live like Brothers.
Voi. I,
Tuesday, November 5, 1799.
N
o.
E
4
ENGLAND. , If
the London Gazette Extraordi
j' nary 9 of September 6.
f I I Downing Street, Ag 2.
" A difpatch, of which the follow
ing s a copy, was this day received
'by the Rt. Hon. Henry Dundas,
one of his Majefty's principal fecre
taries of State, frtm Lieut, Gen.
Sir R. Abercrombv,. K. B.
Helder, Aujuft 28.
i Sir,
From the fir ft dav after our depar
ture from England, we experien
ced luch a feries of bad'weather, as
is very uncommon at tins feafon of
the year
'The ardor of . Admiral Mitchell
for the fervice in which we were
jointly engaged, left it only with
me, to follow his example of zeal
and perseverance, in which I was
encouraged by the maner in which
he keptia numerous convoy collec
ted. It was our deterrpirTtfion nqtj to
depart from the reflution of attack
ing the Helder, unlefs we fhould
have been prevented by the want of
water arid provifions.
On the forenoon of the 21ft in ft .
the weather proved fo favourable,
that we flood in upon the Dutch
coaft, and .had made every prepara
tion to land' on the 23d, when we
were forced to fea by a heavy gale
of wind.
l' It was not until the evening of
the 25th, that the weather began
once more to clear up.
On the 26th, we came to anchor
near the fhore of the Helder, and
on the 27th, in the morning, the
troops Began to di fern bark at day
light. T
Although the enemy did not op
pofe our landing, yet the firft divi
sion had fcarcely began to move for
ward, before they got into action,
T'.thich continued from five o'clock
in the morning, until three o'clock
in the afternoon.
The enemy had a trembled a very
confidcrablebfsdy of infantry, caval
ry, and artillery, near Callang
ftrong, and made repeated attacks
on our right with frefh troops. f
Our pofition was on a ridge bf
fand hills, ftretching along the
coaft from North to South. Our
right flank was unavoidably expo
fed to the whole front of the ene
my. WjVJiad no where fufficient
ground pn our right to form more
than one battalion in line, ; vet, on
the whole, our pofition, though
fin gular was not in our fituation,:
difadvantageous, having neither ca
valry nor artillery. i .
By the courage arid perfeverance
of the troops, .the dnemy was fairly
worn opt, and obliged to retire in
the evening to a pofition two leagues
in his rear.
The xonteft was arduous, and
, the lofs was confiderablel We have
to regret many valuable officers loft
I to the fervice, who have either fal
len orbeen difabled by their wounds.
The corps principally engaged were
the referve under ..the command of
Col. Macdonaldy confifting of the
3d and 55th regiment.
The regiments of Major Gen.
Coote's brigade, which have been
much engaged, were the Queen's,1
the 27th, the 2othy and 85th regi
uments. i ' I ' .
. Major Cen. Ovley's brigade was
brought into action towards the
clofe of! the day, and has fuftained
iome lofs. - . .
As the enemy ftill held the II el
der witlf a.garrifon of rear of 2000
men, it was determined to attack it
before day-break, on the morning
of the 28th, and" the brigade under
M njor Geh. Moore, appointed by
Major Gen. Biirrard's. were defti-
- ned fori this fervice ; but about 8
V'clock yefterday evening, "the
Dutch fleet in the Meer's Diep got
.under way, and the garrifon was
withdrawn, taking their rout
through the marines towards Mc-
rfemblick, having prcvioufly fpiked
the guns in the batteries, and des
troyed iome of the carriages. About
o, at night, Maf6r Gen. Moore,
witn the fecond battal ion of the
royals, and the Q2d regiment, Un
der the commtmrtof Lord Hunily,
took ppffefuon of this important
poft, iii which he found a numerous
artillery, of the heft kind, both
iicavy and facld train.
All that part of the Dutch fleet
in' the Nieuve Deep, together with
their naval magazine at Nieuve
Werk, fell into our hinds this
morning; a fulj detail of which, it
is not in my power to Tend. This
day we have the fatisfaftipn to fee
the Britifh flag flying inthe Meer's
Diep, and part ' of the $cco men,
under the command of 'Major Gen.
