Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/181

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As Admiral Duncan approached near, he made the signal for the fleet to shorten sail and form in close order. Soon after he saw the land between Camperdown and Egmont, about nine miles to leeward of the enemy; and finding there was no time to be lost in making the attack, at half past eleven he made the signal to bear up, break the enemy’s line, and engage them to leeward, each ship her opponent; and by these means he got between them and the land, whither they were fast approaching. Admiral Duncan’s signals were obeyed with great promptitude. Vice-Admiral Onslow, in the Monarch, bore down in a most gallant manner on the enemy’s rear, and was followed by his whole division. About half past twelve he broke through the enemy’s line, passed under the Dutch Vice-Admiral’s stern, and engaged him to leeward. Admiral Duncan intending to engage the Dutch Commander-in-Chief, was prevented by the States General of 76 guns, bearing a blue flag at the mizen, shooting close up with him; the Admiral therefore ran under his stern, engaged him close, and soon forced him to quit the line, The Venerable then fell alongside of the Dutch Admiral, who was for some time well supported, and kept up a very heavy fire. At one o’clock the action was pretty general, except by two or three van ships of the enemy’s line, which got off without the smallest apparent injury, and entered the Texel the following day. The action continued with unabating fury for near two hours and a half, when all the masts of the Dutch Admiral’s ship went by the board; she was, however, defended for some time after in a most gallant manner; but at length, finding all further resistance vain, struck her colours to the Venerable. Admiral de Winter himself being, it is said, the only man left on the quarter deck who was not either killed or wounded.

About the same time the Dutch Vice-Admiral appeared dismasted, and surrendered to the Monarch. Several others of the enemy had likewise struck; but the Admiral finding himself in only nine fathoms water, and but five miles from the land, had his attention so much occupied in getting the heads of the crippled ships off shore, that he was not able to distinguish the number which were captured; and the wind blowing constantly on the land, the British ships were unavoidably dispersed. Some of the vessels which had struck, took advantage of the night to escape; and two or three of them were seen going into the Texel the following morning. officer, was thus acknowledged by Admiral Duncan;– “Captain Trollope’s exertions and active good conduct, in keeping