invasion cape colony invasion cape colony british military expedition launched dutch cape colony cape good hope southern tip dutch colony cape established seventeenth century time viable south african port ships making journey europe european colonies held vital strategic importance economically insignificant winter french revolutionary wars french troops captured reformed client state response great_britain launched operations prevent use facilities french_navy british expedition led vice admiral sir sailed april arriving simon town cape june attempts negotiate settlement colony talks achieved amphibious landing august short battle fought british dutch forces continued september larger military force landed cape_town threat dutch governor surrendered colony subsequently strengthened garrison counterattack stationed royal_navy squadron port year later dutch reinforcement convoy reached colony find badly outnumbered surrendered fight british cape colony continued peace returned dutch napoleonic wars second british invasion recaptured colony battle remained british colony establishment background french revolutionary wars began following french revolution expanded january declared war brought war indian_ocean britain netherlands maintained lucrative trade french warships operating mauritius protected waters presence dutch cape colony situated cape good hope cape colony established seventeenth century offer harbour shipping traveling europe remained station rio_de_janeiro british india cape colony administered towns larger cape_town wide facing west smaller simon town facing south bay sheltered atlantic storms dangerous winds currents rocks posing considerable threats shipping importance resupply port shipping colony little economic value defended garrison approximately dutch regular soldiers supplemented boer militia local units commanded general colonel total troops garrison centered operated series coastal fortifications protected table bay false bay weakly defended covered lightly armed batteries winter french soldiers invaded netherlands captured amsterdam revolutionary client state named fled britain issued instructing colonial governors cooperate british occupation forces urging sir secretary state war henry authorised mission ensure control cape colony eliminate potential threat posed east indian trade admiralty sent battle squadrons cape april vice admiral sir commodore carrying small expeditionary force soldiers regiment foot sir larger force general instructed follow squadrons troops supplies longer campaign orders hold requested invasion united cape june anchored simon bay messages sent offering alliance french dutch governor inclined resist evacuating civilian population simon town early july making preparations town prevent landed soldiers july occupied simon town dutch withdrew pass passed road cape_town month armies observed uneasy truce broken occasional patrols period continued negotiations surrender colony negotiations stalled disputes colonial government legitimacy deposed william orange suspicion concerning british intentions debates continued british envoys permitted free movement cape_town making detailed observations defences concerned dutch positions strong forces june sent hms request assistance clarke fleet august negotiations stalled ordered attack pass forces supplemented sailors squadron land captains temple hardy force number american citizens immediately deserted dutch promised noon august hms america hms opened fire dutch forward positions return fire dutch field guns killed men america wounded troops able advance dutch positions seize dutch defenders falling confusion second attack soldiers captured rocky height nearby dutch counterattack following morning driven hardy sailors marines dutch fell british forces strong advance suffering shortages food ammunition positions improved reinforcements arrived august dutch command resulting stalemate british commander subsequently authorised seizure dutch east merchant ships anchor simon town august continued month stronger dutch attacks september followed larger planned assault simon town september committed reserves including cannon morning ships seen arriving simon bay attack cancelled ships reinforcement fleet clarke landed troops regiments foot unit simon town overland campaign cape_town clarke army advanced dutch losing killed wounded skirmishes support operation sent america echo bombay castle blockade cape_town provide artillery support outnumbered surrounded requested hour truce clarke given hour ultimatum surrender alternative dutch governor passed control colony british september allowed approximately british cape_town impressed americans escape countryside deadline passed order battle aftermath total british losses killed wounded captured dutch east gun naval brig star renamed substantial squadron remained station cape deter efforts recapture colony parts force subsequently deployed bolster british forces indian_ocean blockade restored arrogant victorious sent dutch_east_indies fight inconclusive battle french squadron sumatra september sailed madras received reports dutch force sailed netherlands retake cape colony admiral returned cape_town assembling large squadron await dutch arrival reports revealed strength progress dutch ample time prepare squadron arrival increase garrison ashore dutch rear admiral lucas spent months passage gathered intelligence british defences arrived cape soon discovered intimidated surrender fight attacks cape colony course war returned britain october subsequently awarded title baron keith service capture defence cape reward historian calls easily earned peace treaty terms returned cape colony captured dutch colonies ceylon peace short lived outbreak napoleonic wars second british invasion planned executed victory secured following cape colony remained british_empire independence unified south_africa
Invasion of the Cape Colony (1795)