On Gunboat No. 139, a master's mate from the USS Constellation was killed by a cannonball. Several of the other boats reported wounded as well as damaged oars and rigging.
Norfolk residents were awakened by this dawn battle and went to the waterfront to watch the action.
Having regular Navy men on the gunboats made a big difference in their handling and firing. (Evidently, the gunboats were usuallu manned by militia.)
Captain Joseph Tarbell broke off the action at 6 a.m..
On the British side, one Royal Marine was killed and several sailors wounded. American newspapers reported 70 casualties. The HMS Junon had several hull hits and its sails and rigging cut up. Its commander, James Sanders ordered a pursuit, but the American gunboats got over the shoals and the British ship stopped.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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