tified about three this morning, when detachments of the royals on the right, and of his majesty's 71st regiment on the left, took possession of the gates of the town. The garrison will march out to-morrow, and will be embarked as speedily as possible. I will now congratulate your lordship on the fall of a place so indispensably necessary to our foture operations, as so large a proportion of our force being required to carry on the siege with that degree of vigour and dispatch which the means of defence the enemy possessed, and particularly his powers of inundation, which was rapidly spreading to an alarming extent, rendered absolutely neces sary. Having hoped, had circumstances permitted, to have proceeded up the river at an earlier period, I had committed to Lieutenant-general Sir Eyre Coote the direction of the details of the siege, and of the ope⚫rations before Flushing, and I cannot sufficiently express my sense of the unremitting zeal and exertion with which he has conducted, the arduous service entrusted to him, in which he was ably assisted by Lieutenant-colonels Walsh and Offerey attached to him, as assistants in the adjutant and quarter-master-general's department. I have every reason to be satisfied with the judicious manner in which the general officers have directed the several operations, as well as with the spirit and intelligence manifested by the commanding officers of corps, and the zeal and ardour of all ranks of officers. It is with great pleasure I can report the uniform good conduct of the troops, who have not only on all occasions shewn the greatest intrepidity in presence of the enemy, but have sustained, with great pleasure and cheerfulness, the laborious duties they have had to perform. The active and persevering exertions of the corps of royal engineers have been conducted with much skill and judgment by Colonel Fyers, aided by Lieutenant-colonel D'Arcey, and it is impossible for me to do sufficient justice to the distinguished conduct of the officers and men of the royal artillery, under the able direction and animating example of Brigadier-general M'Leod. The seamen, whose labours had already been so useful to the army, sought their reward in a further opportunity of distinguishing themselves, and one of the batteries was accordingly entrusted to them, and which they served with admirable vigour and effect. I must here beg to express my strong sense of the constant and cordial co-operation of the navy on all occasions, and my warmest acknowledgments, are most particularly due to Captain Cockburn of the Belleisle, commanding the flotilla, and to Captain Richardson of the Cæsar, commanding the brigade of seamen landed with the army. I have the honour to enclose a return of the garrison of Flushing, in addition to which I have learned, that, besides the number killed, which was considerable, upwards of one thousand wounded men were transported to Cadsand, previous to the complete investment of the town. I also subjoin a statement of deserters and prisoners, exclusive of the garrison of Flushing. This dispatch will be delivered to Amount of the Garrison which surrendered at Flushing on the 15th Aug. 1809, under the command of Mounet, General of Division. Sixteen Officers of the Staff 101 Officers.-3773 Non-commissioned Officers and soldiers.-489 sick and wounded.--Total 4379. Return of prisoners and deserters, from the 30th July to August 15, 1809, taken in the Island of Walcheren. One Colonel, 1 Lieutenant-Col., 15 Captains, 27 Lieutenants, 1 Staff, 58 Serjeants, 13 Drummers, 1700 rank and file. Return of Officers, and of the number of Non-commissioned Offiers and rank and file killed, wounded, and missing, from the 8th inst. to the surrender of Flushing, on the morning of the 15th inclusive. Head-quarters, Middleburg, Aug. 16, 1809. Total-3 Officers, 1 Serjeant, 1 Drummer, 26 rank and file, killed; 15 Officers, 5 Serjeants, 2 Drummers, 83 rank and file, wounded; 1 rank and file missing. Names of Officers killed and wounded. Killed-5th Foot Capt. Talbot. -71st Foot, Ensign D. Sinclair.2d Light Battalion King's German Legion, Lieut. Sprecker. Wounded.-Royal Artillery, Lieutenant George Browne, slightly. Royal Engineers, Col. Pyres, slightly; Capt. Pasley, dangerously. 3d Batt. 1st Foot, Lieut. A. W. M'Kenzie, slightly.—2 Foot, Lieutenant Cutterbuck, slightly.-14th Foot, Ensign C. Harrald, danger. ously wounded Aug. 9, since dead. -36th Foot, Major M'Kenzie, dangerously.-98th Foot, Captain Soden slightly; Lieut. Smith, slightly.