Hampton, Virginia, Pillaged By British-- Part 2: The Defense

A little over a year and a half later, U.S. General Andrew Jackson rallied his troops at the Battle of New Orleans with the cry "Remember Hampton!!"

British Lt.Col. Charles Napier wrote, "Every horror was committed with impunity, rape, murder, pillage."  It is said that he had to restrain his troops from joining into the horrors being committed.

Hampton's defenses were poor, manned by 450 militiamen, mostly from the town and many of them quite sick.  However, major Stapleton Crutchfield and his men had repulsed an earlier June attack at Harris Creek.  They had also built a battery of four 12-pounder long guns which commanded the Hampton River from Cedar Point and then a secondary battery of three 6-pounder guns at Blackbeard's Point.

They fought well against 40 attack barges rowing down river before dawn.  The British fired Congreve rockets and also fired from guns in their boats.  They drove the British back after 45-minutes.  Two Hampton houses were set on fire by the rockets.

Meanwhile, other British troops had landed.  The Americans were able to resist until the enemy brough up their cannons.  The militia was driven off and the batteries captured.

--Brock-Perry