Beaulieu 16. With compass signals, the fleet to steer S. 7. With two guns, general chase. 67. To make more sail. 69. To shorten sail, but hauled down 71. Van to shorten sail. 87. Ships to windward to come down. N. B. The wind veering round, and blowing upon the shore, made the signal from the Venerable to the ships of our fleet not disabled to tow off the prizes. Wind by N. breezes. weather, At seven A. M. saw three large ships to leeward, standing to the squadron; on nearing them, found they had N. W each a red flag flying at the main-top-gallant-mast-head, being the signal for an enemy. These ships proved to be Captain Trollope's squadron, consisting of the Russel, Adamant, and Beaulieu frigate, who had kept sight of the Dutch fleet, and watched their motions. His Majesty's ship Circe, likewise one of that squadron, joined us afterwards. At half past eight o'clock A. M. saw the Dutch Fresh fleet to leeward; made the signal, bore up with the fleet, and and stood towards them. At fifty minutes past nine, made squally the signal for the fleet to make more sail. On approaching the enemy's fleet, saw them forming their line of battle on the larboard tack; their force consisting of sixteen sail of the line, three stout frigates, and two smaller ones, with five brigs, having four flags flying, viz. one blue at the main, one white at the mizen, 'one blue at the mizen, and one blue at the fore-top-gallant-mast-head. Their frigates and brigs drawn up to leeward of their line of battle ships, and placed opposite to the intervals, which rendered them a great annoyance to our ships, especially while passing through their line, and during the greatest part of the action. At eleven A. M. made the signal for the van to by N. shorten sail, to let the sternmost ships come up, and connect our line as well as time would permit. The enemy Squally at this time in a line of battle on the larboard tack, with with their main-top-sail-yards square, but keeping them shivering, and sometimes full, by which their line was gradually advancing towards their own shore, which, at this period, was not seven miles distant. The land in sight was situated between the village of Egmont and Camperdown. By the inequality of sailing of several of our ships, the squadron was unavoidably going down towards the enemy in no regular order of battle. Brought to for a short time on the starboard tack, in order to form them; but the enemy being still advancing towards their own shore, it was determined by our admiral to get between them and their own land, at all events, to prevent their escape. The signal for bearing up was therefore made before our ships could possibly get into any regular order of battle. Had our N. W. weather rain. time been lost in making a regular distribution of our ships, the Dutch fleet must have got so near their coast, it would have been impossible to follow them with any view of advantage. At fifty-three minutes past eleven, made the signal to pass through the enemy's line, and engage them to leeward. Soon after the signal was made for close action, and repeated by the Monarch and Powerful; it was kept flying on board the Venerable near an hour and a half, when it was shot away. About thirty' minutes past twelve, the action commenced by Vice-Admiral Onslow, in the Monarch, who broke through the enemy's line, passed under the Dutch Vice-Admiral's stern, and engaged him to leeward. The Venerable intending to engage the Dutch commander-in-chief, was prevented by the States General, of 76 guns, bearing a blue flag at the mizen, shooting close up with him; we therefore put our helm aport, run under his stern, engaged him close, and soon forced him to run out of the line. The Venerable then fell alongside the Dutch Admiral De Winter, in the Vryheid, who was for some time well supported, and kept up a very heavy fire upon us. At one o'clock the action was pretty general, except by the two or three van ships of the enemy's line, which got off without the smallest apparent injury. About half an hour after the commencement of the action on the part of the Venerable, who began only five minutes later than our own Vice-Admiral, the Hercules, a Dutch ship of 64 guns, caught fire a-head of us; she wore, and drove very near our ship to leeward, while we were engaged and very roughly handled by four ships of the enemy. A little before three o'clock, while passing to leeward of the Dutch Admiral and commanderin-chief on the opposite tack, our starboard broadside was fired, which took place principally among the rigging, as all her masts came immediately by the board; soon after he struck his colours, all farther opposition being vain and fruitless. Admiral Duncan despatched the Rose cutter with a note to the secretary of the Admiralty, containing the account of his having obtained a victory