AccountOfTheSiegeBombardmentOfCopenhagen

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A d m o n i t i o n u p o n Mr . S o mmm e r s A c c o u n t o f t he s i e g e etc. o f C o p e n h a g e n i n 1 807 . (Translated from the paper Dngen, for the use of the readers of the said pamphlet, by K. H. S e i d e li n ) . W h e n the countrym en o f M r. Som­ mer heard o f his giving an account or pretended relation in the English lan ­ guage o f the proceedings w ith fire and eword o f the English iieet and arm y against Copenhagen , they expected at least to see transmitted into the ennemy’s tongue those manly sentiments o f exas­ peration and that hrdent desire o f reta-; lia tio n , that animates every breast,1 w o rth y to be called D a n i s h . M r. Sommers Fellow-citizens a fC o ­ penhagen had an indisputable righ t to h o p e , that he had done h im self the honnour o f asserting this tru th , that

tlie sight o f the maimed S ire , o f the innocent babe crushed at the very breast o f its nu rse , o f the boinbstroke house­ w ife amidst her domestic occupations, that the roars o f a conflagration de­ stroying their own and their friends pea­ ceable abodes, that the thougth on anni­ hilated property or livelyhood , did then as little abate their ardour, as now the everburn ing remembrance o f a ll these horrors is capable o f lessening their loud and unanimous g rie f at every jo t o f that cap itu la tion , wh ich a fatal ne­ cessity dictated. T h e noble commander o f the ma­ ritime defence j the gallant captains o f the praams and the who le boat flo tilla, who are a just pride and boast o f our surrendered tho ’ u n c o n q u e r e d fleet, and w ithstood all the threats and a t­ tempts o f the new i n v i n c i b l e a r m a - d a ; the undaunted and sk ilfu ll V o lu n ­ teers o f the K ings chasseurs; the not less brave and w e ll behaving c ity -a rtil-

le t is ts ; those hold men that vent out w ith our small fieldartilleri ; and whoe­ ver d isplayed courage and patriotism , had equal claim to M r. Sommers ex ­ p lain ing a ll their indefatigable and gal­ lan t exertions in a ligh t as to have ashamed the Commanders o f the hostile fo rce s , for riot having at least done justice to their opponents in their offi­ cia l reports. It may be that M r. Sommers pam­ ph let wou ld not then have sold so w e ll among the ennem ies, as it does" now in its meek and wom an ly form and sty­ le; but it wou ld have proved the author to be a D a n e . W e want not to excite feelings o f compassion by our ennemies. T h e ir esteem is our due for our efforts to equal our ancestors. T h e y have e x ­ perienced at B u en o s-A y re s, that a ge­ nerous and lo ya l people may be over­ come once by artifice and surprise, but that the second day is unavoidab ly that o f a tremendous vengeance. — U n til

a w o rthy pen shall have displayed the true political origin , and the flattering, lu lling , promising and surprising forth- steps o f , what even English writers have called the attack upon Copenha­ g en , the most unparallelPd breach of the Law o f nations, w e quote w ith satis­ faction , as the echo from every danisli b reast, the answer given by a danish sa ilor, who had lost a leg the 2d. april I go 1 , to another sa ilo r , who blamed the cap itu la tion : ” Be qu ie t, brother, there is oak in Denmark and iron in N o rw a y , and there are hearts throgh«' ou t Denmark and N o rw a y ,”

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T h e siege and bombardment o f Copenha­ gen by the English are both in their causes and consequences one ©f the most remark­ able events in modern times. Defencelefs and unprepared as we were, the succefs o f the British arms was obvious. So formidable and unexpected a force as that which was brought by the English must necessarily ob­ tain a victory over a defencelefs nation, which, founded its whole grandeur and glory on the happy enjoyment o f an honourable peace. It was the golden age of our island and our Capital. Unconcerned for more, we confined our wishes to our native shore and the law fu l advantages, which our trade and a most impartial neutrality could afford* Our eSpits were blessed by providence, and

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Our happinefs had reached its snmtnit, wheri the English threatened our shores; W e liever put Faith in the loud rumour, that a f great english expedition was directed against the island o f Zealand and the Capital of our kingdom. Having confidence in the cause o f Denmark, we never i expected the least hostile operation from that quarter. Such was our situation, when on a sudden we learned, that on Sunday the ad Aug. Admiral Gambieir's fleet, consisting o f fourteen sail of the line and six frigates Were come in sight o f the Sound. N ext mdfning they arriv­ ed in Elsinor road, and drew up in line o f battle, but without likelihood of any hostile intent. On the first appearance o f this fleef, the Commander o f the fortrefs o f Cronborg was asked whether the Exped ition was al­ lowed to pafs the Sound ; he answered, he was ordered not to attempt any kind o f resi­ stance. Th e Prince o f Wales, Admiral Gambler's flagship,' saluted the battery^ which Was returned b y the Danes. The po­ pulace was ve ry favourably disposed to­

wards the English, The saluting o f the flag­ ship and the friendly reception o f the englisk fleet in our port annihilated every appre­ hension of hostile views.. ’ Th e English were supplied with provisions and necessaries at El sinor and were treated like friends. N o t­ withstanding it now was generally supposed that the british troops on board of the trans- port-vessels had a design to take possession of our island, no steps towards such a mea­ sure were ye t adopted. The Prince Royal being with the army in Holstein, we were entirely unprepared to offer resistance.. Mf* Tailor? being destined to replace Mr. Gar- lick, Minister of his Britannic Majesty at the Court o f Copenhagen, arrived the js to fA u g . at the Capital. It was generally reported, that Mr, Garlick was going on a mission, to the Court o f Prussia. A t the same time in­ telligence o f the arrival o f the english fleet was sent off to the Prince Royal at Kiel. Aug. 6 Mr. Jackson arrived at Copenhagen, ?nd directly went to His Royal Highnefs at K iel in, order to communicate to him the

