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{{Short description|Military campaign of the Napoleonic Wars}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=OctoberAugust 20112023}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Java campaign of 1806–1807

| partof = the [[Napoleonic Wars]]

| image = Capture of the Maria Riggersbergen, Octr. 18th. 1806.jpg

| caption = ''Capture of the Maria Riggersbergen, Octr. 18th 1806'' <br /> [[Thomas Whitcombe]], 1817

|image_size=300px

| date = June 1806 – December 1807

|caption=''Capture of the Maria Riggersbergen, Octr. 18th 1806''<br />[[Thomas Whitcombe]], 1817

| place = [[Java]], [[Dutch East Indies]]

|date=June 1806 – December 1807

| result = British victory

|place=[[Java]], [[Dutch East Indies]]

| combatant1=[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|22px|link=]] [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]

|result=British victory

| combatant2 = [[Kingdom of Holland|Holland]] <br /> [[Dutch East Indies]]

|combatant1=[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|22px|link=]] [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]

| commander1 =Rear-Admiral [[Edward Pellew|Sir Edward Pellew]]

|combatant2=[[File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg|22px|link=]] [[Kingdom of Holland]]

| commander2 =Rear-Admiral [[Pieter Hartsinck]]

|commander1=Rear-Admiral [[Edward Pellew|Sir Edward Pellew]]

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Java campaign of 1806-1807}} <br /> {{Campaignbox Napoleonic Wars}} <br /> {{Dutch colonial campaigns}}

|commander2=Rear-Admiral Hartsinck

|campaignbox={{Campaignbox Java campaign of 1806-1807}}

{{Campaignbox Napoleonic Wars}}

}}

The '''Java campaign of 1806–1807''' was a minor campaign during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] by British [[Royal Navy]] forces against a naval squadron of the [[Kingdom of Holland]], a client state of the [[First French Empire|French Empire]], based on the island of [[Java]] in the [[Dutch East Indies]]. Seeking to eliminate any threat to valuable British merchant convoys passing through the [[Malacca Straits]], Rear-Admiral [[Edward Pellew|Sir Edward Pellew]] determined in early 1806 that the Dutch naval forces based at Java, which included several [[ships of the line]] and three [[frigate]]s, had to be defeated to ensure British dominance in the region. Lacking the forces to effect an invasion of the Dutch colony, Pellew instead sought to isolate and [[blockade]] the Dutch squadron based at [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]] in preparation for raids specifically targeting the Dutch ships with his main force.

The '''Java campaign of 1806–1807''' was a [[military campaign]] of the [[Napoleonic Wars]] in which the [[Royal Navy]] destroyed a squadron of the [[navy of the Kingdom of Holland]] based on [[Java]]. In 1806, [[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-admiral]] [[Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth|Sir Edward Pellew]] determined that the Dutch squadron, consisting of three [[Ship of the line|ships of the line]] and several smaller warships under [[Vice admiral|Vice-admiral]] [[Pieter Hartsinck]], posed a potential threat to British merchant shipping passing through the [[Strait of Malacca]]. As Pellew lacked the strength to invade Java outright, he instead established a [[blockade]] of the [[Dutch East Indies]]' capital of [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]] and made preparations to engage in targeted naval strikes to isolate and destroy Hartsinck's squadron.

Although his plans were delayed by inadequate resources and the [[Vellore Mutiny]] in [[British India|India]], Pellew sent the frigate {{HMS|Greyhound|1783|6}} to the [[Java Sea]] in July 1806. ''Greyhound'' intercepted and defeated a Dutch convoy off the coast of [[Sulawesi]] on 25 July and three months later the frigate {{HMS|Caroline|1795|6}} managed to capture the Dutch frigate {{Ship|Dutch frigate|Maria Riggersbergen||2}} at the entrance to Batavia harbour. Following these successes, Pellew was able to bring his main force to bear on the island and in November 1806 launched a major raid on Batavia, destroying the remaining frigate and a number of minor warships from the Dutch squadron. The Dutch ships of the line had escaped prior to Pellew's attack to the harbour of [[Gresik|Griessie]] near [[Surabaya]], and although they were old and in a poor state of repair Pellew was forced to lead a second operation to Java in October 1807, capturing the port and eliminating the last Dutch naval forces in the east.

