Post by bobdurham on Aug 8, 2009 21:30:09 GMT -5
This article about a U. S. attack on Philippine forts has several parallels with the assault on the Alamo: the small number of casualties for the attacking party and the slaughter of the defenders. But mainly, I just thought it was a cool article:
BELLEFONTAINE GAZETTE
AUGUST 17, 1832
ATTACK ON THE MALAYS,
The reader is already apprised of a recent attack by a frigate of the United States on the Malay settlement, and the destruction of a number of lives of these people. The Executive has not thought it proper to publish the official account of that affair; and we avail ourselves, therefore, of a private letter fron an officer on board the Frigate, which will be found below. This account may be relied upon, we doubt not, as if it were official. We were informed by the President’s message to Congress at the present session that, in the case before us, he had “dispatched a Frigate with orders to require immediate satisfaction for the injury, and indemnity for the sufferers.” We did not suppose that under this general phraseology was veiled a purpose so sanguinary, as to punish the whole people without a previous requisition either of satisfaction or indemnity. But we have no question but the Commander of the Frigate acted in this business strictly according to his instructions. – Nat. Intel.
---
UNITED STATES FRIGATE, POTOMAC,}
Bantine Bay, East Indies. }
Dear Tom: After three weeks stay at Rio de Janeirio, we sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, at which place we arrived on the 7th December, 1831, and came to anchor at Table Bay, off Cape Town. After a stay of one week there, we sailed for the Island of Sumatra, East Indies. – On the 5th of February 1832, we anchored off Qualiah Battoo, (the place where the crew of the American ship Friendship, of Salem, were murdered by the Malays.) We went in under Danish Colors, and disguised as a merchant-man; run in the main deck guns and shut the ports, the ports of the spar decks we concealed by throwing back our hammock cloths. Immediately after our arrival, we manned our whale boat with several of our officers disguised as sailors; they went on shore under pretence of bargaining for pepper, and in order to reconnoitre and find out which would be the most advantageous method of assailing the forts; but as soon as the natives perceived our boat approach the shore, upwards of one hundred of them came down to the beach, armed against the crew. As Lieutenant Shubrick, commander, discovered this hostile disposition in the natives, he deemed it prudent not to land; and I think he acted perfectly right, as there was not the smallest doubt but they would be all put to death. They therefore returned to the ship, pretty well satisfied that our contemplated landing was practicable. During the absence or our boat, a canoe with four Malays, fishermen came alongside to dispose of their fish; the commander invited them on board; the eldest one, who appeared to be the parent of the other three, came up to the side, but as soon as he approached the gang way and discovered our guns and men, he instantaneously let the fish fall on the deck, and held up his hands in astonishment, hurried down the side, and succeeded in getting into his canoe. The commanders saw that they were about to make off, ordered several of our men to board the canoe and take them prisoners, which was done in a moment. After they were brought on board, they seemed to be extremely humbled, and gave us to understand they were friendly Indians, belonging to a tribe at a place called Soo Soo, not far from Qualia Battoo, and that they were hostile to the Qualia Battoo tribe. The Commodore did not think proper to credit what they stated, consequently had them confined. Now for our attack – In the dead hour of midnight, the shrill pipes of the Boatswain and his mates summoned all hands to arise – we were all scattered on the decks in groups, waiting for this interesting moment. The go-ashore party (of which Jim Willis was one, as bugler, and G. Edwards another) consisting of about 300 stout hearted fellows, were shortly in the boats alongside, with their instruments of death, and determined on “Death or Victory.” At the dawn of day, and ere the morning star had made its appearance, our brave fellows landed on the beach in four divisions, about one mile above the town and its fortifications – the marines in front. They marched along the beach in Military order, each division under the command of its respective officer. Not a sound was heard, save the rolling of the surf upon the beach and the whispered commands of the officers. As they entered the town, Lieut. Hoff with his division filed off to the left, to take possession of the fort set apart for him to assail. The marines had scarcely got one hundred yards past him when they heard the noise of our pioneers breaking open the gates of the first fort