Battle of Craney Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
| Battle of Craney Island | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Conflict: War of 1812 | |||
| Date: June 22, 1813 | |||
| Place: Portsmouth, Virginia | |||
| Result: American victory | |||
| Combatants | |||
| Britain | United States | ||
| Commanders | |||
| George Cockburn John Borlase Warren | Robert Barraud Taylor | ||
| Strength | |||
| 2,000 | 150 | ||
| Casualties | |||
| 200 | 0 | ||
| |||
The Battle of Craney Island was a decisive victory for the United States during the War of 1812. The battle saved the city of Norfolk, Virginia from British invasion. The War of 1812 was a conflict fought in North America between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Portsmouth is an independent city located in Virginia. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner (D) Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th) - Land 102,642 km² - Water 8,220 km² (7. ... Sir George Cockburn was born in 1772 and went to sea at the age of 14. ... The Battle of St. ... Battle of Bladensburg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Burning of Washington is a name given the razing of Washington, D.C. by British forces during the War of 1812. ... The Battle of North Point, also known as the Battle of Bouldens Farm, was fought on September 12, 1814. ... The American defense of Baltimores Fort McHenry in this battle inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem which would become the national anthem of the United States, The Star Spangled Banner. ... The War of 1812 was a conflict fought in North America between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815. ... Norfolk, Virginia, viewed from Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River Norfolk is a city in the U.S. state of Virginia in the United States of America. ...
Contents |
Background
Admiral Sir George Cockburn commanded an impressive British fleet blockading Chesapeake Bay. In early 1813 Cockburn and Admiral Sir John B. Warren planned an attack on the naval shipyards at Norfolk and hopefully capture the frigate Constellation. Brigadier General Robert B. Taylor commanded the Virginia Militia in the Norfolk area. Taylor hastily built defenses around Norfolk and Portsmouth, but had no intentions of letting the British penetrate as far as those two cities. Instead Taylor commandeered several ships and created a barrier across the Elizabeth River. He next built fortifications on Craney Island at the mouth of the Elizabeth River near Hampton Roads. Since the Constellation was already penned up in the Chesapeake due to the British blockade, the ship's crew was used to man some of the redoubts on the island. In all 150 Americans were defending the fortifications on Craney Island. Sir George Cockburn was born in 1772 and went to sea at the age of 14. ... Chesapeake Bay - Landsat photo The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner (D) Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th) - Land 102,642 km² - Water 8,220 km² (7. ... A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service. ... Norfolk, Virginia, viewed from Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River Norfolk is a city in the U.S. state of Virginia in the United States of America. ... Portsmouth is an independent city located in Virginia. ... Elizabeth River may refer to: The Elizabeth River that flows into the Arthur Kill in New Jersey in the United States. ... Craney Island is a point of land in the independent city of Portsmouth in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the United States. ... Hampton Roads, Virginia 1858 Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the United States. ...
The Battle
On the June 22, 1813 a British landing crew of 700 seamen, marines and soldiers rowed ashore towards and landed on the western shore of Craney Island. When the British landed the defenders realized they were not flying a flag and quickly raised an American flag over the breastworks. The defenders fired with deadly accuracy and the attackers began to fall back. A second attack was made against the eastern side of the fort. Defending this portion was a company of light artillery under the command of Captain Arthur Emmerson. Emmerson ordered his gunners to hold their fire until the British were in range. Once they opened fire the British attackers were destroyed and retreated back to the ships. June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...
Results
The Americans had scored a decisive victory in the face of superior forces. Norfolk and the shipyards were spared from attack. The British suffered greatly compared to the defenders, roughly 200 of the British were lost in the attacks, while there were no American casualties. Having failed in their efforts against Norfolk, Admiral Cockburn moved to the shipyards at St. Michaels, Maryland. Norfolk, Virginia, viewed from Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River Norfolk is a city in the U.S. state of Virginia in the United States of America. ... St. ...
Sources
- http://members.tripod.com/~war1812/allbat.html
