A
Journal of the Proceedings of the Fleet under the Command of
Admiral Gambier from the 17th to the 19th of
August 1807.
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Monday
17.
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Place
at noon: Off Torbech Ness
Ordered
Captain Puget to take anchorage with the ‘Goliath’, ‘Africain’,
‘Hebe’, ‘Thunder’, ‘Fury’, ‘Safeguard’ and
‘Urgent’ on shore off Charlottenlund, in order to cover the
left flank of the army and supply it with provisions, stores and
ammunition from the Transports lying there.
…directed
Captain Dunbar [at meddele den engelske flåde] that hostilities
have commenced with Denmark.
…to
detain all Danish ships and vessels.
I
am informed by the British Consul, late at Elsinore, that the
Commander in Chief of the Danish Army has issued an edict for the
sequestration of all British Property in Denmark.
REMARKS
AND OCCURRENCES
AM
Light is inclining to calm. The Transports are assembled at
Charlottenlund disembarking the bulk of the army, horses,
artillery etc. At 9 observed the Danish Gun Boats in the number of
ten, come out of Copenhagen and take possession of an English
merchant ship passing that part.
The
‘Cambrian’, lying off the harbour, being becalmed, could
render no assistance, made the signal for the boats manned and
armed to retrain to the ‘Cambrian’. On the appearance of our
boats in force, the Gun Boats set fire to the ship, and retired
under the batteries.
The
Danish Gun Boats having attempted to annoy the left wing of the
army which was near the shore, advanced to within three miles of
the walls of Copenhagen, I sent the Bombs and Gun Brigs to check
them, and they retired after some resistance in which little
damage appears to be done on either side. Ordered two long 18
pounders to be lent from some ships of the Line to several of the
Gun Briggs.
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Tuesday
18.
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RECEIVED
Mr.
Pole's letter signifying their Lordships directions for me to
procure small vessels, if required, to oppose the Gun Boats.
A
letter from Capt. Ehing (‘Defence’) enclosing one from Capt.
Heywood, stating his having taken possession of the ‘Fredrichsværn’.
IN
COPENHAGEN ROAD
WRITTEN
Directed
Captain Hallett (‘Ganges’)…to appoint competent persons to
examine most minutely the south and west of the Isle of Amag, and
the passage leading into Copenhagen, as to the facilities these
points may afford for landing troops and heavy artillery.
…I
am informed by a letter from Lord Cathcart that our army has
intercepted 41 wagons loaded with powder going to Copenhagen.
REMARKS
AND OCCASIONS
At
9 the Danish Gun Boats came out and began to annoy the army. After
having some time opposed a Bomb and several Gun Brigs, which the
light winds would scarcely enable to get near them, they were
driven back.
A
disposition was made of boats near the ‘Zebra’ and
‘Belette’ for cutting off the outer Gun Boat, but no
favourable opportunity presented itself for that purpose.
Yesterday
and this day I have occasionally corresponded with Lord Cathcart,
and have several times sent Sir Home Popham to communicate my
sentiments to his Lordship in regard to the co-operation of the
naval force and to receive His Lordship’s wishes in regard
thereto.
Also
the ‘Comus’ and the ‘Fredrichsværn’, a Danish frigate of
36 guns and 227 men, which she had detained in consequence of my
order of the 13 th instant after an action of 45
minutes in which the Dane lost 12 men killed and 20 wounded, while
the ‘Comus’ had but one man slightly hurt.
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Wednesday
19.
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WRITTEN
Ordered
Commodore Sir S. Hood to take an anchorage with the ‘Centaur’,
‘Brunswick’, and ‘Leyden’, on the south end of the Middle
Channel out of range of shot from the Floating Batteries to annoy
the enemy and protect the British troops on the island of Amag –
also to prevent neutral vessels from entering Copenhagen.
Ordered
a complete survey to be taken of the whole furniture, stores…of
the ‘Fredrichsværn’ from which an appointment may hereafter
be made, if required, it being my intention to employ her on the
present service.
…Ordered
the prisoners taken in the ‘Fredrichsværn’ to be put on board
the ‘Inflexible’. Wrote Capt. Heywood [for at takke].
REMARKS
AM
At daylight observed the ‘Surveillante’ aground near the Isle
of Saltholm… great exertion is acted to land the heavy artillery
and stores from the Transports off Charlottenlund. Some field
artillery has been brought near the beach, by which it appears the
Gun Boats are in a great measure, prevented from annoying our army.
…respecting
the [Danish] defence of the harbour’s mouth, that, in addition
to the fortification on the low [water], there are two Floating
Batteries between the two Crown batteries, and a Gun Ship and a
Frigate (hulks) moved in the fair way, under the effectual cover
of the great Crown Battery, while the ships cover the Gun Boats as
they advance a considerable distance from the mouth of the harbour,
along the shore.
…I
have received the Master and part of the Crew of the ship that was
burnt by the Gun Boats on the 17 th in exchange for
[‘Fredrichsværn’s sårede].
A
3½ PM ‘Surveillante’ was got off without damage. Ships
present 14 of the line, 2 armed en flute, 5 frigates, 4 sloops, 8
bombers and fire ships, 6 gun brigs, 1 schooner.
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Thursday
20.
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Ordered
‘Alfred’ to take an anchorage to the northward of the
Transports of Charlottenlund in order to protect them on the side
of Elsinore.
Wrote
the Right Honourable Viscount Castlereagh an answer to His
Lordship’s enquiries in which I have suggested that a further
supply of provisions and pronounce on stores should be immediately
sent from England for the present service.
Ordered…the
lighter [det er skibe] to be fitted with heavy guns to act against
the enemy’s Gun Boats.
REMARKS
AND OCCURENCES
AM
At
daylight observed a warm action take place between the left wing
of our army and a considerable force from the town, aided by much
artillery as well as by the Gun Boats. Having occasion to
communicate with [Cathcart] on certain points relating to the
present service upon which Lord Castlereagh has required our joint
opinion, I went on shore to Head Quarters for the purpose.
Directed
the Transports to complete their water without delay, and for the
purpose a large proportion of them have this day moved over to
Landscrona.
Underskrevet
Gambier
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