The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-16
Nlfpmoan t1lspattil
WEDNESDAY, MOANING. .ocr Ia las,


CsASEY lsLASD.-The defence Of Craney
Island, In the last war with England, WAS one
Of the moet brilliant achievements of that
contsst> In view Of the possibility that |. may
become again ere long the theatre of stirring
eeente. We hs~e cxnmire,i win irterest scmc
records Of the splendid aud successful COURAGE
and conssaacy with which our inferior forces
repelaea the British expeditions Craney Isiau6
~ our readers are aware, lies near the mouth
Of Elizabeth river, and commando the approach
from Hampton Roads 10 Norfolk. sS;eneral
RoaKRT t. TAyLoR WAS the commanding officer
Of the military district IN which the island il
situated. The frigate Constellation was Nh
chored about ia,!c below Norfolk, and f,ur
miles above tho island, nearly opposite TO the
site of tae present Naval Hospital. The forti-
fcatiou Of THE Inland had been previously
ordered by General WADE HAMPTON, when
he commanded the district, and was executed
under tho direction of Colonel ARmisTgsD, an
engineer. The whole force on the siand al
the time of the attack consisted of nifty rife
men. four hundred aud forty six infantry OF
the line, ninety one State artillery, aud one
hundred and fifty seamen and marines, fur
nished under the direction Commodore CAssIS,
by Captain TAnnsLi., of the Constellation,
At the east side of the island was slnall un
finished fort where were mounted two twel
y four and one ten-pound cannon. At the
west eide was a small breastwork. The forces
were under the command eli Colonel BEATTY,
assisted by Major WAGsgK, Of infantry, ana
Major EsrfKNEK of artillery.
Souis movements OF the eueu,ys shipping
lying near Newport News seemed to indicate
ali intention 10 attack Cranev Island On the
ed June, 1913, soon after these movements
were observed, they landed two miles from
the island about $500 troops OF various de
scriptions. Their Oh Get WIS 10 approach Oh
the west side, across the water in that direc-
ton, which al low tide WAS iorjable by in
fau,ry. Soon after their landing, forty-iive or
fitty of the enemy IS boats, full of men, directed
their course from the shipping to the north
side of the irland. The shipping which covered
the attack of the boats consisted Of fifteen 0,
twenty vessels, among which We're seventy
fcurs, frigates, aud transports.
The action was first opened by the enemy's
land force, who We're protected by dense
growth of trees and underwood. They com
mencsd throwing congreye rockets from be
hind house belonging to Cart. q. WISE. Capt.
RouRKE, of the Virginia forces. who was
nearest 10 that point, az once opcued upon
them brisk fire OF grape an'. canis,er, ard
although the dense growth prevented |, good
view Of the enemy. they were completely
routed with The loss OF many Killed ana
wounded. At the same time with the a;'ack
from the mainland. the barges, filled with sol-
diers and marines, supposed 10 be from 'v''iVe
10 fifteen hundred, approached the jsland III
column order, led Oh by Admiral NANAh's
boat, with twenty four OARS, and n brass three
FOUNDER in the bow heavy fire of grape
and canister War ut once opened from the
Island upon the advancing squadron, which,
however, continued TO advance, unill several
Of her foremos, boats grounded when the fire
became calling that they were thrown into
great confusion and commenced hasty re-
treat. -Four or five Of their barge Were sunf.
Toe loss Of the enemy was about two hundred
killed, wounEed, and prironers. In the after
noon, the enemy who bad reDlgined on shore,
above the island, ie-einb.,rhea III their boats,
and returned 10 their shipping. Most of the
attacking force is said 10 have consisted f
French troopr, taken prisoners in Spain, and
induced to ennis. in the English army by pros
peet of plllage in America.
Our Virginia volunteers displayed in this
memorable engagement the same GOODNESS and
Hsli.possession under fire, and the same death
dealing aceenracyin the m cement o fuuskets
H., 81. =.
,he prerent war. Mr. HoWiScN in bis History
of Virginia, epesks of the - fatal precision OF
our cannon The enthusiasm OF our people WAS
exhibited even by the sick, who on hearing
Of the approach of the enemy, rose from their
beds and reported for duty at the batelies-
When the boats retreated 80 eager were the
Virginians, that the Winchester rihemen ran
into tho water, hoping to.reach the foe with
their bullets
We are convinced that the present defenders
of Craney Island, and of every fertilization
about Norfolk, will not permit the renown of
1918 to suffer i'll their bands. TN tho contrary.
five DO not quite mistake the signs of tie
times, the glory of the past viii he more
than eclipsed by the triumphs Of the future.
THE NAVAL YicToRT--The moral etiec; Of
the late brilliant naval victory near New Or.
leans will be prodigious. If there is one
held Of action III which, more than any other,
the North thought itself the master of the
world, it is old Ocean. The splendid enter
prises Of PAUL JoNYs, HIsaAa. the one Il
Scotchnian, the other Cavalier, and others
in the Revolution; of PERRY, CHACscEY, Nc
DosouGn, DECATUR, and others in the late
war, were enough TO make the North consider
itself uncomfortable upon the rea. Nor have
We any disposi''on 10 deny that they have
shown more aptitude for maritime affairs than
any people of modern ,mes But the sceptre
ia passing from JupAH, The very waves re.
fuse TO recognize their ancient rider Upon
tho eveof those naval expeditions which We're
expected to strike terror to the heart of the
South, little Southern. feet defeats a
Yankee squadron Of three times It's force,
without the loss of a single man
A noble beginning for our little rayy, The
naval aupals OF the old United States, crowded
as they are with brilliant achievements pre-
sent nothing 10 snrpass tEis splendid victory of
Commander HoLLINS 1t wal strike astou;rh-
ment 10 the Yankees; il ousbt to inapire the
Confederates with tie determination to oryan-
ne /; strong naval power, to break up this
blockade, and to contest with Yankeedom tie
supremacy of the seas HoLLIss has broken
the charm Of Yankee invncibli;y on the WA
iers. He has opened the grandest Of all thea
tres OF adventure. enterprise, and heroisra, to
the chivairic South. If the beginning is fol
lowed up with the same spirjt and energy. th..