In this affair, Ensign Donald Sinclair, of the Seventy-first, was killed; Captain George Spottiswoode and a few men were wounded.
Flushing, with its garrison of 6,000 men, capitulated on the 15th of August, and the right gate was occupied by a detachment of 300 men of the first or Royal Scots, and the left gate by a detachment of similar strength of the Seventy-first under Major Arthur Jones. The naval arsenal, and some vessels of war which were on the stocks, fell into the hands of the British.
The Seventy-first shortly after proceeded to Middleburg, where the battalion remained for a few days, when it was ordered to occupy Ter Veer, of which place Lieut.-Colonel Pack was appointed commandant, and Lieutenant Henry Clements, of the Seventy-first, town major. The battalion remained doing duty in the garrison until this island, after destroying the works, &c., was finally evacuated on the 22d of December.
On the 23d of December the battalion embarked in transports, and sailed for England, after a service of five months in a very unhealthy climate, which cost the battalion the loss of the following officers and men.
| Officers. | Serjeants, Drummers, and Rank and File. | |
| Died on service | 1 | 57 |
| Killed | 2 | 19 |
| Died after return home | 2 | 9 |
| — | — | |
| Total | 5 | 85 |
In passing Cadsand, that fort opened a fire on the transports, one of which, having part of the Seventy-first on board, was struck by a round shot, which carried off Serjeant Steel’s legs above the knees.
On the 25th of December the first battalion of the Seventy-first disembarked at Deal, and marched to Brabourne-Lees barracks, in Kent, where it was again brigaded with the sixty-eighth and eighty-fifth light infantry, and was occupied in putting itself in an efficient state for active service.
1810.
Upon the Seventy-first being made light infantry, they were permitted to retain such parts of the national dress as might not be inconsistent with their duties as a light corps. A correspondence on the subject took place between Lieut.-Colonel Pack and the Adjutant-General in April 1810, and the following reply was received from head-quarters.