In those distant services the Corps of Marines bore a partial, but an active share.
The attempt against the Cape was entrusted to the immediate conduct of Sir George Elphinstone and Major General Craig, who arrived in Simon's Bay early in July. A fruitless summons to surrender it having been forwarded to its Governor, a debarkation of 450 of the 78th Regiment, and 350 Marines, under Major, now Colonel Hill, was effected upon the 14th, in time to save that town from devoted destruction.
Our troops had been expressly restrained from hostility against the Dutch forces, but such was their conduct that it soon provoked retaliation. It being necessary to dislodge them from the strong post of Mysenburgh, which was fortified with heavy guns, and secured from approach both by land and sea, by a steep mountain on the right, and shallow water, constantly agitated by surf, on its left, 800 Seamen were landed under the Captains Spranger and Hardy, which constituted a total strength of 1600 men. As they were without cannon, the whole awaited the fortune of a wind that would allow the ships of war to unite in the attack. This occurred on the 7th of August, when Commodore Blankett got under weigh with the America, Stately, Echo, and Rattlesnake; while General Craig advanced with his little army. So judicious was the Naval disposition, that the Dutch were driven by the fire of those ships, and some launches armed with carronades, from one post to another, which the troops successively occupied.
Retiring to a ridge of rocky heights beyond their camp, which they had abandoned, the enemy were very spiritedly assaulted by Major Moneypenny, at the head of the advanced guard, supported by the whole of the gallant 78th. Although seconded by some heavy guns that over-awed it from across the lagoon towards Cape-town, and possessing a hold almost impregnable from its situation, they were still forced from it, after a contest which closed only with the day. In the course of it, the Dutch left behind them some artillery, which were drilled, and once more rendered serviceable by Lieutenant Coffin and his company of pikemen, from the Rattlesnake.
On the morning of the 8th of August, the enemy having drawn their whole force from Cape-town, aimed it to recover the posts they had lost. Observing, however, the strength of the British positions, they desisted from any attempt, and the day was chiefly spent in skirmishing with the 1st battalion of Seamen, under Captain Hardy, and the Marines under Major Hill, who had passed the lagoon. General Craig says, that both Corps were distinguished throughout by regularity in manœuvre, and the most steady resolution. Major Hill was very ably assisted by the valuable advice of Captain, now Lieut. Colonel Sir John Douglas, during the whole of these fatiguing and combined duties.
A small reinforcement arrived on the 9th from St. Helena, but the pressures of the army daily increased to such a degree, that it became expedient, in order to alleviate them, to risque the storm of one of the enemy's principal out-posts on the 27th of August, which unfortunately failed. So critically were matters circumstanced, that it was determined between the Commanders in Chief to try the fortune of another assault in six days, if Sir Allured Clarke should not appear with the expected reinforcements. The Dutch had resolved, however, to anticipate this issue, which was, in event, to decide the fate of the Colony.
A disastrous affair on the 1st of September, in which the picquet was driven in with loss, and Major Moneypenny most severely wounded, encouraged them to this daring effort on the 3d. With a train of eighteen field-pieces, and all the strength they could muster, they appeared after break of day, but were stayed in their progress by the signal for a fleet having hove in sight.
On the 4th, Major General Craig resigned the command to Sir Allured Clarke, not without expressing his high sense of the animated exertions of all, in the face of a superior enemy, as well as for their cheerful resignation under the greatest hardships and fatigues.
From the powerful aids which had arrived, matters were pushed on most briskly, and the Army moved against the post of Wyneberg on the 14th. Here the Dutch demonstrated a shew of resistance; but Commodore Blanket appearing in Table Bay with three ships, in order to create a diversion, the enemy retreated, and early on the morning of the 16th, proposed terms of surrender. By these, the whole settlement was added to the British dominions.
Sir Allured Clarke united his cordial testimony with that of Sir George Elphinstone, of the very meritorious conduct of the Officers, Seamen, and Marines of the squadron, during a tedious service of labour and even privation of necessary food. Only nine Marines were wounded throughout.