HISTORY

Battle of Craney Island

The Gosport Shipyard was built on the western shore of the Elizabeth River in Virginia in 1767. The federal government purchased the shipyard from Virginia in 1801 for $12,000. By the War of 1812, Gosport Shipyard was the main center of naval construction for the US Navy. Once US Naval ships began to achieve embarrassing victories over the English Royal Navy, Gosport Shipyard became a target.

In early 1813, British forces planned to attack the Gosport Shipyard and capture the frigate U.S.S. Constellation. The defenses consisted of fortifications on Craney Island at the mouth of the Elizabeth River mostly manned by 750 naval gunners stranded by the British blockade.

On the morning of June 22, 1813, a British landing party of 700 Royal Marines and soldiers of the 102nd Regiment came ashore to the west of Craney Island. The defenders fired at the landing party and the British began to fall back, realizing that they could not ford the water between the mainland and the island while under fire. British barges manned by sailors and Royal Marines then attempted to attack the eastern side of the island. Defending this portion was an infantry company of the light artillery. The Artillery company opened fire driving the British attackers off, forcing them to retreat back to their ships .