1813 Landing of British Forces

1813 Landing of British Forces. Capture of Hampton. During the War of 18 12, British forces invaded the Chesapeake Bay and captured the town of Hampton. On June 22, 1813, American forces rebuffed Vice Admiral Sir John B. Warren's attack at Craney Island (located to your rear, across Hampton Roads to the southwest) After the defense Warren ordered his subordinate, Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn, to capture Hampton. Meanwhile, American troops from the 115th Virginia Militia Regiment under Major Stapleton Crutchfeild placed guns along the Hampton River to defend the town., The British attack began at 4 A.M. on June 25, 1813. Guided by escaped slaves in exchange for their freedom. Cockburn’s force of 2,500 infantry and marines near Indian River, close by where you now stand. The large British force maneuvered to the northeast along Celey Plantation Road (now Shell Road). Approximately 450 of Crutchfield’s Virginia militiamen met the British forces at the intersection of Celey Plantation Road and Main Road (now Queen Street). Realizing his force was vastly outnumbered, Crutchfield ordered a retreat to the Tabb area of the Peninsula. The British force occupied and plundered Hampton between June 24 and June 27, 1813. Similar defeats along the Atlantic coastline during the War of 18 12 motivated the United States to build large fortifications to deter future European invaders. Hampton’s Fort Monroe, begun in 1822, was among them, and the largest stone fortification built in the United States., (captions) , Murphy's Farm, located to your right , Images from Lossing's Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 18 12. , Hampton River, viewed from the town of Hampton. American gun emplacements were located at right.