with their crow bars and axes, which was immediately followed by a volley of musketry. As soon as they heard this, they knew that the affair was no longer a secret, and hurried to the second fort with all possible speed, which was to be taken by the marines only. The orders given previous to the attack were to spare the women and children. The marines entered the second fort at the charge bayonet, and put all to death except three women, who supplicated for mercy. – There were several women killed who had the hardihood to take up arms when they saw their husbands fall at their feet. Indeed it was impossible to distinguish the sex, they dress so much alike. Lieuts. Ingersoll, Pinkham and Totten attacked the third fort with their division. The marines, which consisted of thirty-nine men, were now in a critical situation, exposed to the 2d and 3d forts, as well as the fort which they afterwards took. Having possession of the forts, they proceeded to fire them and the town, and to destroy every thing of value that was left (for I assure you some of our boys brought plunder on board,) and thus in three hours we had the satisfaction to see our “stars and stripes” proudly waving over our conquered foe. We only lost two men in the conflict, -- one a marine named Benjamin T. Brown, shot through the heart; and one maintop man, Wm. P. Smith, shot through the heart – both expired instantaneously. D. H. Cole, marine, shot thro’ the body, and Henry Dutcher, mizentop [sic] man, shot through the thigh, both expected to recover. John L. Dubois was wounded by a Malay woman in attacking one of the forts. The woman was with an Indian, probably her husband, who was attacked and killed by Dubois. As soon as she seen her husband fall, she had the courage to attack Dubois with a sabre; she cut him very badly, between the upper joint of the thumb and where the wrist meets, the blow would have taken off the hand, had it not been retarded by the barrel of the musket, which was held at the time at a charge. – The number of the enemy was estimated at from 80 to 100 killed, and a vast number wounded. The Rajah escaped, but the next in authority with a woman of the first order, were among the killed. It was fortunate that we attacked them so early in the morning, and when they so little expected us, otherwise I am of opinion that but few of our men would have returned on board. On the 7th we hauled our ship in within a mile of the ruins, and sent a few of our 32 pound shot among those natives who had returned from the flight of the day previous, which caused a dreadful scampering amongst them, and killing several. The morning of our engagement, the Commodore suffered the four Indians we had taken as prisoners to be set at liberty, after satisfying them for their fish; they proved to be from Soo Soo, and likewise friendly to us, and right glad they were to paddle off. Palu Adam, a Rajah of a tribe near Soo Soo, and son-in-law to the Rajah of the latter place, came on board the day after our battle. This Rajah (Adam) belonged to Qualla Battoo at the time the crew of the Friendship were murdered, and was the means of saving the lives of the captain and second mate, Mr. Barry (acting sailing master with us,) and two or three of the men who were on shore at the time the murder and outrage was committed, by securing them in his fort until an opportunity offered of sending them to Soo Soo, at which place there was an American brig. Adam informed us (he speaks good English) that as soon as the natives, became acquainted with his friendship towards the surviving crew that they got quite outrageous, and had he not made his escape they would have put him to death – they took possession of his fort, and confiscated his money – they since offered $4000 for his head. He says he fears them not, and that where he now resides he has a strong party, besides from 500 to 1000 warriors. He never leaves home to visit our ship without his life guard. The meeting between Mr. Barry and Palu Adam, was extremely affectionate. – Adam told the Commodore that if he felt disposed to send his men ashore again, he would accompany them with his tribe, and render all requisite aid. The Commodore informed him that he was amply satisfied, more particularly as they (Quaila Battoo’s) had exhibited white flags at each of their Forts since the engagement. Thus ended the Qualia Battoo scrape, the natives of which are a blood thirsty, piratical race; there is not one of them I would be willing to trust, not even Palu Adam himself.
We left Soo Soo in February, and this is written in Bautine Bay, Island of Java, where we are at present wooding and watering, as soon as this is completed we will start for Batavia to take in provision, where I shall endeavor to have this forwarded to you; after which it is contemplated we shall proceed to Manila and Canton, and on to the Pacific ocean and its Islands round to Callao and Valparaiso.
