by John Marshall

“ No orders whatever had been given to attack the island; but, having by means of the pilots taken on board at Aruba, perfectly ascertained the situation of the place, Captain Brisbane formed a plan for carrying it by a coup-de-main; and imparting his intention to the respective Captains under him, with a zeal for the service which would have done honor to the character of a Nelson, taking the sole responsibility of the act upon himself, he led his ships into the harbour, passing the formidable line of sea batteries by which its entrance was protected, and came to an anchor. ”

“ Captain Brisbane had by this time landed with his boat’s crew; but learning from Captain Wood of the Latona, that the Hatslar had called for quarter, he pushed off from the shore with 4 or 5 men, and got on board in time to haul down the enemy’s colours with his own hands [8] . The boats of the squadron were now ordered to land, and Fort Amsterdam was instantly taken possession of without resistance, although the garrison consisted of 275 regular troops. The Commodore was the first person who scaled the walls, and on this occasion also struck the Dutch flag. ”

“ The Captain of the Pomona and 20 men were killed, and 32 officers and men wounded. The loss of men in the gun-boats must have been considerable, as very few reached the shore from those that were blown up and sunk. The Anson had not a man hurt.
Towards the latter end of the same year, 1806, Captain Brisbane was despatched from Jamaica, with a squadron of frigates, consisting of the Arethusa. Latona, and Anson, to reconnoitre the island of Curaçoa, and to ascertain, by a flag of truce, whether the inhabitants were disposed towards an alliance with Great Britain. ”