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object of the expedition, which was the tem­ porary deposit o f the danish ships of the line in one o f His Britannic Majesty’s ports, as a f pledge o f our neutrality. Mr, Jackson ar­ rived the 8th at K iel, but his mission being w ithout succefs, he left that place on the lo th . The Jth the Prince Royal left Kiel. On the lo th His Royal' Highnefs arrived at the Hoim or Do'ck-yard in order to stimulate the exertions o f the workmen and to forward the defensive preparations. He had travelled two days and two nights w ithou t stopping. The chamberlain Steen Bilie , who had distinguished himself in the memorable battle against Tripoiis "), and who enjoys the greatest confidence o f the Prince, was to command the naval part of the defence; Major General Pcymrtnn , knight o f the order of Dannebfoge, was no­ minated Commander in chief of Zealand. Major General Bilejeld was second in com-

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mand. The students, who in the year 1801 enrolled themselves for the defence o f the country, took up arms in consequence of the fo llow ing invitation: “ The danger, with which the country is threatened, gives me occasion to invite all the students of th,e University to assemble and embody them­ selves in a Corps, which shall bear the name o f the Crown-prince’s life-guard. I have seen this body o f .men in the memo­ rable gd April, and been happy to learn their zeal for the king and country. Coun­ trymen ! prove the same on this occasion. The universally esteemed Grand-marshal Hauch w ill command tjhls Corps. Frederic , Prince Royal. No man could do more under these circumstances than the Prince has done. Having arranged every thing for the de­ fence of Zealand and the Capital, His Royal Highnefs returned on the 12th from Copen­ hagen to Kiel, but before he left the Capital, he issued the following Proclamation:

** ■ Fellow-Citizens | After having made ail the arrangements* ¿which the present circumstances require, I hasten to the army, to operate with it as. soon as possible for the welfare o f my dear i ' ' «©untrymen, ' unlefs circumstances, should -speedily arise, which may render it possible to settle every thing according to m y wish. In a peaceful and honourable manner, Copenhagen, Aug. 13, ¡Frcdeiickr Prince Royal, T he spirit o f the inhabitants o f the ¡Capital was noble and high. A ll were ready to sacrifice their lives and fortunes for the cause o f their king and country* But, alas f ©ur efforts were in vain 1 Our whole force of tegular Troops in the Capital Was not above ©500, men, the rest consisted o f Citizens, ©mbodied in volunteer^ Corps, armed pea-« ©antry and people from the country; but ©ur naval defence exceeded in a very great degree this force. It consisted of the block- §hip Mars, the frigate 8t, Thomas, three

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floating batteries, four praams, twenty five gun-rboats and several other armed boats; the battery o f the three crowns ; Christian sixth battery and likewise several other strong batteries, both at the Holm and the. Citadel, which formed together a formid* able barrier on the seaside.. But as strong as these means o f defence were, they were highly unequal to the forces, which the English brought against. U.s both by sea and land 1), Although We made .preparations to re-* çist any hostilities, we in no ways gave the English any occasion to .misunderstand our conduct. The english troops being yet ^garded as friends, were provided with çessaries at Eisinor till the 14 ol Aug, The ■English men of war and .transports appeared T ike a forest in the road o f Copenhagen, Th ey would have afforded -us the finest sight in the world , had w e not unfortunately been ■informed that these superb monuments o f EnTtish valourxwere destined to destroy oj#

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unhappy Capital and annihilate our old ma­ ritime power. The iGth in the morning about four o ’clok some ol the English troops landed at W ebek , a little village about 8 English miles from Copenhagen, without any resi­ stance , because it seemed to have been the first principle of the 'Danish Government not to be the aggressor. The following Proclamation was issued b y the English after their landing. *’Whereas the present Treaties o f Peace, and the changes o f Government and o f T er- rito rry , acceded to b y so many Powers, have so far increassed the influence of France on the Continent o f Europe, as to render it impossible for Denmark, though it desires to be neutral, to preserve its neutrality, and absolutely necessary for those who continue to resist the French aggression, to take mea­ sures to prevent the arms o f neutral Powers from being turned against them: - . In this v iew , the K ing cannot regard the present position of Denmark with indif­

ference, and his Majesty has sent Negotia­ tors w ith ample powers, to His Danish Ma­ jesty , to request, in the most amicable man­ ner, such explanations as the times require, and a concurrence in such measures as can alone give security against the farther mis­ chiefs which the French meditate, through the acquisition o f the Danish Navy. The K ing , our Royal and most Gra­ cious Master , has therefore judged it expe­ dient to desire the temporary deposit o f the Danish ships of the line, in one of hisjMaje- sty ’s ports. This deposit seems to be so ju s t, and so indispensably necessary, under the rela­ tive circumstances o f the Neutral and Belli­ gerent Powers, that His Majesty has farther deemed it a duty to himself and to his peo­ ple, to support the demand by a powerful fleet, and by an army amply supplied with every preparation necessary for the most ac.- tive and determined enterprize. W e come therefore to your shores, in­ habitants o f Zealand 1 not as enemies, but

