The Dutch burn English ships during the expedition to Chatham (Raid on Medway, 1667)

(De Hollanders steken Engelse schepen in brand tijdens de tocht naar Chatham 20 juni 1667)

by Jan van Leyden, 1669

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

(image 19201104, 0.98 MB)

The Raid on Chatham is undoubtedly one of the most impressive victories in Dutch history. The success of this daring expedition is much owed to Grand Pensionary of the Republic Johan de Witt.  He envisioned an attack on the British soil that would provoke a rebellion against the English king; and the planning of the operation started immediately after the great victory of the Four Days’ Battle in 1666.  However, the details of the original plan were soon become known to the English and the operation was cancelled. But the later events of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, such as St. James’ Day Fight and the Holmes Bonfire (1666) were unfortunate for the Dutch and a success was desperately needed in 1667. The plan of the attack was revived and Cornelis de Witt, brother of the Grand Pesionary, was assigned to the fleet as a government delegate. In June 1667 the Dutch fleet commanded by De Ruyter, but effectively guided by Cornelis de Witt entered the Thames.

The first Dutch ships commanded by Willem van Ghent appeared at the mouth of the Thames on June 17. At that moment Dutch intensions were unclear to the English, who were more concerned of an attack on London. But the Dutch primary target were English ships anchored upstream the Medway river. The attack began with an assault on the Sheerness Castle protecting the mouth of the Medway. After a bombardment delivered by the Vreede the garrison fled, and a Dutch landing party captured the unfinished fort. The Dutch marines were strictly forbidden to plunder to shame the Holmes’ outrages on Teschelling. Despite the orders Dutch seamen plundered anyway, and their commander Jan van Brakel was relieved of his command.

Once the fort was captured the Dutch reconnoitered the way upstream and discovered that English had sunk seven ships across the river to block the passage. A small opening was found in the barrier and after some of the sunken ships had been dragged away, the Dutch frigates passed on the rising tide.

Another obstacle was a formidable chain stretched across the river one mile further on near Gillingham. It was protected by artillery positions on the river banks and warships anchored in front of it. The Dutch attacked the chain on the morning of June 22. One of the protecting warships, the Unity (ex Dutch Eendracht) was bordered and captured by Jan van Brakel who was anxious to redeem himself. The Dutch fire ships attacked the English Matthias and Carolus V, which both caught fire and blew up. Later the mighty Royal Charles was taken after putting little resistance. This ship, originally Naseby 80-gun First Rate, renamed Royal Charles after the Restoration, had served as flagship for such famous admirals as Blake, Monck and Duke of York. Its capture was the ultimate humiliation for the English fleet.

The tide began to fall and the Dutch could not proceed any further that day. Still there were three more ships up the river, Royal James, Loyal London and Royal Oak. The English realized that the only way to prevent their capture was to sink them and so they were scuttled. Next day De Ruyter took command of the attack personally. The sunken ships were reached by the fire ships and set on fire.

“The destruction of these three stately and glorious ships of ours was the most dismal spectacle my eyes ever beheld,”
wrote Edward Gregory, Clerk of the Cheque of Chatham Dockyard.

The next day the Dutch finally withdrew. The tide was falling and the ships regularly ran aground. Royal Charles and Unity were taken along as prizes. Despite the obvious success not all objectives were accomplished.  For one, Johan de Witt was not satisfied pointing out that the actions of the fleet were insufficiently aggressive and not accepting arguments of shallow water and adverse wind. Chatham Dockyard was not burnt and had it been destroyed it would have taken a generation to rebuild. Furthermore the political aim was not reached as well. Despite disastrous events such as plague, the Great Fire of London 1666 and then the raid itself, no rebellion ensued.

There are many painting depicting the events of the Raid on Chatham. The impressive work of Jan van Leyden painted in 1667 – 1669 shows the attack of June 20th with Dutch troops storming the Sheerness Castle and burning English ships.

The storming of Sheerness Castle is depicted in detail in this engraving by Willem Schellinks.

Chatham Expedition  and the Capture of the Sheppey Island, 1667

(Tocht naar Chatham en de verovering van het eiland Sheppey, 1667)

by Willem Schellinks

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

(image 12801015 px, 589 KB)

The panoramic painting by Willem Schellinks displays the further events of the Raid. In the middle of the painting one can see scuttled English ships with their masts protruding above water. The Dutch vanguard is already past the obstacle and three more English ships are on fire before Upnor Castle.