Although he was delayed by inadequate resources and the [[Vellore Mutiny]], Pellew sent the frigate [[HMS Greyhound (1783)|HMS ''Greyhound'']] to the [[Java Sea]] in July 1806. There, she [[Action of 26 July 1806|destroyed a Dutch convoy]] near [[Sulawesi|Celebes]] on 26 July. Nearly three months later, another British frigate, [[HMS Caroline (1795)|HMS ''Caroline'']], captured a Dutch frigate and brig [[action of 18 October 1806|on 18 October]] off Batavia. Building on this momentum, Pellew brought his main force to the region and on 27 November [[Raid on Batavia (1806)|raided Batavia]], destroying the last frigate and several smaller warships of Hartsinck's squadron. As the three ships of the line had escaped to [[Gresik Regency|Griessie]] prior to the raid, Pellew returned in October 1807. His forces [[Raid on Griessie|raided Griessie]] in early December, during which all three ships of the line were scuttled.

The victory gave Britain dominance over its European rivals in the eastern Pacific and western Indian Ocean, allowing free passage of British trade through the region and allowing British forces to focus on the one remaining threat to their merchant convoys in the Indian Ocean: the French islands of [[Île Bonaparte]] and [[Isle de France (Mauritius)|Isle de France]] (now [[Mauritius]]).

The destruction of Hartsinck's squadron led to the collapse of Dutch naval power in the region and secured Britain's [[command of the sea]] across the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean, ensuring safe passage for British merchant shipping. With the Dutch no longer a threat to British mercantile interests in the East Indies, Britain's attention turned to the two remaining French colonies in the Indian Ocean, [[Isle de France (Mauritius)|Isle de France]] and [[Réunion|Isle Bonaparte]]. In the [[Mauritius campaign of 1809–1811]], both colonies were occupied by British forces, ending the threat from European rivals to Britain's interests in the region.

==Background==

At the start of 1806, control of the Indian Ocean in the [[Napoleonic Wars]] was disputed. The [[First French Empire|French Empire]] and its client state the [[Kingdom of Holland]] held significant naval bases in the region, from which their warships could operate against British interests. The French islands of [[Île Bonaparte]] and [[Isle de France (Mauritius)|Isle de France]] dominated the central Indian Ocean, their position allowing raiders to cruise British trade routes and attack isolated convoys, while the Dutch colonies at the [[Cape of Good Hope]] and the [[Dutch East Indies]] controlled the points of entry to the ocean from east and west with their own naval squadrons.<ref name="RLA183">Adkins, p. 183</ref><ref name="RG93">Gardiner, p. 93</ref> The British, whose bases in India gave them control of the Northern Indian Ocean, were able to obtain supplies and reinforcements from Europe more easily than their enemies, as the Royal Navy was already dominant in European waters, but British forces in the region were still insufficient to make a significant impact on the French and Dutch territories.<ref name="RG59">Gardiner, p. 59</ref> Control of the Indian Ocean was essential for the British war effort, because the British economy relied heavily on trade with the holdings of the [[Honourable East India Company]] in India and with other ports in the east, particularly in China.<ref name="RLA342">Adkins, p. 342</ref>