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in self-defence, to prevent those who have so long disturbed the peace o f Eu rope , from compelling the force o f your navy to b# - burned -against us.; W e ask-deposit, we have not looked to capture; so far from i t , the most solemn pledge has been offered to your Govern­ ment, and is hereby renewed in the name* and at the exprefs command o f the K ing , our master , that if our demand be amicably acceded t o , every ship belonging to Den­ mark shall, at the conclusion o f a general peace, be restored to h e r, in the same con­ dition and state of equipment, as when re­ ceived under the protection o f the British flag. ft is in the power o f your Government, k y a w o rd , to sheath our swords, most re­ luctantly drawn against you 5 but i f , on the other hand, the machinations o f France ren­ der you deaf to the. voice o f reason and the call o f friendship , the innocent blood that w ill be sp ilt, and the horror of a besieged gnd bombarded, capital, must fall on your

bivn heads, aiid on those o f your eruet ach viser s. His Majesty’s seamen and soldiers, when on shore, w ill treat Zealand, as long as your conduct to them permits it, On thé footing o f a province o f the most friendly Power in alliance with Great Britain, whose territorry has the misfortune to be the thea­ tre o f War* k . ; : : v Th e persons of all those'who remain a t hoïne, and who do not take an hostile part, w ill be held sacred* i*. Property w ill be respected and pre-' served, and thé most severe discipline w ill be enforced* Eve ry article o f supply furnished or Brought to market, w ill be paid for at a Fair and settled prise ; but as immediate and con* stant suppliés, especially o f provision, fo ­ rage, fuel and transports, are necessary to all armies, it is well known, that requisi* tlons are unavoidable, and miist be enforced* Milch Convenience will arise to the in­ habitants, and much confusion and lofs to

them w ill be prevented, i f persons in antho- rity are found in the several districts to Whom requisitions may be addressed, and through whom claims for payment may be settled and liquidated. I f such persons are appointed, and dis­ charge their duty, without meddling in mat­ ters which do not concern them, they shall be respected, and all requisitions shall be addressed to them, through the proper chan­ nels, and departments o f the navy and a rm y ; but as forbearance bn the part o f the inhabi­ tants is essential to the principle o f these ar­ rangement, it is necessary that all manner 1o f civil persons should remain at their re­ spective habitations, and any peasants, or other persons, found in arms, sing ly , or in -small troops, or who .may be guilty o f any act of violence, must expect to be treated w ith rigour. The Government o f his Danish Majesty bavins: hitherto refused to treat this matter O ! in an amicable w a y , part of the army has been disembarked, and the whole force has

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assumed a warlike attitude; but it is as yet- not to late for the voice o f reason and mo~ deration to be heard. G iven in the Sound under our hands and seals, this 16th day o f August, 1807. Gambler. Cathcarl. Commanders in chief of his Majesty’s forces by sea and land employed in the Expedition. On the fame day the Commandant o f Copenhagen issued the following Proclama­ tion : Hostilities having commenced, I herewith command, in consequence of the order of the King, that all british property shall be sequestred, and that every one, who is in possession of english money or pro­ perty of any kind , shall announce it to the Po lice, Who w ill carry the necessary mea­ sures into execution. E ve ry one, who does not act according to this order, shall be regarded as a traitor tho the country. Th e following Proclamation was at the same time published at Gluckitad: W e , C h r i s t i a n the Seventh, b y the grace o f God , King of Denmark, N orway,

1 6 9$ the Vandals and Goths, Dnke o f Schles­ w ig , Holstein and Ditmarshen, and also o f Oldenborg &c» &.c. do herewith make known» That Whereas, by the English En­ vo y Jackson, it was declared to its on the 313th o f this month, that hostilities against Denmark would he commenced ; and where­ as, at the saipe tim e, he demanded a pafs- port for himself and suite, consequently, the War between England and Denmark may be considered as actually broken ou t, there­ fore , We herevvith call oil all out faithfu l subjects to take up arms wherever it shall be tequired, to frustrate the insidious designs o f tjte En em y , and repel hostile attacks» W e farther herewith orda in , that all English ships, as well as ail English p rope rty , and all English goods, shall eve ry Where' be seized b y the Magistrates and others, in par* tfcular by the Officers o f Customs, wher­ ever they may be found, It is farther our w ill, that all English subjects, until pursuent to' our farther or­ ders, they can be sc-nt out o f the .Country,

shall, Without exception , Jbe arrested ajs Enemies o f our Kingdom and Country, which measure is strictly to he carried into execution by all Magistrates, as well as b y all subordinate Officers, duly to be instruct­ ed by them for that purpose; arid it is a matter of course, that all English ships and boats, which approach our coast, shall be* considered and treated .as hostile, It is also our w ill, that all supicíouá foreigners shall be watched w ith the greatest attention, and that all Magistrates as well jjjg ,all subordinate Officers, shall use their ut­ most efforts, as soon as possible, to discoyeJC a ll spies. Lastly , we fipd it pecessary t .9 ordain, that immediately after tffe publica- .tion .hereof, all correspond epee with Epgffsb subjects shall entirely cease, and that payment shall be piabe to them , on an y ground whatsoever, until our igrtlver order, on pain o f severe punishment in ££$$ p f ^•ntxavention.

i s For the rest, we rely on the justice’ o f our cause, and the courage and tried, fidelity of our beloved subjects. Given under our Royal S ea l, in our fortrefs o f Glricks'tadt, the j 6th o f Aug. i g o ; . (L. S.) C. L. Baron v. BrockdorJ „ (L. S.) J . C. Moritz. Aug. 22 the Commandant issued the follow ing Proclamation: F e llow -c iti­ zens ! the Sally o f our brave Troops, accord­ ing to all accounts, has cost the Enemy many men, and he has neither ventured to pursue us on our return to the fortrefs or to attack onr advance-posts. Our lofs is not yet con­ siderable; we have at most 21 killed and 58 wounded both of our sea - and land-troops. The Lakes about th^ Capital are in our pos­ session, and the Plan o f our defence is laid. The C ity has a great stock o f provisions, and the cattle, corn and forage are brought in security and conducted in from all the places being in -our possession and laying within the boundaries o f our advance-posts.

