by John Marshall

“ In addressing you upon the capture of Banda Neira and its dependencies, which secures to the British flag a conquest of great value, the officers of the Hon. Company’s troops engaged in that enterprise have to congratulate you and themselves upon the successful issue, under every disadvantage of wind and weather, upon a hostile shore lined with numerous batteries; the enemy aware of and prepared for an attack, so wisely planned, and so ably carried into execution under your personal direction. ”

“ Deeply as he felt the loss of such a friend, still Captain Cole had the gratification of finding that he had gained the favourable opinion of Sir John T Duckworth, by his conspicuous zeal and alacrity on every occasion of public service, and which was shortly proved by that officer promoting him into his flagship, the Leviathan of 74 guns, and afterwards appointing him to the command of the Southampton frigate. ”

“ Fortunately, the nature of the attack required no firing from the assailants, as the boats grounded at some distance from the shore, and the men had to wade up to their waists in water. Expecting an attack by sea, the enemy were fully prepared to give the ships a warm reception. Their confusion on finding the British in their rear, may readily be conceived. Captain Kenah had been ordered to attack the other battery, but was recalled in consequence of Captain Cole determining to attempt the citadel, which commanded all the other defences, by coup-de-main. ”

“ A dark cloud with rain covered our landing within one hundred yards of a battery of 10 guns; and by the promptitude and activity of acting Captain Kenah, and Lieutenant Carew, who were ordered with the pikemen to the attack, the battery was taken in the rear, and an officer and his guard made prisoners, without a musket being fired, although the enemy were at their guns with matches lighted. From the near approach of daylight, our situation became critical; but we had procured a native guide to carry us to the walls of the castle of Belgica ”

“ Company’s cruisers had anchored near the beach in readiness to scour it, and the troop-ships without them, covered by the Caroline, Modeste, and Bucephalus. The rapid approach of the fleet had prevented the enemy from ascertaining the intended place of landing in time to send a force thither to guard it: this being noticed by Captain Cole, he made the signal from the Caroline, for the advance of the army to land immediately, then hoisted out his boats, tripped his anchor, and dropped the Caroline nearer to the shore. ”

“ His Lordship and council consider the rapid conquest of a place so strongly fortified by nature and by art, in the face of a superior force, without the loss of a man, as forming a singular event in the annals of British enterprise, reflecting a peculiar degree of credit on your professional skill, and affording an extraordinary instance of discipline, courage, and activity, on the part of the men under your command.”
Vice-Admiral Drury having returned to India from the Isle of France early in 1811, Captain Cole received orders to join his flag on the Malabar coast ”

“ The severe illness of the commander-in-chief, which terminated in his death, induced him to issue an order that all Captain Cole’s directions for the preparation of the armament were to be obeyed; and the necessary arrangements were accordingly made by the subject of this memoir till the arrival of a senior officer, the late Captain W. R. Broughton, some time after the Vice-Admiral’s demise, at which period the fleet was nearly ready for sea. ”

“ Upon this occasion, so honorable to His Majesty’s arms, I have been commanded to express to you their Lordships’ high approbation of the judgment and gallantry displayed by Captain Cole, and of the zeal and valour of all the officers and men under his orders, which you will accordingly signify to them in a proper manner. ”

“ The gallantry and activity with which the scaling ladders were hauled up after the outwork was carried, and placed for the attack of the inner work, under a sharp fire from the garrison, exceed all praise. The enemy, after firing three guns [10] , and keeping up an ineffectual discharge of musketry for 10 or 15 minutes, fled in all directions, and through the gateway, leaving the Colonel-Commandant and 10 others dead, and 2 officers and 30 men prisoners in our hands. Captain Kenah, Lieutenants Carew, Allen, Pratt, Walker, and Lyons, of the navy ”

“ With such examples our brave fellows swept the ramparts like a whirlwind; and, in addition to the providential circumstance of the service being performed with scarcely a hurt or wound, I have the satisfaction of reporting that there was no instance of irregularity arising from success [11] . ”

“ After making every arrangement for the security of this valuable possession, and appointing Captain Foote Lieutenant-Governor of Banda Neira and its dependencies, Captain Cole delivered the charge of the islands to that officer, and returned to Madras in the Caroline. ”

“ He died at Madras, Sept. 5, 1811, aged 31 years. ↑ Captain Kenah died in command of the Etna bomb, on the coast of America, at the latter end of the war. ↑ In the year 1811, Mr. William Daniell, an eminent painter and engraver, published “A View of the Island of Banda Neira, with an illustrative Account of its Capture by Captain Cole.” ”

“ This tribute to the memory of that achievement we have used every endeavour to obtain, but without success: should a copy of it hereafter fall in our way, we shall not fail to make such extracts therefrom as may serve to explain the particular conduct of individuals employed in that enterprise. ↑ See vol. II. part I. p. 354, et seq. ↑ Commodore Broughton, on being succeeded in the command of the fleet by Rear-Admiral Stopford, expressed “great pleasure in acknowledging the zeal and alacrity displayed by Captains Cole, Elliot, and Pelly,” on the day of disembarkation. ”