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and died a slave soon after the peace, and just before a law was passed that gave freedom to all those devoted men of colour who had so zealously volunteered their services in the patriotic cause. It is, however, an agreeable part of my duty, as the historian of this little affair, to assure my readers, that the Captain never felt any degree of restraint that could serve to remind him that he was not absolutely a free man; for his master was as proud of his character and deeds, as he himself was of the estimation in which he knew that he was held by all worthy citizens, and, more particularly, by all the navy officers of the State.

Norfolk.

J. B.

A PATRIOT'S CHARGE TO HIS SONS.

Col. George Mason, the author of the first constitution of Virginia, died at his domain of Gunston Hall, in Fairfax county, near Alexandria, on the 7th of October, 1792, in the 67th year of his age. The following extract from his will is worthy of lasting remembrance ;—" I recommend it to my sons, from my experience in life, to prefer the happiness and independence of a private station to the troubles and vexation of public business; but, if either their own inclinations or the necessity of the times should engage them in public affairs, I charge them, on a father's blessing, never to let the motive of private interest, or ambition, induce them to betray, nor the terrors of poverty and disgrace, or the fear of danger or death, deter them from asserting the liberty of their country, and endeavoring to transmit to their posterity those sacred rights to which themselves were born."

THE DEFENCE OF CRANEY ISLAND.

Mr. Editor,-In looking into Howison's History of Virginia, I have been surprised to see what a slight and incorrect account he has given of the Defence of Craney Island, which I have always regarded as a very brilliant affair, and highly honorable to our State; and I cannot help feeling it to be a duty which I owe to the Commonwealth, and to the memory of a gallant man who has been strangely overlooked by this narrative, to point out its errors and defects. Mr. H.'s account is in the following words:

"Craney Island lies near the mouth of Elizabeth river, and commands the approach from Hampton Roads to Norfolk. Its defence, therefore, became all important; and Commodore Cassin resolved that it should not be taken without a desperate conflict. The frigate Constellation was anchored nearly opposite to the town; a detachment of her sailors and Marines under Lieut. Neale, assisted by Lieuts. Shubrick and Saunders were sent to the island,-where they soon threw up a battery, on the northwest side. At the same time, on the south side, opposite the narrow inlet between the island and the main land, Capt. Beatty was intrenched with his regiment, and a number of volunteers from various other regiments. High enthusiasm prevailed among the Virginians; many who had been on the sick list rose from their beds, and reported for duty at the batteries on the island. June 22nd. The enemy advanced in boats to the attack, numbering 2,600 men, and under Sir Sidney Beckwith. They divided their force into two detachments. One of these pressed forward to carry the north-west battery; but when they came within reach, Lieut. Neale and his men opened upon them a galling fire. The eighteen pounder was trained with so fatal precision that three of the boats sunk; one was literally cut in twain, and as she filled her men clung to her sides. The other boats hauled off in discomfiture, and the Virginians instantly sent aid to the drowning wretches in the water.

Meanwhile, the other detachment had landed on the main shore, and were attempting to cross the narrow inlet in front of the southern battery. Two twenty-four pounders and two sixes were waiting to receive them, and the volunteers stood to their guns like veterans. The enemy were cut in pieces at long shot, and as they came nearer, the battery played havoc among them.

Unable to endure, they precipitately retreated; and so eager were the Virginians, that the Winchester Riflemen ran into the water, hoping to reach the foe with their bullets. Most of the attacking force had consisted of miserable French troops, taken prisoners in Spain, and induced to enlist in the English army by prospect of pillage in America!"

Now it is really curious to see how many errors, both of omission and commission, Mr. H. has contrived to make in this short passage; and I will briefly indicate them for his correction in his next edition.

1. "Commodore Cassin resolved that it should not be taken without a desperate conflict." This implies that Com. C., was the commanding officer on the occasion, and the hero of the day; but the fact is, that General Robert B. Taylor, was the commander-in-chief of the military district in which the island was situated, and of all the land forces within it; and of course ordered and directed the defence of the position on that day. 2. "The frigate Constellation was anchored nearly opposite to the town." She was anchored about a mile below the town; nearly opposite to fort Nelson, (where the Naval Hospital now stands,) and generally with her broadside towards the island about 4 miles above it.