The burning of the English fleet near Chatham, June 1667, during the second Anglo-Dutch war

By Willem Schellinks

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

(image 1280853 px, 401 KB)

The moment of triumph, the capture of the Royal James is shown on this work by Peter van den Velde. The unrigged Royal Charles in the center still bearing the Flag of the Red but a Dutch tricolor is already hoisted on the masthead. The burning fire ships are shown grappled with the Matthias and the Carolus V already in flames.

The Dutch burn down the English fleet before Chatham June 20 1667

(Het verbranden van de Engelse vloot voor Chatham)

By Peter van de Velde

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

(image 19741294 px, 2.26MB)

The captured Royal Charles was escorted to the Netherlands by Jan van Brakel. Its arrival at the Goereese Gat is painted by Jeronimus van Diest for Cornelis de Witt. On the poop the Dutch tricolor is flying while the English red flag is hoisted upside down in humiliation.

Arrival of the English Flagship Royal Charles

(Het opbrengen van het Engelse admiraalschip de Royal Charles)

By Jeronymus van Diest (II)

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

(image 19551284 px, 2.38 MB)

Finally, a painting by workshop of Jan de Baen honours Cornelis de Witt posing as triumphant with the bird’s-eye view of the Medway River dotted with Dutch ships and burning English vessels. This is a replica of the original paining which was destroyed by an angry mob in 1672, the year of Dutch disasters, blamed largely on de Witt brothers, who then were also killed by their angry compatriots.

The Glorification of Cornelis de Witt, with the Raid on Chatham in the Background, from the workshop of Jan de Baen, replica of the original 1667 painting

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

(image 1132960 px, 1.33MB)

continue reading.....

Shipping on the IJ by Amsterdam, by Ludolf Bakhiuzen

(Scheepwart op het IJ bij Amsterdam)

Emden, Ostfriesisches Landesmuseum Emden

(image 14170 x 1070, 853 KB)

A study for this etching is located in the British Museum, London. From left to right are shown a flute, a ketch, a vessel of an unknown type, a rowboat, a man-of-war, and a smalschip.

Shipping on the Maas by Rotterdam, by Ludolf Bakhiuzen, 1701

(Scheepwart op de Maas bij Rotterdam)

Emden, Ostfriesisches Landesmuseum Emden

(image 2835 x 2144,  3.06 MB)

On a beam in the water in the lower left corner there is a date, 1701, written mirrored. The leeboard of a yacht in the right is also inscribed, “LB”.
From left to right we see a boom rigged barge, an English yacht, an English frigate and a boeier yacht.

Both drawings bear a signature:

L. Bakhuizen fec: et exc: cum Privil: ordin Holland: et West Frisiae.

Sources: #zlschpn#

continue reading.....

The Dutch Fleet under Sail

by Willem Van De Velde The Elder, 1672

Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy

(image 8000 x 4400 px, 5,14MB)

‘The Dutch Fleet under Sail’ is believed to be a depiction of the Dutch battle fleet prepared to set sail for the Medway and Sheerness in 1667. This expedition commanded by Admiral De Ruyter resulted in a stunning success. Much of the English navy was destroyed or captured. The Dutch ships that took part in that attack are represented on this painting. At the right is the Witte Olifant (built 1666) easily recognizable by a white elephant on her stern. Further right is the Vrijheid (the Freedom, built 1651, blown up in action 1676). To the left of the Witte Olifant is the Zeelandia with the coat of arms of Zeelandia on her stern. The center of the painting is occupied by the Gouden Leeuw (built 1666), with the image of a rampant golden lion on her tafferel. In the left foreground is the Huis Tijdverdrijf. In the left background the Zeven Provincien is seen. Her stern is decorated with the coat of arms of the seven Provinces of the Republic.