AtIn the startbeginning of 1806, control of the Indian Ocean in the [[Napoleonic Wars]] was disputed. The [[First French Empire|French Empire]] and its Dutch client state, the [[Batavian Republic|Batavian Commonwealth]] (which became the [[Kingdom of Holland]] in mid-1806), held significant naval bases in the region, from which their warships could operate against British interests. The French islandscolonies of [[Île Bonaparte]] and [[Isle de France (Mauritius)|Isle de France]] and [[Réunion|Isle Bonaparte]] dominated the central Indian Ocean, theirallowing position allowingallied raiders to cruise British trade routes and attack isolated convoys, while the [[Dutch colonies at the [[Cape of Good HopeColony]] and the [[Dutch East Indies]] controlled the points of entry to the ocean from east and west, with theirsquadron ownbeing navalbased squadronsat both colonies.<ref name="RLA183">Adkins, p. 183</ref><ref name="RG93">Gardiner, p. 93</ref> The British, whose bases in India gave them control of the Northern Indian Ocean, were able to obtain supplies and reinforcements from Europe more easily than their enemies, as the Royal Navy was already dominant in European waters, but British forces in the region were still insufficient to make a significant impact on the French and Dutch territories.<ref name="RG59">Gardiner, p. 59</ref> Control of the Indian Ocean was essential for the British war effort, because the British economy relied heavily on trade with the holdings of the [[Honourable East India Company]] in India and with other ports in the east, particularly in China.<ref name="RLA342">Adkins, p. 342</ref>

In 1803 at the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars, [[Linois' expedition to the Indian Ocean|a French squadron]] under Rear-Admiral [[Charles-Alexandre Durand Linois|Charles Linois]] was already operating in the Indian Ocean against British commerce, initially based at Isle de France.<ref name= "WJ3:212">James, Vol. 3, p. 212</ref> Linois's principal target was the China Fleet, a large annual convoy of valuable [[East Indiamen]] merchant ships and smaller "country ships" that sailed from [[Guangzhou|Canton]] early in the year and crossed the Indian Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope, then passing northwards to Europe. In 1804, this convoy was worth over £8&nbsp;million and included 29 ships which—due to the sudden news of the outbreak of war—were entirely unprotected by the Royal Navy during the first leg of its journey across the [[South China Sea]].<ref name="RW194">Woodman, p. 194</ref> Although Linois was not aware of the weakness of the convoy's defences, he knew of its importance and value and determined to intercept it, using [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]] on the island of [[Java]] as his main base. Ultimately Linois failed to defeat the convoy, withdrawing after some initial skirmishing at the [[Battle of Pulo Aura]], but the importance of Batavia as a base against British shipping was confirmed.<ref name="WLC338">Clowes, p. 338</ref>

In 1803 at the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars, [[Linois' expedition to the Indian Ocean|a French squadron]] under Rear[[Counter admiral|Counter-Admiraladmiral]] [[Charles-Alexandre Durand Linois|Charles Linois]] was already operating in the Indian Ocean against British commerce, initially based at Isle de France.<ref name= "WJ3:212">James, Vol. 3, p. 212</ref> Linois's principal target was the China Fleet, a large annual convoy of valuable [[East Indiamen]] merchant ships and smaller "country ships" that sailed from [[Guangzhou|Canton]] early in the year and crossed the Indian Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope, then passing northwards to Europe. In 1804, this convoy was worth over £8&nbsp;million and included 29 ships which—due to the sudden news of the outbreak of war—were entirely unprotected by the Royal Navy during the first leg of its journey across the [[South China Sea]].<ref name="RW194">Woodman, p. 194</ref> Although Linois was not aware of the weakness of the convoy's defences, he knew of its importance and value and determined to intercept it, using [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]] on the island of [[Java]] as his main base. Ultimately Linois failed to defeat the convoy, withdrawing after some initial skirmishing at the [[Battle of Pulo Aura]], but the importance of Batavia as a base against British shipping was confirmed.<ref name="WLC338">Clowes, p. 338</ref>

