The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-11-13
Importance Of Craney Island, and the wisdom of

n"P"'tdHce OF Cfdney islano, ana The wisdom OF |
captain Tarbell's counsel. became at once appa
rent. Two friga,es and razee preceded The
main force one of the former anchored far above
her consorts. well up in the Roads, and wa $ a,
tackled, and very nearly captured, by floa of
gun boats commanded by Captain Tarben: her
fire was at first feeble and soon altogether silenc
ed, when, breeze springing up, enabled her con
SORTS TO come up, open their fire on the fotila.
and save her from capture. This ship was sun
posed To be the Narcissns, 80
On the 2Oth, the enemy. fourteen sail in all
moved up to the mouth of James River. moorinu
In line mp and down Hampton Roads. At this
time the fiotilla of gun boats was anchored short
distance above Craney Island. well-manned with.
IN ABOLITION TO their own officers and men. the
greater part OF the officers and men of the Can
s'ellatlon irigate. The frigaie, with ye,v re-.
duced complement, was moored between Tho f,r,s
just below the town of Norfolk.
On the morning of the Dist, Lieutenapts Neale
ShuorIck, and Sanders, with one hundred son,
men, and Lieutenant Breckenridge of the marines
with fifty men of that corps, were landed on Ora,
ney island, to assist in preparations for its defence
In the night between the 2lst and ODD the enc
my was ouslly employed landing men on the shore.
Just below where Nansemond river emplies into
hampton ROADS, TWO or three miles above Craney
island; and about A. NJ, stronO fo,illa of
the shore. The land from Nansemond rms down
towards Craney island in tongue formed bv The
water OF Hampton Roads on one side, and creek
or Inlet running up towards. but at a right anole
with NanSemond on the other The troops of
the enemy on the land advanced. mari passu. with
the boats At the extremity of the tonone of land
spoken of, and directly opposite to Craney island
was thin wood of Young pine saplings. and be-
nina me wood corniied; in this cornfied the
L
troops formed Information was given of their
position to those the island by persons station
ed tor The purpose on the land. on the south side
ct the creek. The point of land on which was
the pine wood, was separated from Craney island
by an inlet about so yards wide, and fordable a,
hat'ilde. Ii was the intention of the enemy. if
their boats succeeded in gaining a foOtinp on the
island, TO ford the inlet and support them They
never, however, came in view from the island
As the boats came within gunshot, two of the
eighteen Founders opened upon them these two
were directed by Leu,enants Neale and Sanders:
and the gun commanded by Lieutenant Sanders
was soon dismounted. The gun on the south end
OF the battery, commanded by Lieutenant Sbu
brick. opened upon The men in the cornfeld. frinu
through the thin wood of pine sapnos. which
offered little or M resistance To the shot house
near by, belonging 10 a Mr. Wise, was taken pos
session ut by the enemy, and few cOnUreve
rockets thrown from IT, and over the island
which did no damage. however, nor had any eff
fect in any way, except 10 surprise Ct will not
say aarm) those who had never before seen sucb
missiles.
Five OF the enemy'S boats were sunk several of
Inc men In which, were taken up by the other
boats; but the larger part of them came or were
brought ashore to the island. These boats had
more men In them than composed their proper
crews; the Centpede, the largest of the flotiiIa.
had four men, instead of two. on every thwart
A round shot passed through this boat, in the
wake of the after thwart, taking off the legs of
four men. and sinking the boat Immediately; she
had, however, got so close to the island that
when she took the ground, several feet of her
bows were out of the water TO this part two of
the wounded men crawled they were brought to
the island, and received surgical attention, hut
died IN few hours Ii was understood at the
time, as coming from the prisoners themselves.
that there were number of Frenchmen in the
boats, who had been released from English prisons
on condition that they would serve against the
Americans
Many men were killed in the cornield. After
the enemy retreated, small party from the is
land forded the inlet; the writer of this was one
OF them There were marks of several bodies
having been buried in hasle several leps and
arms were found separated from the bodies. The
ground was not critically examined, as it was
P'ooaOie mat the enemy might return and cut the
party off
At sunset, the enemy were seen going off in
their boats, and before morning they had all re-
turned TO their ships.
Perhaps more disgraceful military expedition
is not on acknowledgement in conception and in
execution. The precise force of the enemy is
not known Captain Cassin estimates it at four
thousand. There is no doubt that the killed and
prisoners of the enemy were as many as the force
OF The Americans that was engaged for the battle
was fought by the seamen. Not man on the is
land was hurt.
While the enemy remained in force in Hamp-
ton Roads, and while the horrible atrocities were
enacling at the town of Hampton, the officers and
searnen of the frigate remained encamped on the
lsand--PTevenled from crossing by the strong
force in the Roads s.
BARON DE CYPREY'S QUARREL.
Our readers aware that the above named
individuals, late Minister from France to Mexico.