War of 1812 Pungoteague Creek Engagement
Pungoteague Engagement WY - 12 To the west on 30 May 1814, during the war of 1812, Rear Admiral George Cockburn's British forces invaded Pungoteague Creek from the Chesapeake Bay. Early that morning, eleven barges and launchers landed there were close to 500 solders. Major John Finney of the 2nd Regiment of the local militia engaged the British forces. Forced back by an overwhelming number of enemy troops, Finney retreated to a thickly wooded region Finney's forces continued to engage the enemy until a bugle sounded on a barge and the British troops retreated to thier landing vessels and sailed back to Tangier Island.
1854 Pungoteague River Lighthouse
Built in 1854 just offshore near the entrance to Pungoteague Creek. It was the first screw pile light built in the Chesapeake Bay and was built by Major Bache. It was constructed on seven Pneumatic piles and was equipped with a fifth order lens. The lighthouse was overturned by ice flows on February 2, 1856. It had the shortest recorded existence on the Bay, 459 days. In 1908 a flashing light on a concrete filled caisson was installed on the existing foundation.
1861 Civil War Pungoteague Creek Blockade
During the American Civil War, blockade runners used Pungoteague Creek and other nearby waterways to get supplies to the Confederacy despite the Union blockade at Hampton Roads.
.jpg)
Steamboat Era
Two Churches Built in 1894 at Harborton both Completed one month apart