Theodorus Frederik van Capellen was an experienced officer of eighteen years' service, but his political history made him a dangerous choice to command Washington under the Batavian Republic. He had resigned when William V fled and returned only after the stadtholder permitted former officers to serve. Contact with Orangist agent Carel Hendrik Ver Huell placed him and Aegidius van Braam within a plan to organize mutiny in the Helder squadron. Story was therefore dependent on senior officers whose loyalty lay elsewhere before Mitchell's fleet even appeared.
Notable Point · 40:41-43:19
Orangist officers prepare the squadron for mutiny
Story's flag captain had resigned after the revolution and later joined an Orangist effort to turn the Helder squadron.