The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-06

We have great pleasure in laying before our read
ers the subipned correspondence between u :. IN
gersoll, esq, and Com W. Branford Shubrick, with
the yng clear and vivid narrative of the sue
cessful defence of Craney island against the British
attack on the 22d of June, 1919.
The narrative, drawn up with an exactness OF de-
tail natural to leading actor in the whole scene
which il describes, may doubtless be regarded as
wholly accurate, even in its most minute particulars
The whole transaction is emnently deserving oil at
tenton only rejecting great honor on the gal
liant men who repulsed the attack SO successfully,
but as being the first movement in that series of
predatory attacks upon our seacoast which termina-
ted in the barbarous and ruthless sack OF the city Of
Washington
WAsHINeTon, d. c., Oct %, le45.
Sin. In your History of the War of 1929,
chapter Z, p. 900, is the following passage:
"on the god Of June, 1873 Che anniversary of
the capture Of the unlucky frigate Chesapeake,
in those waters, in 1907, by British SQUADRON
while Congress was in session at Washing
ton, Admirals Warren and Cockburn, with be-
tween two and three thousand land forces, under
General Sir Sidney Beckwith, joined to the seamen
ly planned attempt to take Craney island, small
outpost of the seaport of Norfolk, with but few in
habitants and frail defences. They totally de-
featcd with considerable loss-loss not only Of
lives but of CREDITOR their attack neither Wig
orous nor well sustained. About twenty-five hun
bred troops with fifty boats full ofmen, landed from
the enemy's squadron on the island. A few cannon
under Major Faulkner, and Captain Emmerson,
Captain Tarbell, with one hundred and fifty sea-
men from the Constellation, altogether not more
than between fveand six hundred men, with bate
res of not much force, but perfectly well served suf
feed to repulse the English, who lost about two
hundred in killed, wounded, and deserted, besides
sinking several Of their barges--among the rest, a
very large one called the Centipede, full Of men,
well armed, nearly all of whom were killed or
taken"
1t becomes my duty, as the only commissioned
officer Of the navy who served on Craney island en-
that day, who is now alive, to correct some errors
in the above statement-errors not of much moment
perhaps, and which, am sure, have been fallen
into Inadvertently on your part; but il is well that
history should be correct even in small matters.
The enemy never landed on Craney island Cap
tain Cassn the senior officer the station, says in
his official report, military and Naval Letters, pp
172-3@
"Fnding Craney island rather weak manned,
Captain TarbeI directed Lieutenants Neale, Shu-
brick and Sanders, with one hundred seamen, on
shore at IL, m, to small battery on the north
west point Of the island. Tuesday Odd, at the dawn
the enemy were discovered landing round the point
Of Nansemond river, said to be four thousand
troops; and at 8, a. m, the barges attempted to
land in front of the island out Of reach Of shot from
the gun-boats, when Leutenants Ncale, Shubrick,
and Sanders, with the sailors, and Lieutenant Breck.
enridge with the marines Of the Constellation Zone
hundred and fifty in number,) opened the fire,
which was SO well directed that the enemy were
glad TO get off, after sinking three their largest
In IS, a h oc H. Cx,~ m.
ton fred their eighteen FOUNDER (pounders) more
| like rifemen than artlerists." - 81 sim
ccrely believe they saved the island, }" &c. &c.
Mr.. Cooper, in his Naval History, vol. 2, PIP.
27l-2, says:
"As SO much depended on the defence of the bat.
teries of Craney island, Captain Cassin, who COM
manded the naval force at Norfolk, sent three of the
licutenants of the Constellation (Messrs. Neale,
w. Branford Shubrick and Sanders) on shore with
one hundred seamen to take charge Of the principal
guns. This party was sustained by Lieut. Brock
enrdge, with about fifty men of that gallant corps.
Again early on the morning of the
god, the enemy were discovered in large force round
the point of Nansemond; and about o'clock a. M,
the harges of the vessels Of attempted TO land
in front of Craney island, at point where they
were safe from the fire of the gun-boats though ex-
posed to that of the seamen's battery"
Captain Tarbell was with the gun-boa,s, anchor
ed just above Craney island, ready to arrest the
further progress Of the enemy, if the island should
he carried Major Faulkner and Captain INNER
son, with the brave volunteers and militia, were on
the island-ready, no doubt, and anxious, to take
part in the fight; but the enemy did not come within
range Of musket shot, and the battle was foughtwth
three 16-pounders, worked by the seamen, and di.
rccted by the officers from the frigae Constellation
The militia force on the island was commanded by
Col. Beatty. Ofihc junior navy officers, Captains
Geisinger, McCauley, Dulaney and Crabb, and
Commander Tatnall, all then midshipmen, survive
| Captain Cassn says:' ~ sincerely believe they (tht
officers of the Constellation saved the island" HI
might have added thnt the fall of the island would
in all probability, have involved the destruction
the towns of Portsmouth and Gosport the public
property at the yard, and contest with tn,
force under General Taylor, for the possession o
| Norfolk.
II am thought to lay too much stress on thu
part taken by my brother officers and myself in lh.
affair, will, sure, be pardoned, far as they
are concerned, when 1t is recolccted that they arr
no more, and their fame belongs to the common
stock, Of which it bchooves us all TO be jealousy
careful; and for myself, hope even little avaric'
| of fame may be excused in one who in life now
past its meridian, nearly forty years Of which have
been spent in the public service has in that service
gathered nothing else.
! am, very respectfully,
Your obcdient servant,
| w. CRAWFORD SHUBRICK,
| CaptaD II, s. Nayy