This painting is now kept in Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Italy. It was acquired in 1674 by Cardinal Leopold de Medici who at that time was travelling to Holland accompanied by his nephew Cosimo III, the crown prince of Tuscany. While being in Holland they visited a number of artists’ studios including the one of Willem van de Velde the Elder. The cardinal and the crown prince were captivated by the artist’s work and purchased a number of his paintings and among them “The Dutch Fleet under Sail”. The cardinal paid 325 guilders for this painting. This work has numerous carefully drawn details that can be studied on this high resolution image.

continue reading.....

Battle of Scheveningen (Slag bij Ter Heide)

The Battle of Scheveningen (Battle of Ter Heide) was painted by Jan Abrahamsz between 1653 and 1666. The flagship of Admiral Tromp, the Brederode and the Resolution under the flag of Monck can be seen in the middle of this painting.

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

By the middle of the 17th Century the tensions rose between the Commonwealth of England and the Republic of the Seven Provinces. Political rivalry, religious strife and most of all economic competition had drawn two protestant countries into decades of bloody conflict known as Anglo-Dutch Wars.

In 1650 the Dutch Republic stood proud. After 80 years of the unprecedented struggle for freedom from the all-mighty Spanish Empire the Seven Provinces had finally got their independence formally acknowledged in Westphalia. By this time the former ragtag fleet of the rebellious “sea-beggars” had become the world’s leading maritime power.

As the disputes heightened and diplomats strove to reach a settlement over the commercial issues, the States-General decided to intimidate the English by voting for an increase of the Dutch navy by not less than 150 ships. The effect of this move was quite the opposite to the expected. The English became convinced of the Dutch intentions on war and started preparing themselves to it.

The final trigger was provided by the long-standing English claim to be saluted everywhere in the “British Seas”. The extent of the “British Seas” was never defined, although it is safe to assume that the Channel and the Dover Straits were implied. The Dutch however stood to their own belief of the “freedom of the seas”. Thus the all-important passage of the Dutch trade shipping to the high seas was at stake. The war became inevitable as a result of several flag incidents that led to a bitter confrontation between the naval forces of the two nations.

One of such incidents took place on May 19th 1652 when Tromp and Blake met off Dover and firing broke out over the issue of the salute. Tromp had instructions from the States-General to yield the salute on the understanding that it was a courtesy not an acknowledgment of any legal jurisdiction. In the time of high tensions such orders proved to be fatal. The English were outnumbered and fought a confused action which still brought them two Dutch prizes. The leadership of the Commonwealth was enraged by what they regarded as a treacherous attack and formally declared war on July 8th.

The next twelve months had seen many actions including some of the scale never seen before. So on 2 June 1653 Tromp with 104 ships met Monck and Deane commanding 105 men-of-war. The encounter ended a disaster for the Dutch who lost 20 ships and were routed. The English navy now mounted a blockade of the Dutch waters causing a standstill in trade and a famine for the common people.

The blockade had eventually been lifted after the victualling had collapsed not being able to maintain such an armada 100 miles off its bases. Tromp used this moment to sail out and unite his fleet on 25 July. He was met by Monck and the two fleets fought on July 31st. The English formed a line to use their artillery superiority and passed four times throught the unformed Dutch fleet. Both sides suffered badly, but the losses for the Dutch were worse.

Tromp was killed by a musket ball on the fourth pass. His last words were said to be: ‘I have done, be of brave heart’.

Another depiction of this battle was created by Willem van de Velde the Elder in 1657. He was present at the action and tried to capture the event as he was sailing in a galliot with his son. Subsequently he was heard as a witness in a dispute about the roles of the different commanders.

Battle of Ter Heide

By Willem van de Velde, the Elder, 1657

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

continue reading.....

By Willem van de Velde, the Elder, 1666-1693

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Willem van de Velde the Elder had accompanied the Dutch Fleet in a galliot to witness the events of the Four Days Battle that took place on June 11-14 1666 off the Flemish and English coasts. He sketched every phase and every detail of the battle. This drawing shows the Dutch fleet on the day before the battle began. The Dutch government had recently abandoned its opposition to bigger vessels and on this picture we can see some new powerful Dutch ships like de Ruyter’s new flagship “De Zeven Provinciën” of 80 guns, equivalent to English second rates. In addition to the new bigger ships the Dutch had mustered a fleet bigger than the opponent’s: eighty-six ships against fewer than sixty in the English squadron.