The British commander in the Indian Ocean, Rear-Admiral [[Peter Rainier, junior|Peter Rainier]], was preoccupied with protecting merchant shipping off India during 1804 and 1805 to be able to risk an expedition to the [[Java Sea]]. His successor, Rear-Admiral [[Edward Pellew|Sir Edward Pellew]] was distracted by the continued operations of Linois's squadron and attacks from frigates based at Isle de France to take any action against the Dutch before the beginning of the monsoon season at the end of 1805, at which point the threat posed by [[hurricanes]] prevented any major seabourne operations. However, by early 1806, the departure of Linois into the Atlantic Ocean allowed Pellew and his squadron in [[Madras]] to consider offensive operations against enemy harbours.<ref name="RG81"/> In addition to the threat from cruising French squadrons, the Dutch maintained their own force on Java, under Rear-Admiral Hartsinck at Batavia. This squadron—which consisted of four ships of the line, three frigates and a number of smaller warships—was principally tasked with anti-piracy operations, but their presence so close to the Malacca Straits was a source of concern to the British command in India.<ref name="RG81"/>

Control of the Indian Ocean was essential for the British war effort, because the British economy relied heavily on trade with the holdings of the Honourable East India Company in India and with other ports in the east, particularly in China.[4]

The British commander in the Indian Ocean, Rear-Admiraladmiral [[Peter Rainier (Royal Navy officer, juniorborn 1741)|Peter Rainier]], was preoccupied with protecting merchant shipping off India during 1804 and 1805 to be able to risk an expedition to the [[Java Sea]]. His successor, Rear-Admiraladmiral [[Edward Pellew|Sir Edward Pellew]] was distracted by the continued operations of Linois's squadron and attacks from frigates based at Isle de France to take any action against the Dutch before the beginning of the monsoon season at the end of 1805, at which point the threat posed by [[hurricanes]] prevented any major seabourne operations. However, by early 1806, the departure of Linois into the Atlantic Ocean allowed Pellew and his squadron in [[Madras]] to consider offensive operations against enemy harbours.<ref name="RG81"/> In addition to the threat from cruising French squadrons, thea Dutchsquadron maintainedof theirthe own[[navy forceof onthe Java,Kingdom of Holland]] under RearVice-Admiraladmiral [[Pieter Hartsinck]] was based at Batavia. ThisHartsinck's squadron—whichsquadron, which consisted of fourthree ships of the line, three frigates and a number of smaller warships—waswarships, was principally tasked with anti-piracy operations, but their presence so close to the Malacca Straits was a source of concern to the British command in India.<ref name="RG81"/> Control of the Indian Ocean was essential for the British war effort, because the British economy relied heavily on trade with British India and other parts of Asia, particularly China.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

==Campaign==

===Frigate reconnaissance===

{{For|more details on this topic|Action of 26 July 1806|Action of 18 October 1806}}

[[File:Capture of the Maria Riggersbergen.jpg|thumb|The [[action of 18 October 1806]], the second engagement of the campaign]]

Pellew's efforts to launch a major deployment in 1806—initially planned to be against Isle de France in conjunction with Rear-Admiral [[Thomas Troubridge|Sir Thomas Troubridge]] before the target was changed to Java—were delayed by the diversion of his [[Royal Marines]] to put down the [[Vellore Mutiny]].<ref name="RG81">Gardiner, p. 81</ref> Nevertheless, Pellew despatched several frigates to the [[Java Sea]] to reconnoitre the region, attack Dutch shipping and report on the state of the Dutch squadron maintained at Batavia. The first ships despatched were the 32-gun frigate {{HMS| Greyhound|1783|6}} under Captain Edward Elphinstone and the 18-gun [[brig|brig-sloop]] {{HMS| Harrier|1804|6}} under Commander [[Sir Edward Troubridge, 2nd Baronet|Edward Troubridge]], son of Admiral Troubridge.<ref name="LG3">{{London Gazette|issue=16016|page=422|date=4 April 1807}}</ref> Elphinstone initially cruised through the [[Molucca Islands]] in June and July with some success, and on 25 July he discovered four Dutch ships passing through the [[Selayar Strait]]. Cautious of the larger force, Elphinstone observed the Dutch ships during the night and on the morning of 26 July identified the ships as a frigate, a corvette and two merchant ships, including a large [[East Indiaman]]. In response to the British ships, the Dutch commander N. L. Aalbers formed his convoy into a [[line of battle]], hoping to dissuade Elphinstone from pressing home his attack.<ref name= "WJ251">James, Vol. 4, p. 251</ref> The British were not deterred and ''Greyhound'' engaged the Dutch frigate [[HMS Celebes (1806)|''Pallas'']] directly while ''Harrier'' passed between the frigate and the merchant ship next in line, [[raking fire|raking]] them both. Within 40 minutes, ''Pallas'' had surrendered and ''Harrier'' then successfully chased down and captured the two merchant ships while the corvette fled to the [[Sulawesi]] coast, evading pursuit.<ref name= "WLC386">Clowes, p. 386.</ref>