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The fire-arms o f the Manufactory at Cron- borg and the greatest part of the gun-pow- der at Frederikswerk are secured; but Fre­ deriksborg and Frederikswerk are in the hands o f the Enemy, and the Frigate Frede-r rikswern has been taken on her w a y to Nor­ way. Fellow-citizens! secure in your cou­ rage and firmnefs, you may depend upon the care and vigour, which on my side shall ever defend and guard our common wealth. Aug. 23 the follow ing Proclamation was made public by the Commandant: Some o f the Danish Bomb-vessels were ordered to at­ tack several of the Enemy’s Bomb-vessels and Gun-brigs, which had placed themselves on the northern side o f the Lime-kiins (Kalk- brænderie), in order to destroy a battery, which the Enemy had erected by the Swan- inill A t ten o’clock our Bomb-ketches be­ gan to fire, which was directly returned by > the English Bomb-vess.els and Gun -b rigs, Notwithstanding these were reinforced, the fire o f the Enemy declined about one o ’c lo ck , and a good many o f tiie Enemy*

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Bomb-ketches made off with full sails. In order to disturb them in their retreat, the advanced - guard o f our Gun - boats pur­ sued them and kept up a strong, fire. Our ships continued in the mean time to fire upon the Tand-battery. — In consequence of the Reports, which aTe come in, we ha ve reason to believe, that the Enemy had suf­ fered much. Our lofs has been 8 or 9 k il­ led and 10 or 12 wounded. Some of tire «hips have suffered more or lefs, but they w ill be repaired again to morrow. It de­ serves to be remarked, that the English, besides their Bombs, threw a kind o f rocket, which civilized nations never made use o f before. The latest accounts, received from the Crown-battery, mentions, that they fired this day on the Enemy’s ships, and from hence one could see with a glafs, several ships o f the English ready to sink, and their Bomb-ketches in a bad condition. On this occasion one o f the Danish Praams got seven shuts in her hu ll, only having one man killed and three wounded.—-

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On the same day a garden-house on the Glacis was burnt by the Danes. The Danish Commander in chief sent Lieutenant Cederfeldt to the English General, in order to ask for a Pafs-port. for his High- nefs Prince Ferdinand ., wh ich was imme­ diately granted, and brought by an English Officer, who was ordered besides to sum­ mon the Capital to surrender, declaring, that the English had a greater force than the Danes might imagine, but taht they would fain spare a Capital, which is the ch ief Seat o f the sciences and commerce, and the first C ity in the Kingdom. — - It was answered; “ that the Capital would be defended with the most determined resistance, and that every Dane is ready to sacrifice his life for his country.44 The English Officer returned to the Head-quarters, attended b y several Da­ nish Aide-de-Camp. A ll the gates of the v town were now shut, except the gate of the Citadel. The 27 o f Aug. the Commandant is­ sued the following paper: W e have had

22 several engagements outside o f our fortifica­ tions w ith the Enemy, who has approached us, and likewise we have had several affairs w ith his riflemen in the garden o f Mr. Clas­ sen in front of the Citadel. W e fired into the garden, which discomposed the English. During the canonade on Wednesday the gun-vessei Stubkjobirig was blown up by a grenade from the Enemy's battery at the Swan-mill — The Commander, Lieutenant Bruun and 16 men M7ere saved, but iq men were wounded and 3 1 were blown up. — A battery erected by the Enemy at old Pest- house (gammel Pesthuus) was fired upon fromtheRamparts andGun-vessefs, behind the Kalieboe, which suffered. But a Battery of 1« pounders and some mortars having now been erected at the Timber-yard, which to­ tally commands the enemy’s battery and * render'd it ineffectual, our gun-vessels chang­ ed their position. - On these vessels Lieuten. y Zj&uthen Was killed, Lieuten. C. Wuljf slightly Wounded and Cadet Bull lost an arm ; 13 o f our men were wounded. Prern. Lieutenant

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Bruiin oi the life-riflemen was killed’; two life-riflemen wounded and some killed. Captain Hummel , the Lieutenant F r ilo e , Rothe and Ellevsen o f the land-artillery as well as Count Platen o f the Danish life-regi- ment were slightly wounded. The 29 of Aug. 4 or 3000 english.troops attacked the armed peasantry of Zealand, Lolland and Moen a), n ea rK jo ge , about 6 danish miles from Copenhagen, under the command o f General Castenskjold. But the greatest part o f these peasants, wanting regu­ lar arms as well as artillery, and being quite untrained, the consequences must be very unfortunate for the Danes. 150 men w'ere wounded and General Oxholm as well as 56 Officers o f different ranks, and 1 7 - lS oo men were made prisoners. The whole en­ gagement could not be regarded as a regu­ lar Battle. W e slightly pafs over this affair, for the whole conduct o f these peasants de­ serves no consideration. Aug. 31 the Commandant published the following B u lle tin : Finding it ne-

cessarjf to reconnoitre the garden o f Mr. Classen, to learn whether the Enemy had be­ gun to erect a Battery on that spot* a sally tvas made to-day at four o’clock by the uof- Wegiari life-regiment, under the command o f Colonel Beck. The force consisted o f 3 Battalions of the Infantry, the Riflemen or 'Chasseurs of the K ing ’s Life-guard, the Kiflemen o f other Regiments, and the jftuntsmen from the country. This Corps Was supported b y 8 guns. .T h e design of this sally was perfectly attained. The gar­ den being exactly examined, and the Rifle­ men of the eneiny driven out, we were con­ vinced that the English had neither erected dr begun to erect any Battery. A ll the buildings at that place were burnt, besides a great part o f the'wood . After that was executed, our troops returned in good or­ der to the Citadel, when they saw several large colufnns o f the enemy approaching from Wibenshuus and along the shore. Our brave troops executed this undertaking to my greatest satisfaction. The lofs of the