over the Dutch fleet. During the greatest part of the action, the weather was variable, with showers of rain, till half past two o'clock, when it fell almost calm. On its clearing up, we perceived nine ships of the enemy's line, and one stout fri gate, had struck. About four o'clock P. M. Admiral Def Winter was brought on board the Venerable by Mr. Charles Richardson, first lieutenant of the Circe, in the boat of that frigate, whose signal had been made for that purpose. The Venerable wore with the fleet, turning our heads off shore, which was not then distant above four or five miles. Began repairing the rigging, which, with the sails, masts, and yards, had suffered much in the action. The people likewise constantly at the pumps, having received a number of shot-holes below our water-line. Made the frigates and undisabled ships signals to take possession of prizes. During the battle, the Venerable was gallantly supported by the Ardent and Triumph, Admiral Duncan's seconds, and afterwards by his Majesty's ship Powerful, who had taken her opponent, then run up, and rendered effectual assistance to us, while surrounded by enemies. The Powerful and several others showed by their gallant conduct, that they perfectly understood the signal for close action. Could a doubt remain in the minds of any person in the fleet, about the meaning of any signal or manœuvre, they could not possibly mistake the gallant example of the two English Admirals, and several others, who entered completely into the meaning of the signal No. 34, and immediately pushed through the enemy's line, as the only method of defeating the Dutch fleet in the situation in which they wore. It was perfectly in the power of the whole British fleet to have put signal 34 into execution. The enemy was directly to leeward, and openings to pass through their line in several parts of it; but some of our ships, it is said, did not put No. 34 into execution. Notwithstanding, the 11th of October, 1797, will be remembered with pleasure by our friends, and regretted by our enemies. The foregoing account is so full, that it requires no addition or remark; suffice it, that we briefly state, the action commenced between twelve and one o'clock in the afternoon, and after continuing rather more than three hours with unceasing violence, was at last closed by the surrender of nine ships of the line, with two frigates; the remainder, though not without much difficulty, succeeding in effecting their escape. It has been remarked, and with some truth, that the laconic manner in which the gallant Admiral first announced his success to the Admiralty board, in no small degree resembled the celebrated letter of Captai Walton, written in consequence of his having attacked, taken, or destroyed, a detachment of the Spanish fleet off Syracuse. "We have taken," said that brave officer, "and destroyed all the Spanish ships and vessels that were upon the coast; the number as per margin. Yours, &c G. Walton." That which we bring into comparison with it was to the following purport: Venerable, off the coast of Holland, the 12th of October, by log (11th) there P. M. Camperdown E. S. E. eight miles. Wind N. by E. SIR, I have the pleasure to acquaint you, for the information of the lords commissioners of the Admiralty, that at nine o'clock this morning I got sight of the Dutch fleet; at half past twelve I passed through their line, and the action commenced, which has been very severe. The Admiral's ship is dismasted, and has struck, as have several others, and one on fire. I shall send Captain Fairfax with particulars the moment I can spare him. I am, &c. ADAM DUNCAN, The Admiral, as a public and proper reward for his very brilliant conduct on the foregoing occasion, was raised, by patent bearing date October the thirtieth, to the dignity of a Baron and Viscount of Great Britain, by the titles of BARON CAMPERDOWN and VISCOUNT DUNCAN. The Venerable had received so much damage, and had become so leaky, owing to the number of shot she had received in her hull, that she was, with the greatest difficulty, brought into port; and being found unfit for further service, without previously undergoing a thorough repair, was, of course, ordered to be dismantled for that purpose. His Lordship, who continued to retain his command, shifted his flag into the Kent, a new ship of 74 guns, then just launched. Soon as the ships destined to remain under his orders were refitted, he returned again to his station; and by his continued vigilance, the Dutch trade was almost annihilated: their vessels, whenever any were found hardy enough to attempt putting to sea, were captured in sight of their own ports; for the whole coast was so completely blockaded, that instances very rarely occurred of their being able to elude the extreme vigilance of the British cruisers. |