Don, difemharking under the bat
teries of the Helder.
During the courfe of the aftion,
I had the. misfortune to lofe he fer
vice of Lieut. Gen.Sii James Poult
neyi from a wound he received in
his arm, but not before he had done
hirrifelf the greateft honor, and . I
was fully fenfible of the lofs of him.
Major Gen. Coote fupplied his
place with-ability.
Col. Macdonald who cotrtmznds
the referve, and who "wa very
much engaged during the cotirfc of
the day, though wounded, did not
quit the field.
Lieut. Col. Maitland, returnic
to England, to go on another fer
vice, and Major Kempt, my aid-de-camp,
and bearer of this letter,
whom I beg leave to recommend to
your notice andiprotf clion. will be
able to give any further informati
on which it may be required.
A lift of the .killed and ;woundcd
as far as we have hren able to alcer
tain it, accompanies this letter.
I have the honor to be, &c. &c.
RALfH ABERCROMBY,
lo the Rt, Hon, Henry Dundas, &c.
, Admiialty-OfHce, Sept. s.
Capt. Hope, of his Mjefty's fhip
Kent, and Capt. Oughton of his
Majefty's ihip Ifis, arrived this afternoon-
with difpatches from Ad
miral Lord Vifcount Duncan, of
which the following is a copy;
Kent,, off AldUorougb. : ;
VSunday, September .1.
Sir, .
I tranfmit, for the information
of my Lords Commiffioricrs of the
Admiralty, a letter, to me from
Vice-Admiral Mitchell, giving a
diftinft detail of the great fucceffes
with wnich it has pieaied Almignty
God to crown his Majeity's arms.
The boldnefs off the ,Vice-Admiral
in rirnning in on an open fhore
vith fo numerous a fleet, and in fo
very unfettled weather, could only
be equalled by the gallantry of Sir
Ralph Abercromby, and his brave
troops, landing in the face of a moft
formidable oppofition. During the
whole of the Conflict on Tuelday,
I could plainly perceive the vaft
fuperiority of the Britifh troops o-
ver thofe of the ancmy ; thqughop-
p o fed with obftin acy., a nd iri j uftice
to both the land and lea lervice, I
muft fay, that ; I never in myMife,
witneffed moVe Junanimity and zeal,
than has pervaded all -ranks to bring
the expedition to its prefent happy
ltiuc. ; r-
Finding the Kent, with fevcral
of the Ruffian 74 gun fhips to draw
too much water to get into the har
bour, I rnve returned with them
to this anchorage; but previous to
my getting under way at 8 o'clock
on Friday morning, I had the plen-
furr tr ee. Virp.. A dmiral Tif-Kin
with the men of vvar, tranfports,
and arsncd vcfTels, in a fair way of
enteiing the Texei with a, fair wind,
and have not the leaft doubt, that
the whole of the Dutch fleet were
in our pGiTeffion by noon on that
day.
Thefe difpatches will be deliver
ed by Cants. Hope and Oughton,
both able and intelligent officers,
and who will give their Lordfhips
more iatisfactory information rela
tive to our fucrefsful operations.
I fhall now add my fincere con
gratulations to their Lordfhips on
this great event, which I think, in
its confequences, may be ranked a-
mong one of the greateft ! that has
happened during. the war.'
I am, Sir, &c. ;
f DUNCAN.
P. S. The winds having proved
unfavourable, has occahoned my
anchoring here; but I fhall pro
ceed to Yarmouth, as ibon as the
weather moderates. : . :
. Ifis, at anchor off the, Texel,j .
Augull 2y, r 799.
