Page 172 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

172 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

reinforcements. If Clarke did not arrive, they would run the risk of battle or retire to the
ships. In these “depressing circumstances [the] … high spirit of the Admiral was one of
the most essential services” and this was gratefully acknowledged by his colleagues. 50
In the meantime the Dutch authorities could not be convinced of the wisdom of an
attack on the British position. However, due to the insistence of the burghers and some
of the officers, Sluysken eventually ordered such an attack. Before the Dutch attack
occurred, and no doubt to the considerable relief of the British, a fleet of 14 British
ships with General Clarke and the long awaited reinforcements sailed into False Bay on
51
3 September. British preparations for an attack commenced immediately and on 14
September they advanced on Wynberg with 4 000 to 5 000 men that included sappers
and artillery.
The overwhelming British attack forced the Dutch to retreat, and as the situation
seemed hopeless Gordon and Sluysken stressed that the Cape could no longer be de-
fended against the British. Negotiations commenced and Clarke agreed to a 24-hour
52
truce at midnight on 14 September. The surrender documents were signed on 16 Sep-
tember. Many of the Dutch soldiers and burghers blamed their officers and specifically
Gordon for the poor defence. As the situation was getting out of hand, the Dutch urged
53
the British to come to their aid as soon as possible. On the same day the British oc-
cupied the batteries outside Cape Town, while 1 400 men marched into the town. As the
Dutch garrison marched out of the Castle to surrender, the soldiers jeered and swore at
54
their officers, calling them traitors.
55
The news of the capture of the Cape caused considerable relief in Britain. The
First Lord of the Admiralty, Earl Spencer, referred to the Cape as a “very valuable ac-
quisition … obtained for this country at so little expense of lives and money … one of
56
the most advantageous we have ever made”. Dundas congratulated Elphinstone on
“… the surrender of Cape Town” and placing such an “… essential establishment under
57
the dominion of Great Britain”. The House of Orange or the interest of the Netherlands
were not mentioned, it is clear that the conquest was purely in the interest of Britain.

6. Concluding remarks
After the Netherlands became allied to France, the alliance had a series of bases,
literally around the world. Britain acted quickly by occupying a number of these bases

50 Allardyce, Memoir, p. 98.
51 NAUK ADM50/64, Admirals Journals, Vice Admiral Elphinstone, Monarch, 4/4/1795- 13/1/1797, 4/9/1795.
52 CA VC76, Campagne, Memorie en bijzonderheden wegens overgave der Kaap, pp. 140-141.
53 CA VC75, Marnitz, Verhaal van de overgaave van de Kaap, p. 235.
54 Barnard verifies this account with reference to a number of contemporary sources. See C.J. Barnard,
Robert Jacob Gordon se Loopbaan aan die Kaap (MA, Stellenbosch University), in C. Beyers, et al
(eds.), Archives Year Book for South African History, 13/1 (Parow, 1950), p. 428.
55 J. Holland Rose, William Pitt and the Great War (London, 1911), p. 254.
56 Erskine, ‘Admiral Elphinstone’s Naval Task Force, p. 88.
57 NAUK WO 1/324, Dundas – Elphinstone, 16/1/1796, p. 483.