Military
4
On the night of June 12, 1813, near this point on the York River, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Surveyor was attacked by boats of the British frigate Narcissus. The 15 American crewmen, outnumbered 3 to 1, waged a desperate defense as the British, armed with pistol and cutlass, swarmed over the rails. The Surveyor's commander, Captain Samuel Travis, eventually surrendered to prevent the annihilation of his crew, but only after inflicting heavy losses on the attackers. The British captain returned the sword of surrender to the Surveyor crew the following day with a letter expressing admiration for the valiant defense.
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Yorktown, Virginia · United States
