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Craney Island historical marker Virginia VA US United States of America display Historical Site marker sign United States attraction Civil War education information landmark Place of Interest Tourist Destination Travel Destination America Elizabeth River historic marker historic site signage USS Merrimack USS Monitor War of 1812 attractive destination educating info tourist attraction War Between the States American history no people text American Civil War appealing South tourism travel historic nobody word 1861-1865 attract daytime displays historical markers markers signs color image historical landmarks outdoor vertical appeal day educate historic markers Jason O. Watson / historical-markers.org historic sites colour image destinations outside tourist attractions day time USA day-time U.S. words color images daylight outdoors U.S.A. verticals colour images natural light outsides Portsmouth sign with text |
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CRANEY ISLAND
Seven miles northeast in the Elizabeth River is Craney Island, a landmark of two wars. During the War of 1812, the British attacked its fortifications on 22 June 1813, but were repulsed by its defenders including the Portsmouth artillery. During the Civil War, while abandoning Norfolk in April 1861, the Union forces scuttled the USS Merrimack. The Confederates refloated it and transformed it into their first ironclad, the CSS Virginia. Famous for its duel to a draw with the USS Monitor, the Virginia was scuttled at Craney Island on 11 May 1862, when the Confederates evacuated Norfolk.
Department of Historic Resources, 1997 |