Elphinstone initially cruised through the [[Molucca Islands]] in June and July with some success, and on 25 July he discovered four Dutch ships passing through the [[Selayar Strait]]. Cautious of the larger force, Elphinstone observed the Dutch ships during the night and on the morning of 26 July identified the ships as a frigate, a corvette and two merchant ships, including a large [[East Indiaman]]. In response to the British ships, Dutch Captain [[Nicolaas Sebastiaan Aalbers]] formed his convoy into a [[line of battle]], hoping to dissuade Elphinstone from pressing home his attack.<ref name= "WJ251">James, Vol. 4, p. 251</ref> The British were not deterred and ''Greyhound'' engaged the Dutch frigate ''Pallas'' directly while ''Harrier'' passed between the frigate and the merchant ship next in line, [[raking fire|raking]] them both. Within 40 minutes, ''Pallas'' had surrendered and ''Harrier'' then successfully chased down and captured the two merchant ships while the corvette fled to the [[Sulawesi]] coast, evading pursuit.<ref name= "WLC386">Clowes, p. 386.</ref>

In the wake of Elphinstone's success, a second frigate entered Dutch waters, {{HMS|Caroline|1795|6}} under Captain Peter Rainier (nephew of Admiral Rainier) cruising the Java Sea during October. There Rainer discovered that the Dutch [[ships of the line]] had sailed eastward from Batavia,<ref name="LG2">{{London Gazette|issue=16139|page=568|date=23 April 1808}}</ref> except {{Ship|Dutch ship|Schrikverwekker||2}}, which had been wrecked in the [[Thousand Islands (Indonesia)|Thousand Islands]] on 18 May with the loss of two men.<ref name="G213">Grocott, p. 213</ref> He also learned that the Dutch frigate {{Ship|Dutch frigate|Phoenix||2}} was undergoing repairs at an exposed anchorage on Onrust Island close to Batavia harbour. Sailing to investigate, ''Caroline'' arrived off the port on 18 October, but encountered two Dutch brigs that raised the alarm, allowing ''Phoenix'' to escape into the main harbour.<ref name="WLC392"/> Undeterred, Rainier sailed into Batavia [[roadstead]] and there discovered a number of small warships and the frigate {{Ship|Dutch frigate|Maria Riggersbergen||2}}. The smaller ships drove themselves on shore rather than fight the larger British vessel, but Captain Claas Jager on ''Maria Riggersbergen'' engaged ''Caroline''. In a battle lasting 30 minutes, the Dutch ship was defeated and captured, Rainier sending the prisoners on shore and removing the frigate, which was later renamed HMS ''Java''.<ref name="WJ267">James, Vol. 4, p. 267</ref>

