Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-07-12

admonitions, were, few DAYS later, repeated 70
Commodore McCauley This commandant, whose
natriotisJn and fidelity were not doubted, VS.
surrounded by officers in whom he placed o'na-
dence: but most Of them, as events soon proved.
were faithless 10 the flag and the country.
On the 10th Of April. Commodore McCsuley
us ordered 10 put the shopping and public pro
nertv in condition to be moved and placed beyond
danger. should il become necessary; but in doing
this ne was warned to take no steps that wouid
rive needless alarm. The steam 1rigate Merrl-
mack could, it was believed !. were her machinery
in order. be made available in this emergency.
not onIv .o extricate herself, but the other ship
nine in the hsrbor. Not knowing, however, who
couId be confied in 10 take charge Of her. com
mander and two engineers were detailed TO pro
coed to Norfolk for that purpose Two DAYS
after. on the 18th of April, the Department IL
rected that the Merrimsc should be prepared %
proceed to Philadelphia with the utmost despatch
II was stated that to repair the engine and put
it in working order would require four week
Discredting this report, the engineer-in-eofei wa
ordered to proceed forthwith in person, snd atteHa
to the necessary preparations
On the 10th April the CON msndsnt was directed
10 lose no time in placing armament on board tho
Merrimac; to get the Plymouth and Dolphin be-
vond dlnger; to have the Germantown IN con
dition 20 be towed out, and TO put the more Talu
able public property, ordnance, stores, &c, on
shipboard so that they could, at any moment.
be moved beyond danger.
Such was the energy and despatch OF the en-
cineer-in-ehief, that on the 10th the department
was advised by the commandant Of the yard that
on the 18th the Merrima, would be ready Tor ten
porary service; but when. on the afternoon If
that day, the engineer reported her ready ior
steam, Commodore McCauley refused to have her
fred up. Fires were, however. built early the
next morning, and at o'clock the engines were
working, engineers, iremen, &c. on board, but
the commandant still refused to permit her 10 be
moved, and in the afternoon gave directions tn
draw the fires, The cause Of this refusal to mov-
the Merrimac has DO explanation ether than thai
Of misplaced confidence in his junior officers who
opposed it.
As soon as this fatal error was reporte to t5e
department, orders were instantly issued % Com
modore Paulding to proceed forthwith % Norfolk
with such officers and marines could DC Oh ain
ed, and take command Of all the vessels ahost on
that station 10 repel force by force, and prevent
the ships and public property. az all hazards IRON
passing into the hands of the insurrectionists
But when that officer reached Norfolk, on the
evening of Saturday the 10th, he found that TIE
powder magazine had already been seized, and
| that an armed force had commenced throwing u
| batteries in the vicinity. The commandant Of
the yard after refusing 10 permit the vessels o.
be moved on Thursday and emitting ii on Friday,
| ordered them to be scuttled on Saturday evening
and they were sinking when Commodore Pauldlns
| with the force under bis command arrived at Nor
folk.
This officer knowing that to sink the ship
would be only temporary deprivation TO the
insurgents, who would, when in full possession
Of the place, again have them afOat, ordered the
torch tc be applied to the sinking vessels. Pur-
suant 70 instructions he also destroyed, as far as
he was able with bis limited force, the public
property in the yard before abandoning the place
The Cumberland was towed down the river aud
passed. after little delay, over the obEtruc-
tions that had been sunk IN the channel 70 PIE
vent her removal.
This unfortunate calamity az Norfolk not only
deprived the government OF several vessels, but
Of large amount Of ordnance and stores which
had there accumulated. In preventing the ship
ping and property from passing into the hands q
tie insurgents who had gathered II considerable
force in that vicinity under Gen. Talliaferr1.
Commodore PsuIding, the officers and those unde-
them, performed their duty, and carried cut, sr
far as was IN their power, the wishes Of tie GO
eminent aud the Instructions Of the departUsut.
The Secretary goes into a detailed account
OF the extraordinary measures resorted to by
him to supply the dangerous Deficiencies Of
the service, by hiring vessels, and in some
instances going beyond his strictly legal
powers in making contracts for work TO &c;
vessels ready for service, which the preserv-
alton Of the government: made necessary.
Since the 4th of March 259 officers Of the
navy have resigned or been dismissed from
the service. To supply the Deficiencies, many
retired officers had periodically offered them
selves for duty, and their voluntary tender
Of their services TO sustain the flag and the
country, had been gladly accepted. The re-
cruiting of seamen bad proceeded with a dis-
play Of alacrity and zeal to serve their cOur-
try, never surpassed.
The Secretary draws attention TO many
subjects which the general condition Of tn,
service and the special emergencies Of thu
times make important, suggests an inquiry
into the expediency of constructing some iron
clad vessels, &c, and concludes with a brief
reference to the responsibilities which be
had aSsumed-whether strictly within the
bounds of existing law or MOTTO do what
ever the great exigeney Of the time demand
ed, in order to save the government from
destruction