BELLEFONTAINE GAZETTE
AUGUST 17, 1832
ATTACK ON THE MALAYS,
The reader is already apprised of a recent attack by a frigate of the United States on the Malay settlement, and the destruction of a number of lives of these people. The Executive has not thought it proper to publish the official account of that affair; and we avail ourselves, therefore, of a private letter fron an officer on board the Frigate, which will be found below. This account may be relied upon, we doubt not, as if it were official. We were informed by the President’s message to Congress at the present session that, in the case before us, he had “dispatched a Frigate with orders to require immediate satisfaction for the injury, and indemnity for the sufferers.” We did not suppose that under this general phraseology was veiled a purpose so sanguinary, as to punish the whole people without a previous requisition either of satisfaction or indemnity. But we have no question but the Commander of the Frigate acted in this business strictly according to his instructions. – Nat. Intel.
---
UNITED STATES FRIGATE, POTOMAC,}
Bantine Bay, East Indies. }
Dear Tom: After three weeks stay at Rio de Janeirio, we sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, at which place we arrived on the 7th December, 1831, and came to anchor at Table Bay, off Cape Town. After a stay of one week there, we sailed for the Island of Sumatra, East Indies. – On the 5th of February 1832, we anchored off Qualiah Battoo, (the place where the crew of the American ship Friendship, of Salem, were murdered by the Malays.) We went in under Danish Colors, and disguised as a merchant-man; run in the main deck guns and shut the ports, the ports of the spar decks we concealed by throwing back our hammock cloths. Immediately after our arrival, we manned our whale boat with several of our officers disguised as sailors; they went on shore under pretence of bargaining for pepper, and in order to reconnoitre and find out which would be the most advantageous method of assailing the forts; but as soon as the natives perceived our boat approach the shore, upwards of one hundred of them came down to the beach, armed against the crew. As Lieutenant Shubrick, commander, discovered this hostile disposition in the natives, he deemed it prudent not to land; and I think he acted perfectly right, as there was not the smallest doubt but they would be all put to death. They therefore returned to the ship, pretty well satisfied that our contemplated landing was practicable. During the absence or our boat, a canoe with four Malays, fishermen came alongside to dispose of their fish; the commander invited them on board; the eldest one, who appeared to be the parent of the other three, came up to the side, but as soon as he approached the gang way and discovered our guns and men, he instantaneously let the fish fall on the deck, and held up his hands in astonishment, hurried down the side, and succeeded in getting into his canoe. The commanders saw that they were about to make off, ordered several of our men to board the canoe and take them prisoners, which was done in a moment. After they were brought on board, they seemed to be extremely humbled, and gave us to understand they were friendly Indians, belonging to a tribe at a place called Soo Soo, not far from Qualia Battoo, and that they were hostile to the Qualia Battoo tribe. The Commodore did not think proper to credit what they stated, consequently had them confined. Now for our attack – In the dead hour of midnight, the shrill pipes of the Boatswain and his mates summoned all hands to arise – we were all scattered on the decks in groups, waiting for this interesting moment. The go-ashore party (of which Jim Willis was one, as bugler, and G. Edwards another) consisting of about 300 stout hearted fellows, were shortly in the boats alongside, with their instruments of death, and determined on “Death or Victory.” At the dawn of day, and ere the morning star had made its appearance, our brave fellows landed on the beach in four divisions, about one mile above the town and its fortifications – the marines in front. They marched along the beach in Military order, each division under the command of its respective officer. Not a sound was heard, save the rolling of the surf upon the beach and the whispered commands of the officers. As they entered the town, Lieut. Hoff with his division filed off to the left, to take possession of the fort set apart for him to assail. The marines had scarcely got one hundred yards past him when they heard the noise of our pioneers breaking open the gates of the first fort with their crow bars and axes, which was immediately followed by a volley of musketry. As soon as they heard this, they knew that the affair was no