MY LORD, ! ' Z iv; .;;!;:
In a former letter I had' the hpn
or to write your ibrdfhip-,' I there
mentioned the reaibns thatmad de-
termined Sir Ralph Abercromby
and myfelf not to prfevere longer
than the 26th, in our refolution to
attack the Helder and port of the
Tejiel, unlefs the wind became more
moderate- Fortunately, the gale II
abated that morning, apd thougrra
very heavy fwell conti'jnued to fet
in from the northward, I thought
the moment was not tp be loft in
making the final attdmpt. The
fleet therefore bore up to; take the
anchorage, and I was happy to fee
the tranfports and all ithe bombs,
floops and gun veiTels in their fixati
on to cover the landing of the
troops bv three in the afternoon of
that day,! when the fignal was made
to prepare for landing. ; The Gene-
ral, however, not thinking it pru-
dent to begin difembarking folate
on that day, it was determined to
delay it until two in the morning
of the 27th. The intervening time
was occupied in making the former
?.ja-rge merits more complete, and by
explaining to all the Captains indi-
vidually my ideas fully to them, that
the fervice might profit by their u
nited exertions. The troops were
accordingly all in the boats by three
o'clock ; and the fignal being made,
to row towards the fhore, the line
of gun-boats, floops of war. and
bombs opened a warm and well di
rected fire to fcourpe' tli beach,
;md a landing was-effecled with lit
tle Lois. Alter the fitit party had
gained the fhore. I went with Sir
Ralph Abercromby, that I might
iuperintend the landing of the reft,
and with the aid of the different
Captains, who appeared animated
but rith one mind, the whole were
difembarked with as grteat regulari
ty as poffible.
The ardour and intrepidity which
the troops difplayed, fopn drove the
nr.my from the ncareft fand-hills ;
and the prefence of Sir Ralph Aber
crtnby by himfef, w-hoie appear4
ante gave confidence cb all, fecured
to'us, after a long anjd very warm
conteft, thepoiTeffion bf the whole
neck of land, between the Kiek
Down and the road leading to Alk
maer, and near to the village of Cal
lanfloog. 1
Laie that night the Helder-Point
was evacuated by the ; enebiy, and
taker. pciTsffion of by on): troops
quietly in the morning, as were the
men of war named in the enclofed
lift, and manv' larre tranfoorts and
j : i ,
ndiamen by us the next day. I
ilpatched Capt. Oughton. my own
Captain to the Helder Point lail
evening to bring off the pilots, and
he-has, returned with enough to
take-n all the fbips ncceffary to re
ducing' the remaining; force of the
Dutch fleet, which I amdetermined
to follow to the walls of Amfterdam,
until they furrender or capitulate
for his Serene Hijihneifs the Prince
pf Orange's fervice. ; .
I mute now my Ldrd, ackfiow-
ledge in the warmeft.4 manner the
high degree of obligation I am un
der to your Lordfhip for the liberal
manner in which you continued to
entruft to my directions the fervice
1 have had the honor to execute
under your immediate eye ; a be
haviour which added ' to my wifh
to do ail m my power to forward
trie views of Sir Ralph Abercromby,
has been highly grateful to me.
; It is impomble foj rrie fufficicntly
to expreis my admiriation of the
bravery and conductiof the General
arid 'thej.whole armyj ior the unani
mitvT withl4hich oUr! whole armv
and navy bVllthi? occiafion, having; ,
to ule & :iIVnays pnraie, punea
hbrtilvlioMlHeir. L .k' - :i
WhcHi till ifekert ibhs of all you
did me the VU nor to put under my
orders havejien fo great, it is al-
moft. impoffible toparticularile any.;
bin Capt. Oughtwi ha$ had fo much
to .do-, from the brlt embarking 01
the troops to the prcifebt moment.
and he has fhewn himielr 10 itre-
nuous in his exertions for the good
oif the expediticin, as j-vell as giving
me much affiftance irprn his advice
on every occafion. tfiat 1 cannot
but mention 'hlsn iri the higheft
manner to your Lordfhip, and at
the fame time exprefsimy wifh that
your Lordfhip wilt Tiaffor him to ac
company whoever may bear ypur
difpatches tq England, as 1 think
tpeocartpweag ne nas gameo,
aftC
11 nrrarrii in inp r i .frrn ! n ' ns fir ( ic
htcated'
Ad mir;
-v -T. r" r-
Themanner in which the captains,
officers and fesmen, landed from the
fleet, and behaved while getting the
cannon and ammunition along to the
army, requires my particular thanks.
