Excerpt from Report of the Select Committee, in Obedience to a Resolution of the House, in Reference to the Defense of Craney Island in This State, When Attacked by the British Forces on the 22d of June, 1813
Express succeeds express, and despatch comes after despatch, in such quick succession, that if we put down every thing that interests us for the moment, we shall not have room enough for the record." And on the 16th of July of the same year, an able and eloquent writer in the Enquirer complains, in strong and pointed terms, of the indifference with which the most dazzling victories achieved on land were received by the public mind, compared with the exulting throb of joy which animated every heart at the most trivial triumph on the water. "Our heads," he says, "are all turned towards the ocean, as the only field of fame, and as the only theatre where the honour of the country can be upheld and the glory of our ancestors sustained. An account of the most daring enterprise upon land is scarcely read, particularly if we hear of an engagement between two frigates at the same time. Why this partiality in the public favour? Why not exult at a victory on land with as much enthusiasm as if it were gained on the ocean? Our legislative assemblies seem also to have caught this partiality, and to have viewed the deeds of the "ocean warriors" as alone worthy of their approbation. At the last session of the Virginia legislature, seven resolutions passed that body, complimenting in the highest terms seven of our young midshipmen, who had participated in the glory of our late naval victories, whilst no notice whatever was taken of the achievements on land. An act of heroism on land is as glorious as one upon the ocean; and public applause is as justly due to the one as to the other. If our gallant midshipmen are entitled to swords and resolutions, so are our lieutenants, captains, majors and colonels. They both fought for their country. They are animated by the same elevated feelings. They bled in the same holy cause, and the meed of public praise and approbation should be the same."
The partiality of the nation at that period for the navy, was quite natural. It was the arm of our national defence which first turned the tide of victory in our favour. It was adding fame to our national character, whilst disaster and defeat followed our operations upon land upon the northern frontier. It was, besides, the first national exhibition of the skill and gallantry of our noble tars, and struggling, as we then were, with the mistress of the ocean, upon her own favourite and theretofore invincible element, and in vindication of the great rights of maritime freedom, it is not wonderful that the public favour should have been at the time almost wholly engrossed in its admiration of the intrepid feats and matchless enterprise of that branch of the service. But now that the enthusiasm of the moment has subsided, and we are left at liberty coolly to contemplate the events of that period, every sentiment of gratitude and justice impel us to honour the brave defenders of our country upon land, however late and tardy may be the public recognition of their just claims upon our attention.
That the defence of Craney Island was regarded during the war, and by all the historical writers who undertook to embody the events of that period, as amongst the most striking and important achievements of our arms, there is most abundant evidence to shew.
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