Raid on Sumatra

On 4 August, the fleet sailed to Padang; the snow Elizabeth commanded by William Kerton joined the expedition soon after they had left; Kerton knew the Sumatran coast better than anyone, especially the Dutch trading ports and was to be lead pilot.^[4] Elizabeth picked up a number of Minangkabau people which would be vital for a successful trading partnership if the raid was successful.^[5]

The first encounter was the Dutch outstation of Cingkuak [id] island. After a brief bombardment and summons of surrender, the outpost was swiftly captured. The snow Elizabeth was left there to form a line of communication with Fort Marlborough - the rest of the expedition then sailed on to Padang with Kerton sailing on as pilot in the Indiaman Glatton.^[6]

On the 16 August the small fleet arrived before Padang, Botham went on shore under a flag of truce and summoned the Dutch VOC chief resident Jacob van Heemskerk, to surrender the fort, the town of Padang and all factories on the West coast of Sumatra. Van Heemskerk had some 500 men and natives at his disposal along with a significant number of guns. Botham deceived him into thinking that he had a large force at hand and that more vessels and troops were on their way.^[7]

Two days later after much consulting with his captains, van Heemskerk fearing he was about to be overwhelmed and with no support, surrendered all of the west coast outposts without a fight. This included including the large factory of Barus further north, particularly important for trading with the Minangkabau. van Heemskerk was totally unaware that Botham's force was relatively weak, until after the surrender document had been signed.^[7]

• 
  Map of the Dutch fortifications of Padang
• 
  Maps of Dutch bases at Pulau Cingkuak and Baros

The British consolidated their hold on Padang, and sent a further Indiaman Lord North to assist with the administration. The expedition was a huge success for the company - the seizure of the Dutch factories as a whole netted the British some 500,000 florins in goods and money.^[8]

The loss of Padang was a huge blow to the Dutch, who were unaware of its fall until the following year. The fortress at Padang remained in British hands till the end of the war, when in May 1784, following the Treaty of Paris the same year, the town was to be returned to VOC control. In July 1785 it was eventually handed over, but not before the fortress had been destroyed.^[9] As a result of the raid and for Dutch control to return, the British gained the right of free trade with part of the Dutch East Indies, which had been a major war aim for British merchants.^[10]

The war proved a disaster for the Netherlands, particularly economically. It also proved to be confirmation of the weakening of Dutch power in the eighteenth century.^[11]

• Miller, W G (2020). British Traders in the East Indies, 1770-1820: 'at Home in the Eastern Seas'. Boydell & Brewer. ISBN 9781783275533.