Norfolk Highlights 1584 - 1881
By George Holbert Tucker
Chapter 32
The Battle of Craney Island
Craney Island at the mouth of the Elizabeth River, the scene of the
American victory that spared Norfolk from being captured by the British
during the War of 1812, was originally known as Crayne or Craney Point.
The name was derived from the fact that the early settlers on the Elizabeth
River were impressed with the great number of what they mistakenly believed
to be cranes that inhabited it. Hence the name Crayne or Craney Point,
although the birds the settlers thought were cranes were actually white
and blue herons, still fairly common birds in the Tidewater area.
After an uneventful Colonial history, Craney Island came into its own
in 1813 when an American force stationed there successfully repelled
a British attack during this country's second war with England. In February
of 1813 an impressive British squadron commanded by Admiral Sir George
Cockburn sailed through the Virginia Capes to blockade the Chesapeake
Bay.
This action bottled up the U.S. frigate Constellation in Norfolk harbor.
But this was a blessing in disguise as the officers, sailors, marines,
guns, and small boats of the frigate proved invaluable in defending
Norfolk from the blockaders.
The appearance of the British in Norfolk-area waters hurried the preparations
for defense, the coordination of which was placed under the command
of General Robert Barraud Taylor of Norfolk. Fortifications on the outskirts
of Norfolk and Portsmouth were hastily thrown up, but Taylor had no
idea of letting the enemy get that close to home if he could help it.
Commandeering every vessel he could, Taylor threw a floating barrier
across the mouth of the Elizabeth River, while Craney Island was strengthened
with a fort and redoubts. These were manned by personnel from the Constellation
and two companies of light artillery, one of which was commanded by
Captain Arthur Emmerson of Portsmouth.
On June 21, 1813, the already formidable British fleet was strengthened
by new arrivals, after which the entire squadron moved up to the mouth
of the Nansemond River.
Early on the morning of June 22, 1813, a long drum roll in the American
ranks announced that the British had launched a ground attack on the
western side of the island. In the excitement, the defenders realized
that they were not displaying a flag, so a pole was hastily hunted up,
and American flag was nailed to its top, and it was hoisted over the
breastworks.
About two thousand British took part in the land attack, but the American
fire was deadly that they eventually fell back with heavy losses. In
the meantime, an attack was launched on the river side of the island
by a double column of fifty British barges, led by the fifty-two-foot
barge, Centipede, a handsome craft with a shining brass three-pounder
in its bow.
Waiting until the floating attack was well within range of his guns,
Captain Emmerson finally yelled, "Now my brave boys, are you ready?
Fire!"
The result was lethal, and the barges were sunk and scattered like
so many sitting ducks. In all, the British lost around two hundred men
and the defenders not one.
The American victory at Craney Island saved Norfolk and Portsmouth
from being captured and pillaged by the enemy,. Commenting on the bravery
of the defenders, General Taylor wrote the United States Secretary of
War:
"The courage and constancy with which this inferior force, in
the face of a formidable naval armament, not only sustained a position
in which nothing was complete, but repelled the enemy with considerable
loss, cannot fail to command the approbation of the government and the
applause of their country."
 Chapter
33
Lafayette's Four Visits
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