- 71st Foot, Capt. Spotiswoode, slightly; Lieut. D. M'Donald dangerously-77th Foot, Capt. A. V. Brown, dangerously. 81st Foot, Capt. Taylor, slightly; AssistantSurgeon Chizlet, dangerously.95th Foot, Lieut. Manners, slightly; wounded 3d August, not reported in time to be included in the preceding returns. ROBERT LONG, Col. Adj. Gen. Admiralty Office, Aug. 20, 1809. -Dispatches from Sir R. J. Strachan, Rear Admiral of the White. St. Domingo, FlushingRoads, Aug. 17, 1809. SIR, I have much satisfaction in acquainting you, that the town and garrison of Flushing have capitulated. It was my intention to have proceeded up the Scheld, with the division of frigates under Lord W. Stuart, and that the greater part of our flotilla had advanced to Bathz, in the charge of Sir Home Popham, by whom the enemy were driven above Lillo, where their ships and gun-brigs had taken up a strong position. The com mand of the important service of the Scheld I have given to Sir R. Keats, and he has my direction to co-operate with Lieut. General the Earl of Rosslyn, as well as to use every means in his power for cap turing or destroying the fleet and flotilla of the enemy. Rear Admiral Lord Gardner remained with the ships named in the margin off Dykeshook, and his Lordship had received my direction to hold that squadron in readiness to go against the garrison of Flushing. On the 12th instant, I was informed by Lord Chatham, that the advanced batteries were sufficiently prepared to open on the enemy the day following, at one o'clock in the afternoon; and as it appeared to me of consequence that the line of battle ships should pass the town at the same moment, I therefore abandoned my intention of going up to the advanced flotilla, and proceeding to Dykeshook hoisted my flag in the St. Domingo. The batteries opened on the garrison as it was previously settled, at one in the afternoon of the 13th instant,' and the fire was returned with great vigour by the enemy. The bombs and gun vessels under the direction of Captain Cockburn, of the Belleisle, were most judiciously placed at the south east end of the town; and to the south west, Capt. Owen, of the Clyde, had with equal skill and judgment, placed the bomb and other vessels under his orders. I had much satisfaction in witnessing the fire that was kept up by the squadrons under the command of these two officers, and the precision with which the shells were thrown from the bombs. Unfortunately the wind was too scant to allow me to weigh when the batteries opened, but, it proving more favourable the following day, I immediately put that intention into execution, and at ten in the forenoon of the 14th proceeded with the ships already named towards Flushing, meaning to pass to a more convenient auchorage for placing the squadron against it when such a measure should ap pear to be necessary. This squadron was led in by the St. Domingo, bearing my flag, and I was followed by the Blake, with the flag of Rear-Admiral Lord Gardner; the other ships advanced in succession. Soon after we had opened our fire, the wind came more southerly, and the St. Domingo grounded inside of the DogSand. Lord Gardner not knowing our situation, passed inside of us, by which the Blake also grounded. The other ships were inmediately directed to haul off, and anchor as previously intended. After being some time in this situation, during which the enemy's fire slackened by the active and zealous exertions of Captain Owen, of the Clyde, who came to our assistance, and anchored close to the St. Domingo, she was got off, and soon after I had the satisfaction of seeing the Blake also afloat, and come to anchor with the rest of the squadron. The fire of the enemy towards the evening had considerably abated; the town was burning in many places, and much damage was done to the houses.-At seven o'clock I received a message from Lieut.-Gen. Sir Eyre Coote, requesting I would cease hostilities, as a summons had been sent into Flushing; but at night the fire again commenced, and was kept up without intermission until two * St. Domingo, Blake, Repulse, Victorious, Denmark, Audacious, and Venerable. o'clock of the morning of the 15th, when the French Commandant, General Monnet, offered to surrender. This was communicated to me by the Lieut. Gen., and in consequence I directed the flag of truce to be hoisted at day-light, on board his majesty's ships, and that hostilities should cease. The Lieut.