Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-30
A BIT OF LOCAL HISTORY.
The Fight at Sewars Point Described By an
Eyewitness.
The First Battle in VrginaThe Battle Of Sewas Point
Fought on May 10Th, 18o1-Frst Shot Fired by the Nor
folk Junors-The Georgian Flag Hoised by Major VIM
E. Taylor of Norfolk

The battle of Sewall's Point is re-
called to memory by the finding in the
intrenchments there of hundreds of old
cannon balls and Shells the old powder
magazine, and a broken cannon.
THE FIRST BATTLE IN VIRGINIA.
In Burtons history of Norfolk we
find this memorable engagement de-
scribed as follows: "rne Battle of
Sewall's Point Called battle at that
time). was fought on the 10Th of May,
1861. and we here give some extracts
from a letter written about that en-
gagement by u member of the Norfolk
Light Artillery Blues:
AT IL o'clock a. M, Sunday, the 18th
of May, the detachment of n. l.. ~.
Blues. stationed at this post, (Boush's
Bluff under Lieut.. Thomas >Nash, Dr.,
and u detachment OF Juniors, under
Lieut.. Holmes, received orders to
march immediately to Sewall's Point
and report there for duty. Upon our
arrival we found the Columbus (Ga.l
Light Guard. under Captain ColQuit.
and the Woods Rifles. just from Ocean
View. under Capt. Vim. Lamb. Gen.
Gwynn, with his Aid, Major VIM. j.
Taylor, was on the ground giving or
ders. AT O'Clock p m. one gun was
mounted on its carriage. but not fas-
tened. Two others at that hour were
buried in the sand. By . O'clock they
also were mounted, and one of them
fastened. While the work of arrang-
ing the guns for action was hastily but
steadily progressing. shot came
whizzing from U. S. Government
steamer. and struck the battery.
throwing the turf some distance in the
air.
''All the Battery was in confusion.
but immediate preparation was made
TO return the fire with the two 81
Founders and two rined cannon
brought and manned by the Woods
Rifles. Captain ColQuitt being in COM
mand of the forces at this time. called
for a Virginian to hoist the Georgian
flag Chat being on the spoD and Ma
jor VIM. L. Taylor. of Norfolk, mount
ed the ramparts and unfurled it to the
breeze in defiance of the enemy, who
had initiated the battle. Orders We're
then given to open fire. and the first
gun was discharged by the detachment
of Juniors. Thad. Gray having com
mand of the gun. The Georgians, who
had worked manfuly in mounting the
guns lin conjunction With the Juniors.
Blues and Rines) took charge OF the
other two and fought bravely during
the whole engagement
The Blues were then ordered back
to BouSh's Bluff from whence they
came. to repel any land attack that
might be made by troops from Old
Point"
The letter continues: Every man
acted the true soldier, and though our
forces only numbered go men, every
one stood at his post, whether in the
battery or out OF it. ready to answer
the call of his commanding officer.
Those present on that occasion will
scarcely ever forget the sound of n
bomb or the whistle of ball. and
though they cracked the trees and
poughed the ground around us. mo-
body was hurt and every one remain
ed to tell the tale OF the first battle in
this State in defence of our liberties.
Never was battery worse prepar
ed for such an engagement The guns
were not in order; not sight had been
placed on them, nor was there time
even to think of putting them on. had
they been in place, consequently the
fire was at random, and very few shots
were effective. 1t is enough for our
friends to know that we did all we
could under such circumstances, and
we are sure it will be satisfactory TO
them. The soldiers suffered greatly
during the fight on account OF the rain
and wind. especially those on guard"
Before day on the morning of May
Goth. Sewalls Point was again rein
forced by the Blues and n portion of
the Georgia Regiment from the Cross
Roads. Louisiana Regiment. a Pc
tersburg Battalion and the Richmond
Grays. which We're sent from Norfolk.
but the Lincolnites did not renew the
attack again until the 2lst. when they
made several Intellectual attempts TO
silence our batteries"
ANOTHER DESCRIPTION.
A Georgia gentleman. upon return
ing to Norfolk after the fight at Sew
all's Point, wrote as follows to
friend:
Norfolk, May 23 1861.
THE Monticello, now the Star. lay
with her broadsidc To the battery
about three-quarters of n mile off Our
two 81 Founders had been mounted
and two riled cannon peeped through
their port-holes; and while the third
gun was being fixed up whiz-z-z-z
came a shell and bursted on our bat
terry near Private Oliver Cleveland
who had gone out in front of one of
our guns to shovel away sand. Cap
tain Colquit tof Georgia. and after
wards Gen. ColquiD in command of
the forces consisting OF parts of sew
eral Virginia companies and the CITY
Light Guard. of Georgia). ordered the
men to their posts. and in IL few mo-
ments the Weikin rang with the boom
ing of our guns. The Monticello fired
rapidly and bravcly. but the most of
her shots were wild Some of them
however. were we'll directed bursting
in our embrasures, over our heads. and
all around us. We learn that she has
endeavored to make the impression
that she passed the ordeal of our iron
hail without injury: but she is slightly
mistaken. Five holes are in her. The
very best Indication of which is her
dreadful limping as she turned her
stern to our fire, and hitched on
tug, which carried her off. We have
no disposition To deal in falsehoods