Book Description

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 42. Chapters: Naval battles of the First Anglo-Dutch War, Naval battles of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, Naval battles of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, Naval battles of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, Four Days Battle, Raid on the Medway, Battle of Vagen, Battle of Solebay, Battle of the Kentish Knock, Battle of Lowestoft, Battle of Schooneveld, Battle of Texel, St. James's Day Battle, Battle of Plymouth, Battle of Portland, Battle of Dogger Bank, Battle of Goodwin Sands, Battle of Dungeness, Battle of Lowestoft ship list, Battle of Leghorn, Battle of the Gabbard, Battle of Scheveningen, Shirley's Gold Coast expedition, Battle of Elba, Action of 12 March 1672. Excerpt: In 1781, Great Britain's declared war on the Dutch Republic, opening the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. As part of its offensive strategy, the British organized an expedition against Dutch colonial outposts on the Gold Coast of Africa (present-day Ghana). Captain Thomas Shirley led the expedition, commanding HMS Leander and several transports carrying two small regiments of independently-raised troops under the command of Captain Kenneth Mackenzie of the 78th Foot. The expedition sailed late in 1781, and arrived off the coast of Africa in January 1782. Pursuant to orders, Shirley first stopped at the primary British outpost of Cape Coast Castle on 5 February, where plans were developed to take the principal Dutch castle at Elmina by land while Leander made a diversionary attack on the nearby St. Jago castle. The expedition arrived at Elmina on 15 February, but high surf prevented the 500 troops from landing until 18 February, and contrary winds prevented Leander from coming close enough to shore to bring its guns to bear on the forts until 20 February. On that day, Shirley raised the agreed signal flag indicating the beginning of his attack, and opened fire on St. Jago shortly...