On the 26th of August, at break of day, the British troops marched to the assault. Colonel Gillespie com manded the infantry of the advance, and the grenadiers of the line, and was supported by Colonel Gibbs, with the 59th regiment, and the 4th battalion of Bengal vo lunteers. The object of this column was to surprise the redoubt constructed by the enemy beyond the Slo ken, to endeavour to cross the bridge over that stream with the fugitives, and then to assault the redoubts with in the lines. Lieutenant Colonel M`Leod, at the head of six companies of the 69th, was directed to follow a path on the banks of the Jacatra, and when the attack upon the Sloken had commenced, to take possession of the enemy's left redoubt. Major Yule, with the flank corps of the reserve, reinforced by two troops of cavalry, four guns of the horse artillery, two companies of the 69th, and the grenadiers of the reserve, was directed to attack the corps at Campong Maylayo, on the west of the Jacatra, and to cross the bridge at that post. The rest of the army under General \Vetherall was placed at the batteries, from which a column under Colonel Wood, consisting of the 78th regiment, and the fifth volunteer battalion, was directed to advance in front against the enemy at the first favourable moment, to force his way, and open the position for the line.
After a long detour through a close and intricate coun try, Colonel Gellespie came up with the advanced guard of the enemy, put it to the rout, and took possession of the advanced redoubt, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry. He then passed the bridge with the fugi tives, and, under a most tremendous fire, he assaulted and carried with the bayonet another redoubt. The two divisions of this column having now separated, Colonel Gibbs turned to the right, and with the 59th in front, and part of the 78th, who had forced their way in front, he carried a third redoubt. No sooner was this redoubt taken, than a tremendous explosion of the magazine took place, and destroyed a number of our officers and soldiers who were upon the ramparts which the enemy had abandoned. The left redoubt of the ene my was carried, in the most gallant manner, by Lieute nant Colonel M'Leod, who fell in the very moment of victory. The front of the position being now opened, the troops rushed in from every quarter. While these operations were going on in the right, Colonel Gilles pie carried the redoubts towards the rear, and being joined by Lieutenant Colonel M'Leod of the 59th, with part of that corps, he directed him to attack the park of urtillery,—a duty which that officer discharged with the utmost gallantry, after having routed a body of the ene my's cavalry that had formed for the purpose of defend ing it. A strong body of the enemy who had posted themselves in the lines, in front of Fort Cornelis, main tained a sharp fire of musketry; but they were soon driven from their position, and the fort was taken by the British. The enemy being now completely dis persed, were pursued by Colonel Gillespie with the 14ili regiment, and a party of Sepoys, and by the sea men from the batteries, under the command of Captain Sayer of the Royal navy. The cavalry and horse artil lery, however, now effected a passage through the lines, and continued the pursuit, till the whole of the enemy's army was either killed, taken, or dispersed. The co
lumn under Major Yule, succeeded in routing the troops at Campong Maylayo, but he found the bridge on fire, and was therefore unable to proceed farther. The loss sustained by the British in these brilliant exploits, was 91 killed, and 513 wounded. More than 1000 of the enemy were buried in the works, multitudes were cut down in the retreat, the rivers were choked with the dead, and the huts and woods were filled with the wounded. Nearly 5000 prisoners were taken, among whom were three general officers, 34 field officers, 70 captains, and 150 subaltern officers.
General Jansens escaped with great difficulty during the action with the remnant of an army of 10,000. After reaching llugtenzorg, he retreated, by an eastern route, with the intention of collecting his remaining force, near Samarang, and retiring upon Solo. The British troops arrived at Samarang on the 9th September ; but in con sequence of an attack by the boats of the British squa dron, General Jansens had evacuated Samarang, and retired to a strong position about six miles off, where he erected batteries and entrenchments. This new posi tion was forced with great gallantry, by Colonel Gilles pie, who pursued the enemy to Oonorang, from which they were also compelled to retire in the utmost confu sion. An armistice was now requested by General Jan sens, and, on the 17th, a capitulation was signed, by which the French officers and privates were made pri soners of war.
The present year was not distinguished by any naval operations of peculiar interest or importance. With no enemy to encounter but the elements, the British navy could not be expected to gather many laurels. The de fence of Anholt by a handful of British sailors and sol diers, is perhaps one of the most brilliant exploits that we have had occasion to record. On the 27th of March, this island was attacked by a Danish flotilla, consisting of 18 heavy gun-boats, carrying nearly 4000 men. Hav ing landed in three divisions, they made three succes sive attempts to storm the fort and batteries; but they were uniformly repulsed by the bravery of the garrison. A signal was now made to the Danish gun-boats, which opened a heavy fire on our works ; but a well directed discharge of grape and musketry from the two batteries, killed their leader, who was a captain in the Danish navy, and made great havoc among the troops. Dis couraged by the loss of their commander, the Danes retired for shelter behind some sand hills; but Lieute nant Baker anchored the Anholt schooner on their flank, and forced them, by a most destructive fire, to surren der at discretion. The loss of the Danes amounted to 50 men killed, besides a number of wounded, and no fewer than 504 prisoners fell into our hands, along with three pieces of artillery, 500 muskets, and 3000 rounds of cartridges. The third division of the expedition em barked under cover of the gunboats; but they were attacked on their way to the Danish coast by his majes ty's ships the Sheldrake and Tartar, who captured se veral of their gun-boats, and took 150 prisoners.