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enemy We are unacquainted with, but it is supposed to be considerable. On our side •we suffered no more than we had to appre­ hend from the circumstances o f the ground. W e must lament thelofs o f 70-80 killed and Wounded. 1 myself have got a musket-shot through the left leg , but the wound is not dangerous. During this affair, shells were thrown from our Bomb-vessels and Mortar- battery upon the english Battery at the Swan- tnill, and the enemy's fleet, whi ch was re­ turned. 4— This Bombardment was con­ tinued after.the attack (which ended at se­ ven o’clock) both from, the ( itadei and by our Bomb-ketches, till about one o ’clock, when the whole train o f the Enem y’s Bomb- ketches and men of war, were driven irom the bay o f Charlóttenlund and pursued by our Gun-vessels, after which time one o f the Enemy’s Bomb-ketches Were blown up, and another sunk. The iofs o f our brave seamen in this honourable fight consisted but of one man killed and four wounded. — Accounts had been received from Dragoe (on the

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island o f Amack), that the enemy’ had land­ ed .during the former night with ome armed sloops, having the design, to burn the un­ armed ships, which were laying there and which belong to that place. Fire was set to one ga lliot, but was soon again extinguish­ ed. The enemy was soon driven away b y our troops, but continued a good while af­ ter .this to fire with round-shot and grape on the houses a tD rago e , on whieh occasion a blind man was killed in his bed and the houses were injured. Sept. 1 the following Declaration to the garrison and inhabitants was published by the Commandant: 'The Admiral of the Enemy’s fleet in our road as weli as the Commander o f the land- forces, who are landed in Zealand have to­ day summoned me to surrender our fleet to his Britannic Majesty, and to content to their carrying it awa y , on condition o f its being returned at a general peace in Europe. I answered : ’’that our fleet beeing ouruncon- t'estable property, would be as secure in the

hands of onr K in g , as is ever could be in the hands o f his Brittannic Majesty, against ’ whom we never meditated any hostilities; that we would submit to our fate, should they be cruel enough to attempt to destroy an innocent city, which had not given them the least occasion for such a treatment; but that our honour and duty requires us to reject a proposal, which is dishonourable to an independant power, an that we have determined to make resistance against any agression and to defend the Capital and our just-cause to the last, being ready to sacri­ fice our lives to this effect. — Fellov-eiti- zens 1 I am convinced, that this answer w ill meet with your approbttion. Our country is as dear to you as to me. Fellow-citizens! take up arms, all of you, who can cooperate in maintaining the honour and dépen­ dance o f our beloved country. W e fight for our dearest wealth. Let us imitate the conduct of our ancestors on similar occasions. 1 shall let the brave inha­ lants o f the Cap ital, who can be em-

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ployed with advantage, for our common defence, be provided with arms, and we shall with energy repel our enemy, who imagines himself capable o f dictating igno­ minious laws to a brave and noble nation.14 Frequent skirmishing took daily place between the advanee-posts of the british and danishttoops without succefs on either side Sept. 2 the Commanders o f the bri- . .. fish forces summoned for the last time General Peymann to surrender the danish ships of the line on the before mentioned conditions and in an amicable manner, de­ claring, that the horrors o f a bombardment would be the immediate consequences o f a refusal, and that it must tall on the head o f • those, in whose power it was to avert the evil by a single word. The Commandant persisting in his refusal, a bombardment, which had been prepaiing for three weeks, was now inevitable, but unacquainted with its dreadful consequences, the most part o f the inhabitants were not much in dread o f

it; a great many of them even fancied, that the threatening« o f the English would never be carried into effect. It is with the utmost grief, that I am going to describe the horrible scenes, which the bombardment of Copenhagen has offered. 1 know very well, that si­ milar horrors are unfortunately the un­ avoidable consequences o f war — but no man is master o f his feelings, -especially in the first transports of his grief. Shame to the world, I said to myself, when about se­ ven and a half in the evening I heard the thunder of the mortars breaking out, and saw a large rocket flying like an arrow through the streets and killing in its way a poor innocent child, who stood at a win­ dow opposite to my house. O ! Britain! I cried out in despair — Queen o f nations'! Mother of such noble and manly sons! is this thy Work? — The confusion was now general. People run anxiously through the streets; the mother to her children, the fa­ ther to his family and every man on duty to

his respective post. The shells fell in great numbers every w h ere ; the rockets crossed through the gloomy air; the guns on the ramparts mixed their thunder to that of 'he british, and enereased the echoing and dreadful noise. The fire brook immediate­ ly out in several places, but our fire-eri- giness and all which belongs to that depart­ m en t, being in good order, it was every where soon extinguished. About five thou­ sand men only were applied to this purpose, and always ready in the streets and in other places in order to prevent all the dangers o f conflagration. By these means the bombard­ ment at first was nos as detrimental to the houses , at it was fatal to the inhabitants. People were wounded and crushed to death both in the streets and houses, and nobody thougth himself secure even in the lowest cellar. The shells went through all the stories o f some houses, and destroyed every tiling they met. The mother giving suck to her ch ild , was killed together w ith her offspring by the same shell. Women , sur~

