The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-11-21
DEFENCE OF GRANNY ISLAND

The correspondence between the Hon. Charles
j. lngersUll and Commodore Shubrick. as nub
lished in the Union of the 9th instant. in relation
to the defence of Craney island, induces an actor
IN that defence TO offer to the public some remi-
nscences respecting it.
The evening before the attack was made upon
the island, the movement of the British shiDs of
war assured General Taylor that an attack was
designed upon 1t. The force then upon the island
being small, (abou $50 men, under the command
OF Col. Beatty,) General Taylor came in speed to
Fort Norfolk. and ordered a captain of the United
ola'eS army, stationed there, to prepare directly
to reinforce that small command by thirty men Of
his own company, adding that he would send him
detachment from the militia of thirty men more.
with two company officers. This detachment.
with Lieut.. johnson, of the county of Cupeper.
and Ensign Atkinson. from the Isle of Wight,
(now member Of Congress,) were promptIy al
Fort Norfolk; and the captain, with his united
detachment, directly embarked in boats. under the
cheers of the garrison, for Craney island. On his
arrival, he had an interview with Colonel Beatty
and, as his men from Fort Norfolk were well
drilled and skillul arlillerists Col. Beatty gave
this captain the command Of the battery of large
cannon. Early in the night, party of about one
hunGred sailors and some marines, under the com
mand Of Leuts. Neae, Saunders, Shubrick, and
Captain Breckenridge, of the marines, came To
Constellation, lying above, in Elizabeth river
Col. Beatty then sent for the captain of the Uni
led oiaies army. and said TO hun, as the sailors
could Know but little about the use Of the musket
he must yield his comT ID Of the battery to this
naval force; to which the captain consented -
Whef the action came on, The captains detach-
ment was on the right of the lines, and adjoining
the battery OF the cannon. Lieut. Neale had an
10 FOUNDER where the line of infantry commenced
and ihn and
constantly together; while this large gun was so
efficiently used upon the boats of the enemy,
Neale truly pointed with the accuracy of a rifle
man. and the chief, if not all the damage. done TO
the boats was from his gun. A more gallant Off
Ger DID not belong to our navy; and his signal
services upon this occasion were specially and
honorably mentioned by Col. Beatty, in his report
OF the action TO Gen. Taylor. This naval force
consisted OF brave, bold. and daring officers and
men. They did their duty nobly but it is not
generous to say that The island was saved by them
True, they the only part Of our fprce brought
into action, for the boats did not get near enough
to the island to be in reach of the musketrv .
But the army the island were eunallv brave
and determined, and would doubtless have saved
il from capture in the absence of the naval G,rco
The thirty men of the army of the United States
from Fort Norfolk we're as good arlilleriss ss ever
pointed gun They would have served the bic,
guns WIN hOnoT TO themselves and those con-
nected with them, had the command Of the bate
~ not been assigned to the naval force Honor to
those to whom honor is due, and Justice In all /;
a matter based upon proper principle. Hence il
is, that 81 much praise is due to the officer. and
the men Of this naval detachment in the dofeono
Of Craney island. And hence it is. that Will
this is demanded, the army stationed there ,osdy
for action, should not be thereby dsparaoed An1
the navy has no better right to complain III anv
should conPain) than the army, tina, Mr. lnger.
soil has s. so much generaized" in his accouot Of
the defence Of Craney island, in his history Of the
late war.
One word with regard to the narration of S."
upon this subject He says that councils of war
we're ne'o' at winch It was proposed to keep
the military force 10 and about Norfolk, leaving