Craney Island
Craney Island played a significant role in the War of 1812, flying the Flag of 1795, with fifteen stars and stripes. American defenders held off overwhelming British forces there on June 22, 1813.
Two hundred British soldiers were killed, thirteen taken prisoner and forty deserted. There were no American casualties. This successful battle saved Norfolk, Portsmouth and the Gosport Shipyard from British occupation and destruction.
The USS Merrimack (1856?–?1861) was at Norfolk Navy Yard in 1861, when Virginia seceded from the Union. The Federal forces burned and sank the Merrimack as they withdrew from the Navy Yard.
The Confederates salvaged the ship and converted her to an ironclad. She was commissioned the CSS Virginia in February 1862.
In May of 1862, as the Confederates abandoned the Norfolk area, efforts were made to lighten the Virginia enough to allow her to move up the James River. Unable to do so, she was destroyed by her crew off Craney Island on May 11.
Marker is on Crawford Parkway west of Court Street, on the right.
Courtesy hmdb.org