And here let me include in a fpecial
manner, the Ruffian detachment of
boats, from whofe aid and mdft or
derly behaviour, the fervice was
much benefitted indeed.
I am alfo much indebted to Capt.
Hope, for the clear manner in which
he communicated to me your lord
fhip's ideas aall times, when fent
to me by yourfordfhjp for that rur-
pofe, as every thing was better un-
derftood from fucrrexplanation than
they could other wife have been by
letter. ,
It is impoffible for me to furnifh
your lordfhip at prefent with any lift
of the killed, wounded or miffing
feamen, or of thofe who were unfor-
tunately drowned on the beach, in
landing 'the troops, having as yet no
returns made to me ; but 1 am very
forry to fay, that I was myfelf wit-
nefs to feveral boats overletting on
he lurf. in which I fear feveral lives
were loft. I have the honour to be,
A. MITCHELL.
To the Rt. Hon. Adm.'.LdVifc. "
Duncan, Commander in Chief, &c.
A HJi cf men of tear, &c. taken p off cf
fio.n cf in the Nizueve Diep.
Brocderfchap (guardOiip) of 54
guns'; Vefwagting, of 64,guns ;
Heldm, of 32 guns; Venus, Dalk.
and Minerva, of 24 guns each;; Hec
tor, of 44 guns ; and about thirteen
Indiamen and tranfports.
A. MITCHELL.
Admiralty '-office, Sept. 3, 1799.
Lieutenant-Collier, of his Ma
jefty'fhip Ifis, arrived this day with
diipatches from ice-Admiral Mit
chell, to Evan Nepean, Elq. Se
cretary to the Admiralty, ofvhich
the following are copies.
Ifii, at anchor at ihe red buey, Bear
the Vlicter. Aug. 30, 1799,
MK, 2 o'clock V.M.'
. I have the very great fatisfalion
to acquaint you for the information
of the Lords Commiffioners of the
Admiralty, that the whole-: of the
Dutch fleet near Vlieter. furren-
dered without firing a fingle gun.
agreeably to lummons 1 lent this
morning.. The Dutch fquadrori
was to be held for the orders of his
Serene Hiffhnefs1 the Prince of
-Orange, and the orders I may re
ceive from the Lords Commiffioners
of the Admiralty for their further
proceedings.
I have the honour to be. Sir. &c.
MITCHELL.
Evean Nepean, Efq. -
IS if, at anchor at the rti buoy, near
the vlicter, Aug." 31, 1799.
SIR,
It blowing ft rong from the South-
weft, and alio the flood tide, I
could not fend away my fhort letter
of la ft night ; I therefore have, in
addition, to requeit vou will lay
before the Lords Commiffioners of
the Admiralty, that themorning of
yciterday I got the icpiadron under
way at five o'clock, and imme
diately formed the line of battle, and
to prepare torT3attle.
In ,1'unning m, two of the line
of fhips Ratvilam and America, and
the Latona frigate too:. the ground.
We palled the Helder Pojnt and
Meers Diep, and continued our
courfe along the 1 exel in the Chan
nel that leads toVleiter, the Dutch
fquadron laying at anchor in a line
at the red buoy in tne boutn-eait
courfe. V
The Latona frigate got off and
jpined me; but as the two line of
battle mips did not, I doled the
line. About half pa ft-ten T fent
Captain Rennie, of the Viclor,
With a lummons to the Dutch Ad
miral, as it was Lord Duncan's wifh
I fhould do lb ; 3nd in her way fhe
picked upon a flag of truce with two
Dutch captamSj from the Diitch
Admiral to me. Captain Rennie
very properlv brought- thm on
board; and from a convocation of
a few minutes I was induced to an
chor in a line at-a fhort diftance
from the Dutch' fquadron, at then
eamefl requeft.
