We embarked in the boats early in the morning, and collected at the stern of a gun vessel that lay nearest the shore, where we waited until daylight began to make the coast visible; I continued at intervals offering up ejaculatory prayers to God, for preservation and deliverance. As soon as the coast was discernible, the gun vessel began to fire her guns upon the shore, and the boats rowed off, giving three loud cheers. The fire of the different vessels of war that lay along the shore was dreadful: but as the shot and shells were all thrown at random, the enemy not being visible, it did little damage; but it probably prevented the enemy from appearing on the open beach, by which means we got safely landed. The enemy's troops were posted among the sand-hills at the different points opposite to our extended anchorage, that were most favourable for landing. These points were chiefly at some distance to the right of the place we landed at, where the beach, not being so favourable, was not so strongly guarded. A part of his force was also to our left, near the Fort at the entrance to the Helder, where they had a camp. We formed on the beach as we landed, and began to advance into the sand-hills. Our regiment was near the left of the line; there were only a few of the enemy's picquets that appeared in _our_ front, who retired as we advanced: but the troops on the right had not proceeded far before they fell in with a division of the enemy, when a smart action began. The enemy were quickly driven farther to the right, but fresh columns soon arriving, the action became increasingly warm, but our troops continued to press upon the enemy, and took up a position across the sand-hills, to cover the right of the debarkation. Sir John Moore's brigade, in which our regiment was, penetrated also across them as soon as possible, and took up a position to cover the left.