Colored drawing by Johan Herman Isings (from the sketch by Willem van de Velde, the Elder)

continue reading.....

THE IMPROVED CHAIN PUMP

By John Bentinck

(Highest resolution available 1824×2700)

The withdrawal of the Cambridge, Marlborough and Dragon from their attack on the Morro Castle in Havana throws into sharp relief the difficulties of waging war far from significant dockyard resources and in the tropics where wood and iron decay quickly. The ships were able to continue their assault but were considered too damaged to be risked further. Much of the damage to the rigging and hull of a warship could be repaired anywhere in the world. Essentially organic, warships in this era were made almost entirely of wood, canvas, iron and hemp, and with plenty of spare material on board, new masts and yards could be fashioned from old’ split lines could be knotted and spliced; and holes in the sails and hull could be patched. But this self sustainability only went so far. Pumps like the one illustrated were extremely effective and could discharge as much as a ton of water per minute, but holes beneath the waterline were hard to find and even harder to mend permanently without access to dockyard or careening facilities. A leaking ship could also have a terrible effect on morale. On numerous occasions officers kept the true state of a sinking ship from their men to prevent panic from taking hold.

The Bentinck chain pump is an excellent example of British technological superiority over her rivals. No other navy had anything comparable.

Source ID: #fghtshpsv2#

continue reading.....

JAMES COOK’S CHART OF THE ST LAWRENCE TO QUÉBEC BY ORDER OF VICE ADMIRAL CHARLES SAUNDERS 1759, fragment above, full chart below

Published by Thomas Jefferys

(Highest resolution available 5640×973)

While the British were enjoying significant success in European waters, the war in Canada had also taken a significant turn. Assaults on French Montréal and Québec were both planned and crucial to the success of both was the navigation of a huge British fleet transporting Major General James Wolfe’s land forces up the St Lawrence River. This was quite a challenge: the navy had no charts of the St Lawrence, which is protected by a number of navigational hazards, and the French in Québec felt quite safe. Aboard the frigate Mercury however was a talented young navigator with an interest in hydrographic surveying named James Cook. In a short time he and a number of other officers had produced a sufficiently accurate and detailed chart of the St Lawrence to allow the entire fleet far enough upriver for Wolfe’s army to be landed to attack Québec. It was the start of a glittering career for the young Cook.

Source ID: #fghtshpsv2#

continue reading.....

PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF MINORCA, 1756

(Highest available definition 6254×4576)

First blood in the Seven Years War came at the battle of Minorca in 1756. Vice Admiral John Byng was sent to the Mediterranean to reinforce British-held Minorca against a possible French attack. The French landed 12,000 troops in mid April and began a lengthy siege, entirely dependent on sea-borne supply protected by the French fleet under Vice Admiral La Galissonière. Byng’s fleet of 13 ships gave him a slight advantage over La Galissonière’s 12, but the French easily repulsed Byng’s attack. As the British bore down the French crippled them by targeting the masts and rigging before drifting away to leeward, re-forming and repeating the whole process. Byng repaired his damaged ships but made no further move to lift the siege of Minorca which fell soon after. The loss of Minorca deprived the British of a crucial base in the heart of the Mediterranean from where they had been able to watch or attack the French fleet at Toulon.

References to the Plan

Position of the English and French Fleets at about half an hour after the afternoon of 20^th of May 1756.

When the French Fleet began the Engagement.

1. French Line going with the Wind upon the Beam and Main topsails to the Mast, the 4^th and 5^th. Ships began the Fire and very soon it became General.
2. French Frigates to Windward.
3. English Line, the Van not yet fairly up to their respective Adversaries and consequently not the Rear, as the Angle after Tacking must be greater in the Rear, than the Van, yet all but the two Sternmost were even now within the Gun-Shot.
4. The Intrepide putting right down out of the headmost Ships way by which in bringing up She was immediately disabled.
5. The Adm. With the Signal out to Engage the Enemy returning their Fire which he had received from the 3 Ships for a considerable time going down without answering it as not thinking himself near enough.
6. Deptford ordered out of the Line.
7. G. Phoenix with the Scooner to attend her in case of burning to receive her People.
8. Chesterfield
9. I. The Experiment and Dolphin

Source ID: #fghtshpsv2#

continue reading.....