In the wake of Elphinstone's success, a second frigate entered Dutch waters, {{[[HMS| Caroline| (1795)|6}}HMS ''Caroline'']] under Captain [[Peter Rainier (Royal Navy officer, born 1784)|Peter Rainier]] (nephew of Admiral Rainier) cruising the Java Sea during October. There Rainer discovered that the Dutch [[ships of the line]] had sailed eastward from Batavia,<ref name="LG2">{{London Gazette|issue=16139|page=568|date=23 April 1808}}</ref> except {{Ship|Dutch ship|Schrikverwekker||2}}, which had been wrecked in the [[Thousand Islands (Indonesia)|Thousand Islands]] on 18 May with the loss of two men.<ref name="G213">Grocott, p. 213</ref> He also learned that the Dutch frigate {{Ship|Dutch frigate|Phoenix||2}} was undergoing repairs at an exposed anchorage on Onrust Island close to Batavia harbour. Sailing to investigate, ''Caroline'' arrived off the port on 18 October, but encountered two Dutch brigs that raised the alarm, allowing ''Phoenix'' to escape into the main harbour.<ref name="WLC392"/> Undeterred, Rainier sailed into Batavia [[roadstead]] and there discovered a number of small warships and the frigate {{Ship|Dutch frigate|Maria Riggersbergen||2}}. The smaller ships drove themselves on shore rather than fight the larger British vessel, but Captain [[Claas Jager]] on ''Maria Riggersbergen'' engaged ''Caroline''. In a battle lasting 30 minutes, the Dutch ship was defeated and captured, Rainier sending the prisoners on shore and removing the frigate, which was later renamed HMS ''Java''.<ref name="WJ267">James, Vol. 4, p. 267</ref>

===Attack on Batavia===

{{detailsfurther|Raid on Batavia (1806)}}

[[File:The Frigates Sir Francis Drake and Terpsichore Attacking the Dutch Frigate Phoenix and Other Shipping in Batavia Roads.jpg|thumb|The British [[Raid on Batavia (1806)|raid on Batavia]] on 27 November 1806]]

Encouraged by the success of his frigates in the Java Sea, Pellew mustered a significant force in the early autumn of 1806, including four ships of the line, two frigates and a brig with which to eliminate the remaining Dutch squadron.<ref name="LG1">{{London Gazette|issue=16044|page=893|date=4 July 1807}}</ref> Reaching the [[Sunda Strait]] on 23 November, Pellew passed by the port of [[Bantam (city)|Bantam]] and on 27 November reached Batavia, splitting his forces so that the lighter vessels sailed close to shore and the ships of the line remained in deeper water outside the channel entering the harbour. A corvette was captured, and the rest of the Dutch squadron was taken by surprise, mistaking Pellew's force for a French squadron.<ref name="WLC392">Clowes, p. 392</ref> By the time their mistake was revealed, the harbour was already blocked and so Captain Vander[[F. W. C. van de Sande]] drove ''Phoenix'' ashore, followed by six other warships and 22 merchant ships.<ref name="WJ268">James, Vol. 4, p. 268</ref>

Determined to eliminate the Dutch ships, Admiral Pellew gave orders that the squadron's boats gather next to the frigate {{HMS|Terpsichore|1785|6}} commanded by his son Captain [[Fleetwood Pellew]]. Boarding parties of sailors and [[Royal Marines]] were then despatched to the stranded Dutch vessels, under the distant cover of the frigates and coming under attack by Dutch batteries from the shoreline.<ref name="LG1"/> Boarding ''Phoenix'', it was discovered that Vandervan de Sande had scuttledordered his ship to be scuttled, rendering ''Phoenix'' useless. Taking over the wrecked ship's guns, Captain Pellew opened fire on the other grounded ships, as his boats approached and boarded them in turn, the entire operation conducted with the loss of just one man killed and four wounded.<ref name= "WLC393">Clowes, p. 393</ref> Once taken, the ships that could not be refloated were burnt, Captain Pellew waiting until the rest of the Dutch ships were destroyed before setting fire to the wreck of ''Phoenix'' and returning to his ship. In total, one frigate, seven smaller warships and 20 merchant ships were destroyed, while one small warship and two merchant craft were captured.<ref name="LG1-2">{{London Gazette|issue=16044|page=894|date=4 July 1807}}</ref> With his objective complete, Admiral Pellew ordered his ships to disperse and return to friendly ports for the winter.<ref name="RG82">Gardiner, p. 82</ref>

