The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-18
COM MuNICATloN
For the Union
DEFENCE OF CRANEY ISLAND.

DEFENCE OF CRANEY ISLAND.
The correspondence between the Hon Charles J,
Ingersol and Commodore Shubrck, as published in
the Union of the 9th instant, in relation 10 the de-
fence Of Craney island, induces actor in that de-
fence to offer to the public some remn,ecenees re-
speeding II.
The evening before the attack was made upon
the island, the movement Of the British ships OF war
assured General Taylor that an attack was designed
upon il. The force then upon the island being
small, (about $50 men, under the command Of Col.
Beatiy,) General ylor came in speed to Fort Nor
folk, and ordered captain Of the United Siates ar
my, stationed there to prepare directly 10 reinforce
that small command by thirty men Of his own COM
pany, adding that he would send him detachment
from the militia Of thirty men more, with two COM
pany officers. This detachment, with Lieut.. John
son, of the county Of Culpeper, and Ensign Atkin-
son, from the Isle OF Wight, (now member Of
Congress- were promptly at Foft Norfolk; and the
captain, with his united detachment, directly EN-
barked in boats, under the cheers Of the garrison,
for Craney island On his arrival, he had an inter-
view with Colonel Beatty, and, as his men from
Fort Norfolk were well drilled and skilfu artille-
rsls Col. Beatty gave this captain the command Of
the battery Of large cannon. Early in the night, a
party Of about one hundred sailors and some ma
rnes under the command Of Lieus. Neale, Saun-
ders, Shubrick, and Captain Breckenridge, of the
marines, assist in the defence of the island,
from the frgaie Constellation lying above, in Eliz
abeth river Col Beatty then sent for the captain
Of the United States army, and said TO him, as the
sailors could know but little about the use Of the
musket, he must yield his command Of the battery
to this naval force; to which the captain consented
When the action came on, the captains detachment
was on the right of the lines and ad Joining the bat
terry of the cannon. Lieut. Neale had an iS-pound-
err where the line Of infantry commenced and the
captain and himself were side by side, constantly
together while this large gun efficiently used
he Of he Neala frtxy int al
with the accuracy ofa raeman and the chief il not
all the damage, done to the boats was from his gun
A more gallant officer did not belong to our navy;
and his signal services upon this occasion were spe-
cially and honoraby mentioned by COL Beatty, in
his report Of the action 10 Gen Taylor. This ma
val force consisted of brave, bold, and daring Off
GERS and men. They did their duty noby; but il is
not generous to say that the island was saved by
them True, they were The only part Of our force
brought into action, for the boats did not get near
enough to the island to be in reach Of the nusketry.
But the army oD the island were equally brave and
determined and Would doubtless have saved il from
capture in the absence Of the naval force The thir-
ty men of the army of the United States from Fort
Norfolk were good artillersts as ever pointed n
gun They would have served the big guns with
honor to themselves and those connected with them
had the command of the battery not been assigned
to the naval force. Honor to those to whom honor
is due, and justice to all, is matter based upon
proper principle. Hence it is, that much
praise is due to the officers and the men this naval
detachment in the defence Of Craney island. And
hence it is that while this is demanded, the army
stationed there, ready for action, should not be
thereby dsparaged. And the navy has no better
right to complain (if any should complan) than the
army, that Mr. lngersoll has $50 much generazed,"
in his account of the defence of Craney island in
his history Of the late war.
One word with regard to the narration of 49,
upon this subject. He says that councils of war
4. Il Il IA
military force in and about Norfolk leaving the de-
fence OF the approach by water TO the naval force"
Let it be recoected that the naval force consisted
of one frigate and few gun-boats while the forts
Norfolk and Nelson were well garrisoned the
guardians of the port of Norfolk from the approach
Of an enemys vessel. Then, again, let it be re-
peated honor to the navy should not lead to injus
tice to the army
Before closing this communication, il may not be
irrelevant to say that, in all likelihood the defeat Of
the British forces at Craney island would have been
more signal and more glorious to the American arms
had bolder aud less cautious commander been
on the island. Far from q design 10 deract from
the fame Of Col Beatty in the victory at Craney
island--alnost 10th 10 make the assertion-yet con-
scienous justice prompts to the expression Of opn-
ion that he was an officer over-caulioua, especially
in his command at Craney island.
Proof-When the British party on the land side
were flying reach their shipa the captain Of the
United States army, who had gone down stated,
TO the defence of the island proposed TO Col Beatty
to take the command of his detachment and go in
pursuit of this routed force. Col. Beatty at first
consented, and the officer formed his detachment,
which, with volunteers on the island, exceeded
hundred in number; and just as he in the act Of
commencing his march for the main land, to pursue
the enemy, Col. Beatty countermanded the permits
son and assigned to the captain his reason 10 be,
that the enemy's ships would see the movement,
and be induced to renew their attack upon the
island seeing its force thus diminshed but he prom
ised at the same time, that at nghtfall the captain
might 60 in search of the enemy on the main land
That evening Gen. Taylor ssnt Gen. Arnistead T.
Mason, then a colonel, with his regiment, to rein
force the island. The arrangement then made to go
in pursuit of the enemy, was, that the force for the
enterprise should consist of $50 men, to be under
the command Of COL Mason, and this officer Of the
United States army; but, before it marched, Col.
Beatty again decided that it could not go, repeating
his fears that there might be renewal Of attack
the island during the night and that he could not
consent TO have its strength reduced Thus the
brave Beatty was in tho opinion fthe writer, over
cautious He arrested an enterprise which might
have been successful in injuryto the enemy, and
RICH'D POLLARD,
Captain Of the U. s. A. at the defence of Craney
island.
November 10, 1s45.
Communicated.
"a learned friend of the Treasury Department"
over the letter w, in the Union Of the 18th instant,
informs w. G. that his "oher learned friend Of the
Treasury Department" ia laboring under decided
mistake in his supposition that ",phiPpiny" is at
present allowed Ivy law under our government, and
Induces the terms ola recent act to prove the state
ment. w. may be, and probably is, correct in his
quotation Of the acts sectons and yet he cannot
be fully au fail at all points, ifhe means TO assert
hath aI,n.
ished or not, under our government and our laws.
uSeize him up for thirty. ninen--law or no law, we