3. "A detachment of her sailors, and Marines under Lieut. Neale, assisted by Lieuts. Shubrick and Saunders, were sent to the island; where they soon threw up a battery, on the north-west side." These officers were sent to the island the evening before the engagement, but they did not throw up a battery, for that work had been done before. The fact is that the fortification of the island had been ordered some time previously by Major General Wade Hampton, while he commanded the district; and the works had been executed under the direction of an Engineer, Colonel Armistead, (since deceased) who had reported them to be in a tenable state.

4. "At the same time, on the south side, opposite the narrow inlet between the island and the main land, Capt. Beatty was entrenched with his regiment," &c. This was Colonel Beatty.

It is not usual, I believe, to find a Captain in command of a regiment—at least not before or at the beginning of a battle, though it sometimes happens towards the end of it.

5. "June 22nd. The enemy advanced in boats to the attack." Here the author has most strangely and unaccountably omitted to tell us that the boats came from the ships. That, indeed, he might think, was implied; and so perhaps it was; but he had left the fleet, some two or three pages before, down in Lynhaven Bay, (or Lynhaven harbour, as he calls it;) the inference, then, would be, that the boats had come from them in that position; which would materially alter the aspect of the affair. The truth is, the author has wholly forgotten to inform us that the ships had come up to Newport's News, the day before, and that they were thereabouts at the time, to cover the attack of the boats. The omission of this important circumstance is the more surprising, because it was not only necessary to complete the statement of the fact, but to finish the view of the picture, and give it all the interest which a poet, or a painter, or a rhetorician could desire for effect.

6. "But when they came within reach, Lieut. Neale and his men opened upon them a galling fire," &c. This should have been "Capt. Emerson and his company of artillery, from Portsmouth, aided by Lieut. Neale and his sailors," &c. But the name of Capt. Emerson, to whom unquestionably the chief part, or at least a very large part of the honor of the day was due, is wholly omitted. This is the more singular because it is prominently mentioned in Col. Beatty's report, and in all the current accounts of the time. It was generally stated, too, and I believe correctly, that it was a well-timed and well-aimed shot from the battery under his command, that sunk the Admiral's barge, and won the trophy of the fight.

There would seem indeed to be a strange disposition in our young historian, to give all the credit of this defence to the officers and men of the U. S. Navy; to the injury of those of our own State, and especially of a company to which the chief praise

is due. I am satisfied, however, that this is not the case; and I feel confident that Mr. H. will regret the injustice he has unintentionally done, by neglecting to inform himself of the true facts of the case; and readily make the amende honorable on any future occasion that he may have.

I send you herewith copies of the official report of Colonel Beatty, and the Letter of General Taylor, relating to the action, which will confirm my remarks, and which you may perhaps think proper to record in your work.

NORFOLIENSIS.

COPY OF COL. BEATTY'S REPORT TO GENERAL TAYLOR.

CRANY ISLAND, JUNE 25th, 1813.

Sir,-Some movements on the 21st inst., among the British shipping lying near Newport's News, seemed to indicate an early attack on this Island, and in the course of the next morning, on the 22nd inst., they landed two miles from this, from the best accounts that can be ascertained from deserters, about 2,500 troops of various descriptions. The object of this movement was, no doubt, with the view to approach this post on the west side of the Island, across the water in that direction, which at low water is passable by Infantry. Soon after their landing, there approached about 45 or 50 boats full of men, which directed their course from the shipping, as above stated, to the north side of the Island.

The British troops at the same time (that were previously landed) made their appearance on the main land with a view of attacking the west and north positions of the Island at the same moment. The two 24 pounders and 4 six pounders, were advantageously posted under the direction of Major Faulkner of the Artillery, which being so well served by Capt. Emmerson, Lieutenants Howle and Godwin, who displayed that cool and deliberate conduct, which will at all times insure success to the cause in which they are engaged. Lieut. Neale of the Constellation, during our defence, conducted himself with activity, zeal and courage, which will at all times add a lustre to the name of an American Naval Officer. Capt. Rourke of the ship Manhat

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