===Griessie===

{{detailsfurther|Raid on Griessie}}

When the winter hurricane season ended in the spring of 1807, Admiral Pellew found his squadron dispersed on a variety of operations from the [[Red Sea]] to the South China Sea.<ref name="RG82"/> Without the forces required for an extended operation against the remainder of the Dutch squadron, Pellew was forced to limit his operations in the Java Sea to frigate reconnaissance, sending HMS ''Caroline'' and [[French frigate Psyché (1804)|''Psyche'']] (under Fleetwood Pellew) to ascertain the exact ___location of the Dutch ships of the line.<ref name="RH81">Henderson, p. 81</ref> On 29 August, the frigates reached Panka at the easternmost point of Java and the following day captured a merchant ship from Batavia which revealed that the Dutch ships of the line were anchored at [[Gresik|Griessie]] near [[Surabaya]] and had deteriorated beyond repair. With their mission complete, the frigates separated to raid Dutch shipping, ''Psyche'' sailing west along the coast until Pellew reached the port of [[Semarang]].<ref name="WJ357">James, Vol. 4, p. 357</ref>

Observing two ships at anchor in Semarang roads, Pellew sent in his ship's boats on the morning of 31 August under the command of Lieutenant Kersteman. Despite heavy fire from batteries on shore, Kersteman successfully towed the vessels out without suffering any casualties, capturing an 8-gun [[schooner]] and a merchant brig.<ref name="LG3"/> While the boats were engaged at Semarang, Pellew sighted three vessels cruising off the mouth of the harbour and hastily set fire to the prizes and reclaimed his boats, setting off in pursuit. At 15:30, with ''Psyche'' rapidly overtaking the Dutch ships, their captains deliberately drove the vessels ashore approximately {{convert|9|nmi|mi km|lk=on|abbr=on}} west of Semarang. ''Psyche'' closed with the grounded ships and exchanged fire with them at long range, the shallow coastal water preventing a close range engagement. At 16:30, just as Pellew was hoisting out his boats in preparation for a boarding action, one of the ships surrendered. Within minutes, the others followed, firing final broadsides and [[striking the flag|hauling down their colours]].<ref name="WLC239">Clowes, p. 239</ref> The surrendered ships were boarded and refloated, their identities established as the 24-gun [[corvette]] {{Ship|Dutch corvette|Scipio||2}}, the armed merchant ship ''Resolutie'' and the 12-gun Dutch East India Company ship ''Ceres''. Dutch casualties are unknown but the commander of the convoy—Captain Carriage—was killed in the brief engagement, while ''Psyche'' survived the action without a man killed or wounded. All of the prisoners were landed at Semarang under terms of parole, as many of Pellew's men were away from the ship in prizes and men could not be spared to watch the Dutch prisoners.<ref name="LG4">{{London Gazette|issue=16137|page=537|date=16 April 1808}}</ref>

In the summer of 1807, responsibility for the blockade of the French Indian Ocean bases passed from Pellew at Madras to Rear-Admiral [[Sir Albemarle Bertie, 1st Baronet|Albemarle Bertie]] at the [[Cape of Good HopeColony]]. This enabled Pellew to concentrate on the Dutch East Indies and temporarily relocate his base to [[Malacca Town|Malacca]] on the [[Malay Peninsula]].<ref name="RG82"/> Following the reports of his scouting frigates, Pellew sailed from Malacca with a squadron of ships on 20 November, intending to destroy the remaining Dutch vessels on Java. Arriving at the [[Madura Strait]] on 5 December, Pellew sent a small boat party to Griessie with a demand that the Dutch authorities surrender the ships. However, Captain Cowell—the[[William Cowell (naval officer)|William Cowell]], an American-born officer in the Dutch navalnavy, commander—refusedrefused the demand and arrested the boat party, notifying Pellew of his actions and preparing his defences. The following day, Pellew sailed his squadron into the Straits, exchanging fire with a gunDutch shore battery at Sambelangan on [[Madura Island]].<ref name="WLC240">Clowes, p. 240</ref>