. t Tt i-ft 11 vrtA lirit Vi mix rrsfitiTf
oi.dcri not to alter the pofition of
the (hips, nor tp,dj any thing What,
n -i " . . r?..?- . -,
ii ioeveir- io iriemanQ in one noux 10
fubmit or to take the confequences
In Iefs than the time, they re
turned with a verbal anfwer, that
they fubmitted according to ther
fummons, and fhould confider them-1
felve (the officers), on parole, until
I heard from the Lords Commif-'
fioners of the Admiralty, and the
Prince of Orange, for my further
proceedings. - i '
I have now the honour to enclofe
you herewith the lipe of battle in ':
which the fquadron advanced, a co- t
py of my fummons to the Dutch
Admiral, andalfo a liftof the Dutch
fleet.
Admiral Story's flag is down, 3nd
I have fent an officer on board each
of his fhip'sto have an eye over and
the charge of them, as thetrffelves'
requefted that it fhould be fq.
I have alfo furnifhed them with 4
the Prince of Orange's ftandard,
many of them not having had it be-
fore, and they are now all under 1
thefe colour?. -
To maintain quiet among their !
crews, 1 iliued a ltrong manireito,
of which I alfd inclofe a copy here- j
with. i J I
The animated exertions and con
duel of the whole fquadron are far
above any praife I can beltow on 'I
them ; but I fhall ever teel molt ;
fenfibly imprefied on my heart their
fpirited conduft during the whole j
of this bnfinHs. We have all relt 1
the fame fame zeal for the honour
of -our Sovereign 3nd our country ; j
and although the conclufion has A
not turned out as we expected, yct j
the merit I may fay, in fome mea-- j
fure, is Oill not the lefs due to my j
fquadron ; and if I had brought them j
to action, I -trull it would have
added another laurel to the Navy o
England in this prefent warl Tho
Dutch were aftoniihed at and tliun?
der ftfuck at the approich of our
Iquaqron, never believing it poihblc
that we could fc foon have laid
down the buoys, and led down to
them in line of battle in a Channtl
where they themfeives go through
but with one or two imps at a
time.
I have fent Lieut. Collier with
thefe difpatches, who-will give
their Lordfhips every information,
s he has been ernployed in the wholes
communication with the JJutcrt 1
fquadron, and was alfoon fhore with i
me as my Aid-de-Camp, on the day .!
of hnding.
I have the honor to be be. &c.
':' A. MITCHELL.
P. S. Since writing the above I
received the Dutch Admiral's an
fwer, in writing, which 1 enclofe
herewith.
A LiJl of the D utch fquadrcn, frh rv.
pnffeffion of in the Uxel, by i ut
Admiral Mitchell, Augujl 29, 1799. '
Wafhington, RrarAdmiral Story,
Cantam Chapelle, 74 E"ns.
Guelderland, Capt. Waldeck, 68'
?uns. .
Admiral ' de Ruyter, Capt. Huijs,
68 suns
Utrecht Capt. Holf. 68 guns. . ,1
Cerberus, Capt. De Jong, ()S guns.
Levden. Capt. Van iSeram, 0J5 uns;
Befchcmner, Capt Lillbracht, 54
guns. - ,
Batavier, Capt. Van Sen den, .54
sru-s. Under the Vlieteri ..
Amphitre, Capt. Schutter, 44 gunj.
Under trie v lieier.
Mars, Capt. D.e Bock, 44 guns.
Ambufcade, Capt: Riverii 32 euns.
Galathea, Capt Droop5 lb guns.
' BAT AVI A.
HAGUE, SEF.6.
The Prefident of the Diplomatic
Bodvof the Batavian Republic, in
their lft Chamber, leffion of yefter.-
day, read a communication, itating
that according tothe accountsjxe had
receiyed, onr army was in the heft
ftate of defence, ana were daily re
ceiving laree reinforcerhenis: and
that theoutpolts ot the e&emy were , -
ftationed at Schagen, .and-thofedt'.,';
o - o - - - . - ' '.
our army at Petten ; tint tliz X
of Yoik had joined the fonrierawd :l
o-oay or lo-morrow, vf itnr i
command of th latter.; 'iIcratfof
f nirimVin iratpd S 1 'tlCf-IrPtfF tne EX.A
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