Surrender formalities mask British control

Washington's sailors refused the guns and threw ammunition overboard, while nearly every captain reported similar unrest. Scuttling was rejected because the crews would not permit it, and the officers hoped surrender might keep the ships under Dutch Orangist authority rather than make them British prizes. They lowered the Batavian flag and declared themselves prisoners but initially refused to hoist the Orange flag. Many in Holland regarded the officers' compliance as treason, even though Mitchell rather than their council ordered the Orange flag raised. Britain then disembarked the unreliable crews, installed prize crews, and took the ships to Britain; William received only several older frigates, one of which was lost en route.