longer a secret, and hurried to the second fort with all possible speed, which was to be taken by the marines only. The orders given previous to the attack were to spare the women and children. The marines entered the second fort at the charge bayonet, and put all to death except three women, who supplicated for mercy. – There were several women killed who had the hardihood to take up arms when they saw their husbands fall at their feet. Indeed it was impossible to distinguish the sex, they dress so much alike. Lieuts. Ingersoll, Pinkham and Totten attacked the third fort with their division. The marines, which consisted of thirty-nine men, were now in a critical situation, exposed to the 2d and 3d forts, as well as the fort which they afterwards took. Having possession of the forts, they proceeded to fire them and the town, and to destroy every thing of value that was left (for I assure you some of our boys brought plunder on board,) and thus in three hours we had the satisfaction to see our “stars and stripes” proudly waving over our conquered foe. We only lost two men in the conflict, -- one a marine named Benjamin T. Brown, shot through the heart; and one maintop man, Wm. P. Smith, shot through the heart – both expired instantaneously. D. H. Cole, marine, shot thro’ the body, and Henry Dutcher, mizentop [sic] man, shot through the thigh, both expected to recover. John L. Dubois was wounded by a Malay woman in attacking one of the forts. The woman was with an Indian, probably her husband, who was attacked and killed by Dubois. As soon as she seen her husband fall, she had the courage to attack Dubois with a sabre; she cut him very badly, between the upper joint of the thumb and where the wrist meets, the blow would have taken off the hand, had it not been retarded by the barrel of the musket, which was held at the time at a charge. – The number of the enemy was estimated at from 80 to 100 killed, and a vast number wounded. The Rajah escaped, but the next in authority with a woman of the first order, were among the killed. It was fortunate that we attacked them so early in the morning, and when they so little expected us, otherwise I am of opinion that but few of our men would have returned on board. On the 7th we hauled our ship in within a mile of the ruins, and sent a few of our 32 pound shot among those natives who had returned from the flight of the day previous, which caused a dreadful scampering amongst them, and killing several. The morning of our engagement, the Commodore suffered the four Indians we had taken as prisoners to be set at liberty, after satisfying them for their fish; they proved to be from Soo Soo, and likewise friendly to us, and right glad they were to paddle off. Palu Adam, a Rajah of a tribe near Soo Soo, and son-in-law to the Rajah of the latter place, came on board the day after our battle. This Rajah (Adam) belonged to Qualla Battoo at the time the crew of the Friendship were murdered, and was the means of saving the lives of the captain and second mate, Mr. Barry (acting sailing master with us,) and two or three of the men who were on shore at the time the murder and outrage was committed, by securing them in his fort until an opportunity offered of sending them to Soo Soo, at which place there was an American brig. Adam informed us (he speaks good English) that as soon as the natives, became acquainted with his friendship towards the surviving crew that they got quite outrageous, and had he not made his escape they would have put him to death – they took possession of his fort, and confiscated his money – they since offered $4000 for his head. He says he fears them not, and that where he now resides he has a strong party, besides from 500 to 1000 warriors. He never leaves home to visit our ship without his life guard. The meeting between Mr. Barry and Palu Adam, was extremely affectionate. – Adam told the Commodore that if he felt disposed to send his men ashore again, he would accompany them with his tribe, and render all requisite aid. The Commodore informed him that he was amply satisfied, more particularly as they (Quaila Battoo’s) had exhibited white flags at each of their Forts since the engagement. Thus ended the Qualia Battoo scrape, the natives of which are a blood thirsty, piratical race; there is not one of them I would be willing to trust, not even Palu Adam himself.
We left Soo Soo in February, and this is written in Bautine Bay, Island of Java, where we are at present wooding and watering, as soon as this is completed we will start for Batavia to take in provision, where I shall endeavor to have this forwarded to you; after which it is contemplated we shall proceed to Manila and Canton, and on to the Pacific ocean and its Islands round to Callao and Valparaiso.
