British forces under George Cockburn and John Borlase Warren attempted an amphibious landing on Craney Island, Virginia but were repulsed by defending American troops under Robert B. Taylor.

On the morning of June 22, 1813, a British landing party of 700 Royal Marines and soldiers of the 102nd Regiment of Foot along with a company of Independent Foreigners came ashore at Hoffler's Creek near the mouth of the Nansemond River to the west of Craney Island.

British barges manned by sailors, Royal Marines, and the other company of Independent Foreigners then attempted to attack the eastern side of the island.

[5] The Americans had scored a defensive victory in the face of a much larger force; Norfolk and the Gosport Navy Yard were as a result spared from attack.

However, the unit proceeded to rob and murder several American prisoners, and after British forces occupied Hampton, the Foreigners dispersed "to plunder in every direction", inflicting "brutal treatment [upon] several peaceable Inhabitants whose age or infirmities rendered them unable to get out of their way".

In response to claims that American forces had committed a massacre, Taylor, "while not denying the firing upon the boats out of general necessity during the action, conveniently noted that the stranded Frenchmen were not deliberately targeted, and found that only one was shot... while attempting to escape."

Regardless, "rumours of cold-blooded American brutality enraged the British forces, [with] Napier noting that his own men and the Foreigners took the news particularly badly.