The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-11-17

pleasure. and his shot did its work He was
brave officer. The sailors waded to the Cent?
pede and hauled her shore. From this boat
was taken number of guns. pistols and cu,lasses.
She was made tight and sent to the Navy Yard,
Gosport always thought that boat should have
been retained trophy by the Artillery, and
by them kept. The enemy remained on shore
until the afternoon, when they embarked and re-
turned to their shipping, not. however, until they
had destroyed much property, such shooting
hogs, sheep, &c.. breaking furniture. cutting open
beds, Sc, in the dwelling houses near where
they landed. One or two boats were anchored in
the channel, near the island, between il and the
Norfolk side of the river, but from their position
and that of the enemy, they could not render
much assistance yet they threw several shot over
the island among the enemy on the mainland -
The next occurrence of any note the loss of
our powder not having any magazine our powder
was deposited in large tent pitched near the
fort, and sentinel placed in charge. About IL
O'Clock, an explosion took place, and not vestage
OF the tent was to be seen. We then went in
search of the sentinel and found him on the beach
outside OF the fort, dead-completely stripped of
his clothing, his left arm torn nearly off and his
whole person as black as powder could make him.
lie was taken up, and after being made clean
decently buried: How the powder took fire was
never known.
General Robert B. Taylor, chief in command,
who had his quarters at Norfolk. sent in the early
part of the day, orders to Col Beatty that in the
event of his being compelled to surrender or aban-
don the island, to blow up the fort. The explo-
sion being heard at Norfolk, it was supposed that
second attack had been made and we had sur
| rendered. or abandoned the fort We were now
in pretty fix: the enemy's land forces had not
yet returned to their shps-we expected a renew
ed attack, and were without powder, except what
we had in our ammunition cases. We despatch
| h.,at l,otn IL IL,
Constellation for powder, and messenger to
General Taylor, informing him of the explosion
and in short time we had supply Of powder
| On the evening of the 22d, Captain Emmerson
| ordered me with my command to take position at
the foot of the Bridge that led to the main land,
jStringers farm) with orders to defend that pass
That night we expected the enemy would renew
the attack. and the bridge would be one of the
! points assalled We Immediately marched to the
point directed, and placed our gun in a position
To rake the bridge 1t was about 9 o'clock, as
we'll as can now recollect, when | heard boats
approaching, and went on the bridge and hailed ,
and was answered by my friend and iownsman
James Jarvis, whose voice instantly recognized
and in a few minutes had him by the hand.
knew he was in service in Capt. John Thomp-
sons Company, stationed near Norfolk. He in
formed me that l2O men, good and true, of Col.
| Sharp's Regiment, had volunteered under the
command of Capt. Foster, and that Col. Sharp
had appointed him the orderly Serg't of the Com
pany. would here remark that in the appoint
| ment oi James Jarvis as orderly Sergeant TO this
| Company, Col. Sharp Showed his usual sagacity
| There is no man who loves his Country more,
and none more ready to stand or fall in her de-
| fence, than Jarvis After a few words about
E" home, sweet home," we walked together off the
bridge, when we met with Sergt. Jas Butt, Alb
ner Nash, John Newell, Richard Keeling, (and
some six or eight others, whose names | cannot
now recoecD of my command when a mutual
greeting was exchanged, he then repaired to my
tent, partook of soldiers fare, and we separated
| for the nlght-he TO reoin his Company, and
| to my post On the 23d, we had another rein
| forcement from Norfolk. viz: The Norfolk Ju
ni0r and Independent Volunteers These were
| Spartan bands; they were :" toutjours pret'--
Such accesslOnS to our force encouraged our hearts
and sirengthed our hands. On the 23 or 9th,
the enemy's ships dropped down t., Hampton
Roads. On the 24th, party of us obtained per
mission to 90 over to the main land Jarvis and
my other old friend Alex. Gait, of the Juniors,
we're of the party. We waded across the inlet,
and in our ranble We saw where several of our
shot struck among the trees. We also saw dead
sheep and hogs, that were wantonly shot by the
enemy, and at the house of IN old widow lady,
| her furniture broken, beds cut open and the
/ feathers thrown into the yard, and such like he
rOic deeds, becoming swinish and sheepish enc
my.
| will now give you copy Of Col. Beatty's re-
port to General Taylor. This have had by me
many years.
"CRANY ISLAND,
25th June, 1873"