31

roundered by their weeping childrend, un­ acquainted with the subjet of their mo­ ther’s lamentation, took refuge in dark cel­ lars against these mercilefs shells. About thirty houses were in flames, and the dark- nefs o f the night augmented the horrors ofr these pitiful scenes. A t eight o’clock in the morning the bombardment ceased. Sept. 3 the following paper was ma­ de public b y the Commandant: The po­ lice and fire-men during last night have gi­ ven proofs o f their zeal and activity in ex­ tinguishing the fire, which broke out in seve­ ral places and which was caused bv the Enem y ’s bombs, grenades and rockets, I think it m y duty herewith to thank them for * their meritorious conduct. In the evning at seven o’clock the bom­ bardment, recommenced, at the beginning very fe eb ly , but encreasing gradually, it grew dreadful towards the end o f the night. E ve ry moment the watch cried out: lire! Th e lofs o f men, wounded and killed during ist existance, was very considerable; Major

liirkerup , Chief o f the iire-men, was wound­ ed. In the morning the king’s barn filled with hay was on fire. The shdls began again to tail in great numbers, which prevented passengers from going through the streets, withotr danger of being killed or wounded, although the fire had hitherto been extin-. gushied in 64 different houses , both public and p riva te , b y the indefatigable efforts of the fn e-men. During the second day’ s bombard-» merit, a great many of the inhabitants o f the Capital carried their most valuable effects to Ghristianshavn, where they thought themselves in security, and which town the shells had hitherto scarcely reached. A great many people flew also in all haste to the is­ land o f Amack. f t is difficult to imagine to one’s self a greater scene o f horror and con­ fusion than this .produced. Waggons .car­ rying families together with their most valuable effects, form ing a train without ©nd; the richest and most distinguished per­ sons, satisfied to save their lives and those aaf

their fam ily , renounced all claim to the ad­ vantages, which rank and Fortune can afford. About a hundred persons lived together in a single house at Cftristianshavn, and many a miserable cottage on Ariiack Island gave' shelter to several Families oFdistinction From the Capital. Sept. the 4th the bombardment re­ commenced about seven o’clock , and the wood at the tim ber-yard , belonging to se­ veral merchants and whi ch was oF great va lu e , was set on fire w ith redhot shot. A t the same time the fire broke out in many houses, and at last it seized the steeple oF theFruekirke, which Falling down, spread the flames around and encreased the danger. The fire-engines and all their apparatus Were now destroyed by the shells, as w ell as b y the Frequent use that had been made o f them. Most oF the fire-men were killed or wounded , and those who escaped the shells, were so worn out with Fatigue that their exertions were i vain. .Their strength abated in the same proportion as the fire ; 3

3 4 -

and danger encreased. As soon as the fire b r o k e o u t in one place, it was continually, augmented by the shells, which were directed to that spot, and consequently the fire-men were obliged to withdraw. Many of these unfortunate men Were k ill’d at their post, in nobly attempting to do their duty. Th e vast fire at the timber-yard, and the shells and rockets, incessantly thrown towards Christianshavn, threatened this part o f the town with destruction, and compelled as well those,, who fled thither for refuge as the inhabitants o f this place to look for another retreat. Every one now fled to ¡.the island o f Ama c k , wh ich , besides its own inhabitants, contained at this time between twenty and thirty thousand stran­ gers. A1J. the scenes o f horror and misery, which appeared in every quarter, cannot.be described. The sick arid, wounded were dragged from the hospitals and carried in W'aggons, exposed to the enemy’s shells, b y •y/ k which many had again to sufieri- Women

35

with child and those lately delivered, were driven from their houses and exposed a-new* to similar dangers. The streets were filled w ith dead or lacerated horses. But here I > must conclude, eve|y reader o f feeling w ill shudder at this melancholy picture, without wishing to see it finished. A t the end o f this period three hundred and five houses were burnt to the ground and one church 3). Many a‘ w ea lthy man was now reduced to beggary, and the finest store-houses in the World had been a prey the flames. The prospect o f the future was dreadful. Had the bombardment recom­ menced the next day, all would have been lost, and the total destruction o f Copenha­ gen and all that it contains must have been its unavoidable consequences. On the 7th Sept. at eleven o’clock in the morning the follow ing Capitulation was concluded 1 Articles o f Capitulation for the eity o f Copenhagen and its Citadel agreed upon be- twein Major General Waltersdorf, knight o f the order ©f Dannebroge, His Majest’ys

chamberlain'and Colonel of the north Zea­ land regiment o f country-militia *, Rear-Ad­ miral Liitken and J. H. Kirchhoff, General- aid-de-camp to His Danish Majesty, who is du ly authorised b y his Excellency Major General Peyman , knight o f the Dannebro- g e , Commander in ch ief o f His Majesty’s forces in the island o f Zealand on the one side, and Major-General, the right honour­ able Sir Arthur W ellesley, knight of the or­ der o f the Bath, Sir Home Popham, knight o f Malta and Captain o f the fleet, Lieutenant- Colonel George M urray, Deputy Quarter­ master-general o f the british forces, dul y authorised by James Gambier, Esq. Adm i­ ral o f the blue, and Commander in ch ief of his Britannic Majesty’s ships and vessels in the East-sea, and Lieutenant-General, the right honourable Lord Cathcart, knight o f the thistle, Commander in chief of his Bri­ tannic Majesty’s land-forces in Zealand and in the northern part o f the continent of Europe, on the other.

