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Reenactment marks historic Craney Island victory
June 18, 2009
By Mark Haviland
Norfolk District Public Affairs Office
NORFOLK, Va.—The Norfolk Historical Society and living historians portraying soldiers of the 20th U.S. Regiment of Infantry will mark the 196th anniversary of the Battle of Craney Island 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 20, at Fort Norfolk.
The event is free and open to the public, and features weapons demonstrations, tours of the historic fort and portrayals of daily life in the fort during the War of 1812.
The Battle of Craney Island occurred June 22, 1813, when the outnumbered American defenders of the island defeated an early-morning attack by a large British force. The victory saved Norfolk and the Gosport Navy Yard from further attack, though the British responded by burning the City of Hampton.
Fort Norfolk is the last remaining of 19 harbor-front forts authorized in 1794 by President George Washington and protected Norfolk’s inner-harbor and the USS Constellation during the war of 1812. Today, the fort is under the care of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was housed in fort buildings until moving into a new facility in the early 1980’s.
The entrance to Fort Norfolk is located at 803 Front Street, just minutes from downtown Norfolk and the midtown tunnel.
Questions about the reenactment should be directed to the Norfolk Historical Society at (757) 640-1720.