The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02
THE ATTACK UPON CRANEY ISLAND BY THE
BRITISH IN 1878 BYE sAaNAlL
BY H. B. BAGNALL.


command
Tuesday, June %. 1913. was the
memorable day; ut dawn the landing
of the men under General Sir Sidney
Bcckwith began OH tho east side OF
Hoffer's Creek. on the mainland. two
miles below the island. near the home
OF Captain George Wise. and as tho
. British approached. the guns from the
batteries opened with telling effect,
causing that division of the attacking
d. force TO retire to the ships. The enc
my again approached the island. but
the second attempt was from channel
side. there were fifty large barges. con-
tanning 1900 men. headed by the ad
miral's beautiful barge. called the Cen
tipeds because Of her twenty four
oars. The suspense OF waiting was
relieved by orders for the guns TO
speak. and again the British were
driven back to their ships.
/ The British force was 1900, divided
as follows:
one Hundred and Second Regiment
and Royal Marines. $500.
/ Marines and sailors from ships, l.
Two companies OF French soldiers,
The British loss OF life has been
given as less than 200. and remarkable
as the statement appears, the Amer
| leans did not lose "a single man.
The battle of Craney Island was an
important one, because their signal de-
feat deferred the enemy from making
any further attempts TO enter our har-
bor their success would have meant
in all probability. the destruction OF
the Navy Yard and the burning OF Nor
folk and Portsmouth.
All honor to the name and memory
OF those who so couraEeously defended
their homes when foreign foe Was
even the verp threshold. men who
honorable n Deace they were
brave in war.
Craney Island is 1--WE and one half
miles from the Navy Yard It's length is
Ave cighths or "A mile, and its width
between the broadcast points. one eighth
OF mile. 1t is separated from the
mainland BY a narrow strait fordable
at low tide. During the War of 1872
a corduroy road was built from tho
mainland TO the Notifications. Tho
little island Is said to contain thirty
palette. and Until May >. 1917, when
the land was bought by the United
States government, the ownership OF
the estate opposite carried with IL the
ownership OF Craney Island.
The origin of the name is stll 9
question the local tradition is that
very many years ago il became the
nesting place of cranes, which sug
gested the name, just as Pigs Point
nearby. derived its local designa tioi
its ncighborhood This would. no doubt
be accepted. except for the fact that IN
Il court order as carly as May 25, l64e
the point was called ''Crauny Pointe.'
This has inclined some writers to the
opinion that originally the point OF
land, az we'll az the adjacent island
bore the name of an early settler. cor
irupted into C-aney. as We have 1t 10
day.
Robert Barraud Taylor jurist and
general vas born IN Smithheld in l7f4
His boy!iood. however. was passed II
Norfolk. After serving as peace
colonel the Legislature of Virginia
honored him with the commission Of
brigadier-g general in December 1872
! when he was assigned to the Mini
: Brigade and placed in command of she
Norfolk district After wearing the
!, honors OF war. no was promoted, II
AS Judge. soldier and citizen. he has
. been remembered a Nirginian who
: was tried in many high places ano
found faithful in them all"
"Wednesday. February 9. 1914, din
ncr WAS given TO General Taylor and
, the heroes of Craney Island by citizen!
: II Norfolk. Among the toasts was thu!
: anchor of our safety the birthplace o
hand of heroes, another monument t.
the glory OF our constellation.
To-day, after 100 years have passed
we honor the names OF our brave de
9 tenders and crown their memor? viii
thu laurels of war but our hearts eA
. press the hope that the flags OF IN
two countries may. through anothe
century OF peace. proclaim TO the Worlt
that the N,o nations, which are one IL
j speech and one In blood, are also ont
u in friendship.