by John Marshall

“ With the remaining force, I proceeded along the heights to turn the enemy’s position at Batter Gantong, situated about 1500 yards distant from, and nearly on the same level with that at Wannetoo, and which commanded the town of Amboyna and Fort Victoria. This party endured with the greatest spirit and patience a most fatiguing and troublesome march, ascending and descending hills over which there was no road, and many of them so extremely steep as to require the assistance of the bushes for the men to get up and down by. ”

“ The advanced party under Captain Phillips, consisting of 30 rank and file of the second battalion of artillery, the detachment of royal marines from H.M.S. Dover, one company of the Madras European regiment, and a party of seamen from the Dover, in all about 180 men, was directed to attack the battery at Wannetoo, situated on the top of a small hill, of a most commanding height and position, and defended by five 12-pounders, two 8-pounders, two 6-pounders, and two 5 1/2-inch brass howitzers. ”

“ On taking possession of fort Victoria, and the batteries on the heights to the right and left thereof, it was found that they contained no less than 215 pieces of mounted ordnance, of which number 4 were thirty-two pounders, 6 twenty-fours, 10 eighteens, 61 twelves, 36 eights, 20 sixes, and 18 small mortars. The three vessels sunk in the inner harbour were, the Dutch national brig Mandurese of 12 guns (afterwards weighed by the British) , the cutter San Pan of 10 guns, and a cutter, name unknown, of 12 guns. ”