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Art. t . W hen this Capitulation is undersigned and ratified, his Bcitannic Majesty’s troops shall take possession of the Citadel. Art. 2. A guard o f his Britannic Majesty’s troops shall also take possession o f the Holm or Dock-yard. Art. j . The ships and vessels o f every de­ scription and, all the naval stores shall be surrendered to the persons, who w ill be nominated b y the commander in chief of his Britannic Majesty’s troops, and they ; shall immediately take possession, o f the. holms, as well as o f the buildings and store-houses belonging thereto. Art. 4. The store-ships and transports being in his Britannic Majesty’s service shall be per­ m itted , if it should be necessary, to come into the harbour, in order to take in all the, troops and stores, which they have brought into this island.

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A rt. 5. As soon as the ships are brought out -

from the holm, or six weeks from the date o f this Capitulation, or sooner if possible* his Britannic Majesty’s troops shall surren­ der to his Danish Majesty’s troops the Cita­ del in the same state as it Was founds when they took possession of it. His Britannic Majesty’s troops shall likewise in the before mentioned time or sooner if possible, be «mbarked or leave the island of Zealand. Art. 6. From the date o f this Capitulation all hostilities shall cease in the wjioie island oF Zealand. Art. 7. N o persons, whatsoever, shall be mo­ lested, and all property, public or private, (except the, above mentioned vessels and men o f war, as well as the ships and other stores belonging to his Danish Majesty), shall be respected; all civil and military O f ­ ficers in his Danish Majesty’s service shall Continue in the fu ll exercise o f their autho-

ty in the whole extent of the island o f .Zealand, and all means shall be employed» which may contribute to promote a good understanding between both nations. Art.. 8* A ll prisoners, who have been taken on both sides,v shall be delivered up, and the Officers, who have been taken prisoners and are on their parole, shall likewise be eX~ empted from its obligations.. Art. g.. A ll english property, having been se?- questred in consequence of hostilities, shall be returned to its possessors. This Capitulation shall be fatified b y the respective Commanders in chief, and the Ratifications exchanged before twelve o'clock at this day. Given at Copenhagen the seventh day o f September j 807. E. F. Waltcrstorjf. Artli. Wellesley . J . Liitken. Home Popham. J . H. Kirchhoff. George Murraf ; ,

Ratified and confirmed b y us, at th« Head-quarter at Hellerup, the before men­ tioned seventh day o f September 1807. J Gambler * Cat/icart . General Peymann announced it to the Pub lic Tn the follow ing Proclamation* Fellow - citizenc! The means of our defence having prov­ ed ineffectual, the enemy could not be pre­ vented from erecting Batteries sufhciciently near the Capital to set it on fire in many places and as often as he liked, without our having the power to extinguish it b y our fire-eng ines, which were destroyed by the shells or frequent use. It was therefore .my opinion and that o f the officers, whom is was m y duty to consult, that in consi­ deration o f the reduced state o f our garrison, we could not prevent the Capital from being taken b y assault, in consequence whereof, and in order to spare the lives ■of the innocent inhabitants, and the Capi­ tal from the disastrous consequences of its

being taken b y assault, I find m yself re­ duced to the unfortunate extremity o f agreeing to a capitulation with the com­ manders o f the Enemy’s forces, whereby I am to surrender the fleet and allow' the Enemy to take possession o f the Citadel Freddrikshavn and the holm , for a suffi­ cient length o f time as may enable him to take the ships of war out o f the harbour, but on condition, that these places shall be returned and that the english troops shall evacuate the island o f Zealand at latest with in six weeks and that all public ?nd private property shall be respected. lation, which 1 am doing with the utmost g rie f, I cannot forbear calling to your minds that the first of your duties as citizens, whose lives and property are hereby secu­ red , that tranquillity and good order are necessary, and 1 have likewise to admonish every inhabitant, that the wanting in this Fellow -citizens! In communicating to you this Capitu­

duty is a . trefspais, the consequences o f which would be very serious. On the 4th September Major - General Strieker , Commandant o f the fortress of Cronborg, invited all the foreign troops* chiefly the Hanoverians, who landed irt the island of Zealand, by the following Proclamation: W hat injury has been dene to you, your nation or your Govern­ ment by our peaceable country? This court* try which believed or imagined itself to bd in peace with all the w o rld? Your Comman­ ders have proclaimed that they come to us as friends, although they act against us like our worst enemies, disdaining the law of nations and exercising hostilities, which we never could expect o f civilized nations* T h e y consider already our country as a conquest, altough they never w ill sub­ jugate it. The Inhabitants o f this Island w ill defend themselves like lions in their dens. Not y ou , but your government w ill be to blame for such a treachery, the con­ sequences o f which, sodn dr laterj Will fall

on their own heads. You, Hanoverians! we consider as innocent people, forced to accom­ plish the cruel commands o f your govern­ ment. But you w ill be the sacrifice. It is yet time to save your lives. Being Hanove­ rians, ÿou are long since discharged from your Du ty and faith , towards the trea­ cherous government of England. Do not obey thé commands o f this inhuman and bloody ministry, in order to subjugate ail innocent nation. Let us associate ourselves together. The Danes w ill always receive ■you like friends. You will,find the most secure refuge at Copenhagen or Crdhborg. Hasten hither! The Danes, the faithful Danes, who will shew you kindnefs, securi­ ty and support, promise you in the most solemn manner, at the conclusion of thé w a r, to lead you in safety to your native land. Hanoverians! hearken to the Voice o f friendship and reason !

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N O T E S .

