Raid on Batavia

27 November 1806, Batavia (Jakarta), Java

British victory; the Dutch ships in the harbour driven ashore and burned

With Linois gone from the Indian Ocean, Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew turned on the Dutch squadron in Java, which threatened British trade through the Strait of Malacca. He came through the Sunda Strait with four ships of the line, the frigates Terpsichore, under his son Fleetwood, and Sir Francis Drake, and the brig Seaflower. The Dutch ships of the line had already left for Griessie. Those still at Batavia, the frigate Phoenix and six smaller warships, could not fight such a force, and their crews ran them ashore along with 22 merchant ships, hoping that would keep the British off. Fleetwood Pellew led the boats in under fire from the beached ships and the shore batteries. The Dutch abandoned and scuttled Phoenix as they arrived, and her guns were turned on the other wrecks while the boats burned them. In all 28 vessels were destroyed, among them Linois's old consort, the brig Avonturier, for one marine killed and a few men wounded. Pellew came back the next year and destroyed the ships of the line at Griessie.