-Gen. having intimated that two Commissioners should be sent on the part of the navy, to assist in the proposed capitulation, I nominated Lord Gardner to meet Sir Eyre Coote, at East Zouburg, and to take with him Capt. Cockburn, to act in conjunction with the officers on the part of the enemy. Shortly after I received a message from the Earl of Chatham, requesting to see me at Zouburg, On my arrival there, I found his lordship had selected Col. Long, Adjutant-Gen. of the army, and Capt. Cockburn, to be the Commissioners for settling the terms of capitulation, which were finally concluded late in the evening of the 15th. I have much pleasure in bearing the most ample testimony to the exertions of Sir Home Popham, with the advanced flotilla, in the upper part of the West. Scheld, which Iras been of the most essential service. Names of Officers killed and wounded. Marlborough, Lieut. Rennie, killed.-San Josef, Lieut. Russel, and Mr. Burnside, Surgeon, slightly wounded. Inclosure from Rear-Admiral Otway, of the Monarch. East Zouburg, before Flushing, August 16. SIR-On the 28th ultimo, I landed with the army on the SandHills, near the signal post on the Island of Walcheren. On the 30th ultimo, the officers and seamen under my orders, were composed (Signed) R. J. STRACHAN. of three divisions, having charge of Camilla, in the West Scheld, August 15, 1809. SIR,- yesterday hoisted my flag in the Camilla, and am at present with 18 sloops and gun-brigs, and four divisions of gun boats, lying between the Saeftingen shoals, a position judiciously chosen by Capt. Sir Home Popham, as it effectually cuts, off the communica nine pieces of ordnance, which were diawn and worked by them. At eight A. M. on the 31st, the left division took post before Ter Veere, and joined in the attack of that place, throwing several cases of rockets into it with good effect; during the night a flag of truce was received, and the terms of capitulation agreed to and signed by Gen. Fraser and myself. On the 1st instant instant the troops quitted Ter Veere, on their way to Fort Ramekens, when we were, constantly employed in the construction of works, and drawing heavy cannon, til it also capitulated on the 2d at night. The detachment then proceeded to East Zouburg, and were employed day and night in cutting fascines, erecting batteries, and drawing heavy ordnance unto them. The artillery horses being found inadequate to perform that service, from the narrow roads, darkness of the night, and difficulty of driving clear of the ditches, into which they had thrown several 24-pounder guns and carriages. This important duty, from the heavy rains and soft muddy soil, was attended with the greatest difficulty and fatigue. After having assisted in mounting all the batteries, and otherwise completing them, on the 12th, General Sir Eyre Coote honoured me with the command of a new work just lined out for six 24-pounders; we made every possible exertion to complete it under a galling tire from the enemy's ramparts, distant only 600 yards; during the day, four were killed and one wounded in the battery. At sun-rise on the 14th, we opened a most destructive fire on the rampart and town in front of us, and in two hours every gun we could bear upon was silent. Our fire was kept up incessantly until about seven o'clock in the evening, when I received an order to cease firing, as did all the other. works. We immediately put the battery in a state for renewing the fire, if found necessary, and at nine we opened again by order, with still greater effect, and continued our fire until two o'clock, when we ceased to fire, by order, the French General having agreed to capitulate on the basis of the garrison becoming prisoners of war. I have the honour to be, &c. CHARLES RICHARDSON. Rear-Admiral Wm. A. Otway. A return of the killed and wounded belonging to his majesty's ships, in passing the batteries of Flushing, on the 15th August, 1809. Blake.-Killed. James Gatt, serjeant of marines; John Lowry, seaman. Wounded. Andrew Money, seaman, slightly; Thomas Coat, seaman, slightly; Robert M'Burnie, seaman, slightly; James Lee, seaman, slightly; James Goodby, private of marines, severely; William Stewart, corporal of marines, severely; John Macnamara, private of marines, slightly; William Manby, private of marines, slightly; William Firby, private of marines, slightly. San Domingo.-Wounded. John Maynard, Charles M'Murray, Hugh Molloy, James Grady, Richard Plat, John Kirby, William Connor, Joseph Clearman, and William Owens, seamen.-Total, 2 killed, 18 wounded. (Copy) R J. STRACHAN. |