1) T ] ie f;rst Division of the.english forces under tlie Command of Admiral Gam bier, Rear-admiral J . S ia n hope, Commodore Sir S am u el H oo d , consisted of the following ships of tlie line: Prince of Wales, 98 guns, Pompee, Centaur, Alfred, Ganges, Captain, Golialh, Orion, Hercules, Vanguard, Spencer, Bruns­ wick ancf Maida of 74 guns, Nassau, Didtator and Ru­ by of 64 guns'; eight frigates, thirteen sloops of war and One bombvessel. The second Division, under Admiral R u ssel, consisted of the following ships of the lin e : Menotaiir, Majestic, Mars, Defence, Resolution and Vaillant of 74 guns, and the Cayenne of 22 guns, Hussar, of 38 guns and five hrigs. — The landforces consisted of the german Legion, having about ten re­ giments of a thousand men, a corps of rifle-men, a bri­ gade of guards of 2400 men, eight Companies of artil­ lery, about fifteen regiments of the line, giving a total of 27,000 men, 2) These troops, who are called Landvsern (the guard of the country) were raised in the year 180r, and consist of all those natives from the country, who liáve already served out their time as soldiers, but in case of an invasion, are to protedt their homes together w ith the regular troops.

g) The private buildings, which were burnt, are ensured in the fire-ensurance-office for about 2,400,000 Rixdollar or 500,000 Pound sterling. The pi'incipal public buildings, whihwere totally or partly destroyed, were: 1) the Fruekirke, one of the finest churches in this country. It rvas built: by Christ. V i. after the great conflagration at Copenhagen in the year 1728, and its demensions were 300 feet in length and 50 in height. The steeple was 380 feet high, and contained an alarm- bell, which was seven feet and two inches in diame­ ter, and weighed 11,962 Pounds. In this church were tnany excellent monuments of marble as the mauso­ leums of the celebrated danish admiral Cort Adeler and Count U. F. Gyldenlove. 2) T h e houses belonging to the U niversity, commonly called S tu d iig a a r d , were built at different times and contained a cabinet of na­ tural history, which has fortunately been saved. 3) F o rks College., where sixteen students had rooms gratis and a yearly salary, lastly the A lm s-hou se , which con­ sisted of a spacious building. The following Declaration has been made publie by his Danish Majesty at K iel: ’’A ll Europe is acquainted with the system which Denmark has followed during a period of fifteen years of war and disturbance, with unceasing perseverance. The rigid observance of a free and impartial neutrali­ ty, and the conscientious fulfilment of all the duties belonging thereunto, have formed the objedt of all its wishes and all its efforts. The Danish Government, in its relations and connecftions with other States, has never lost sight of that simplicity, which was insepa­ rable from the purity of its sentiments and its love of

4 6

peace, and which it cannot be suspected of having once changed or dibilated. Hitherto Providence has blessed our undertakings. Without injustice, without any ground of reproach from, apy of the other Powers, y/e succeeded in keeping up. a good understanding with the whole of them. This state of peace and tranquilli­ ty is suddenly annihilated. '.The English Government, after having long negleCted its own interests by a shameful inactivity, and after having betrayed its A l­ lans into a vexatious and uncertain struggle, has sud­ denly developed all its power and activity, to attack a ijeutral and peaceable State, without any complaint against the same. The means for dissolving the an­ cient and sacred connections which united Denmark to Great Britain, have been prepared with as much se­ crecy as promptitude. The Danish Government saw, the English ships of war upon their shore, without even- conjecture that they were to he employed against Denmark. The island of Zealand was surrounded, the Capital threatened, and the Danish territorry vio­ lated and injured, before the Court of London had made use of a single word to exprefs the hostility of its feelings. This hostility, however, soon became evident. Europe will with difficulty believe what it will hear. The basest, the most violent and cruel ob­ ject which could ever have been taken up, has no other foundation than some pretended information, or rather that of a real rumour of an attempt, which, according to the English Ministry, was to have taken place, in order to draw Denmark into a hostile alliance against Great Britain. , Upon these pretended grounds, which the least (degree of discussion immediately would have shewn as being founded, upon arbitrary measure alone, the Eng-

4 7 iish Government declared to the Court of Denmark, in the most imperious manner, that in order to secure its own interests, and provide for its own safety, it could leave Denmark no other choice, than a war, or a close alliance with Great Britain. And what kind« of alliance did they offer ? An alliance, the first gua­ rantee of which, as a pledge of the subjection of Den­ mark, was to have delivered up all her ships of war to the British Government. There could be no hesitation as to the alternative that was to he adopted. — This opening being made, as scandalous in its offer as in its menaces — so offensive in the manner as in the thing itself — left no room for négociation. The most justifiable and rooted disdain naturally absorbed every other feeling. Placed between danger and dis­ honour, the Danish Government had no choice. The war commenced: Denmark was by no means blind to the dangers, to the losses with which she was threa­ tened by this war. Attacked in the most unexpected and dishonourable manner, exposed in a seperate pro­ vince, and in a manner cut off from all* the means of defence, and forced into an unequal contest, she could not flatter herself with escaping a very material injury. Unspotted honour however still remained for her to defend, as well as that reputation which she had earn­ ed at the price of her upright conduril. Denmark, therefore, flatters herself, that on the part of the Powers of Europe, she w ill,n o t appeal in vain. Let' impartial Cabinets judge whether England vas under the political necessity of sacrificing another state with­ out hesitation, to her own safety; a state which had- »either offended nor provoked her. Depending upon the justice of her cause, trusting in Providence, and in the love and loyalty o f the people to a Prince, whose