As Pellew's squadron neared Griessie, a message arrived from the Dutch civilian governor at Sourabaya, reversing Cowell's orders and offering a full surrender. Pellew accepted the message and on 7 December his ships entered Griessie. However, during the time it had taken to exchange messages, Cowell had ordered thatthe scuttling of all shippingships in Griessie harbour be destroyed to prevent thethem Britishfrom gainingfalling controlinto ofBritish ithands.<ref name="WJ358">James, Vol. 4, p. 358</ref> The ships were scuttled in shallow water, leaving only wrecked hulls for the British to claim. Pellew ordered the hulls burned, and British landing parties investigatedentered the town, burning and destroying all military supplies and cannon they found. Another British party landed at Sambelangan and demolished the battery there. Pellew withdrew on 11 December, his ambition of destroying the Dutch naval presence in the East Indies squadron complete.<ref name="RG83">Gardiner, p. 83</ref>

==Aftermath==

The success of the campaign against the Dutch squadron in the East Indies allowed British forces in the Indian Ocean to focus exclusively on theIsle Frenchde islands of Île BonaparteFrance and Isle de FranceBonaparte, which proved very difficult to subdue during the ensuing [[Mauritius campaign of 1809–1811]].<ref name="RG95">Gardiner, p. 95</ref> Freedom of movement for British forces in the East Indies proved invaluable however: on 27 January 1807, Peter Rainier in ''Caroline'' had seized a Spanish ship ''San Raphael'' carrying over half a million [[Spanish dollar]]s and an exceptionally valuable cargo,<ref name="LG6">{{London Gazette|issue=16106|page=38|date=5 January 1808}}</ref> and the ability of British commerce raiders to act against French, Spanish and Dutch merchant shipping in the region was assured. When Pellew's successor Rear-Admiral [[William O'Bryen Drury]] attempted to eliminate the Dutch East Indies islands in a series of large scale invasions during 1810, the [[Invasion of the Spice Islands|Spice Islands were captured]] and in 1811 [[Invasion of Java (1811)|Java was seized]]. British naval movements were completely unopposed, allowing a rapid and successful conclusion to the war in the Pacific.<ref name="RG110">Gardiner, p. 110</ref>

==References==

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Bibliography==

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* {{cite book | last = James | first = William | authorlinkauthor-link = William James (naval historian) | year = 2002 |origyearorig-year=1827 | chapter = | title = The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 3, 1800–1805 | publisher=Conway Maritime Press | isbn = 0-85177-907-7 }}

* {{cite book | last = James | first = William | authorlinkauthor-link = William James (naval historian) | year = 2002 |origyearorig-year=1827 | chapter = | title = The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 4, 1805–1807 | publisher=Conway Maritime Press | isbn = 0-85177-908-5 }}

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* {{cite book | last = Woodman | first = Richard | authorlinkauthor-link = Richard Woodman | year = 1998 | title = The victory of seapower | publisher=Chatham Publishing }}

{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Java, campaign of 1806-1807}}

[[Category:Java campaign of 1806–1807| ]]

[[Category:1806 in the Dutch East Indies]]

[[Category:1807 in the Dutch East Indies]]

[[Category:19th century in Java]]

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[[Category:Naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars]]

[[Category:Conflicts in 1806]]

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[[Category:Campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars]]

[[Category:19th-century history of the Royal Navy]]

[[Category:NavalMilitary battleshistory of the NapoleonicIndian WarsOcean]]