Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-23
From the Norfolk Herald"
EVACUATION Of THE NAVY YARD.
He GUNS SPIKED.

ARMS and Government Stores Destroyed.
On Salurdli and Sunday tho greatest excite
mcnt prevailed in The city. Troops were llur.
rying to anu FRO, and every one anxious to
know what WIS to be done, but unable to ot.
tam the desired information. Tho rnnor was
that the Cuml,c:ia"u WAS about To sail from
the Navy Yard AID preparations were made 10
prevent her
At IL o'clock an officer came from tho yard
bearing 8 flag C! trace, and Was conducted TO
Gen. Talialtrros llrad-Q Iartcrs at the Atlantic
Hotel, where a consultation was held Hhicn re.
suited in q premise from the cointnaudant Of
the yard, Com. Mocauley, that none of the
vessels should be removed nor Il shot fired ex-
cep. in self defence. This uuieied the excite
mert, but it was renewed at u later hour, when
it was GScertaiAcd that the Germantown and
Mcrrimac fisd been Scut!Cd, and that the heavy
shears On the wharf at which The Germantown
was lying. Lad Hsen cut away ard allowed to
fall midshi?s acro>a her decks, carrying away
the main toplnaSiS and yards. /. was also per.
ceired that The ue!i wero buslly engaged in
destroying and throwing overheard side and
small arms, H., and other property, AMI boats
were constantly passing between the PrnuSyl-
raaia, Cumberland and other vessels. The MS.
sursnce Of the COnu:udJre, gwen by his officer
~ the truce lntcIvIew, however. tended to aliay
tie apprehension Of an Immediate c,l!ision.-
But the continued stirring movements at the
yard, soon rendered II certain that il was the
intention OF Macaulcy to destroy all the build
inss and other property there, and it was there
fore with not much surprise that, about mid
night, alter t"o OF three slight explosions the
light Of q serious conf igratinr WAS observed at
tie yard. This continued to increase, and he.
FIRE day light the demon work If destruction
was extended to the immense ship houses known
as 4 aud Is. Che fHmcr c,nlaining the entire
frame of the New York ~, which had been on
tie s,cchS unfinished. for some thirty.c;sht
years. AMI also - the long ranges of TWO story
offices and stores Oh each side vi the main gate
Of the yard. The flames aud heat from this ire.
mendous mass u burning material, was set BY q
Southwest wind directly towards Tie linu Of
vcsseis u:oorcd OIL tic cd - Of the channel oppo.
site the yard, end nearly ali OF l!!tsc, 100, were
speedily cuvcloped in flames.
The scene e. This tins AS grand and terrific
beyond description. Tne roar of The con1a.
grafton was loud enough 10 30 heard at TN &C
Ut four miles dlstance- and &c this were added
occasional discharges from the heavy guns Of
the old "Prnnsylcania," SLIP Of the line. as
they became successfully heated. These SltaS,
it is usSei ted, were doubie-shot;ed and directed
Ut diff, .nt paris Of The yard. for the purpose
Of cnSuring lis colt plcte drmOlisslneDt. iills,
however, is certain t;lat If al her guns mad
been thus prepared aid directed, tie burnt
district" Could GCt have been m1Tc completely
cleared OF is 6ppuTtcna'icrS.
TIE CUMBERLAND AND PAwNEE.
AS SOON as the torch he'd been successfully
applied to tue ship houses, tho PAwuee, which
had been kept under steam from tie moment
OF her arrival aoou. nightiall on Saturday. Was
pu. III motion, and, taking the CumberSRs in
| to%, refreshed down the harbor out:!Hl$thc
reach OF danger, treightcd with ! great pJstien
of valuable munitions, &c, from the gard, and
the CoMUiodnre and other officers who had
won iur themselves the lngiorious distinction Of
destroying dsris in accomplishing such a van
dal work. The Ships proceeded is far down
as the harricades 1T the narrows, where the
Cumberland was left Al anchor, and the Paw
nee conIiaued OH to Fort Monroe.
THE PROPERTY DESTROYED.
Az far as we could Judge roma ufsory o.
seryat!pa, tie property destroyed embraced be
s;dgs the ship hJusrs aud c~0ntcaiS, the range
OF buildings on the North line CT the yard. lc1-
| crp. the Comuo.iorv's and Commanders re
sidcnccS, which are unhurt) The old marine
laIracKS and one or lwo woikshopS, the i'm
mcuse lifting shears, the ships Pennsylvania,
Msriimac, Rari;an, Columbia, and brig Dol
phin-burn, 10 The waters edge the sluop
Germantown, bIokrna and sunk the Plymouth
settled AUD sunk eyvn with her deck and q
: st almount T.. small aims, ch~rvn"net"rs. and
valuable engines ard machinery IN the Ordi
nance and other shops, broken W aud rendered
utterly useless.
TIE DRY DOcH.
appearance inG!ta,td lbat i wEs iE1ended
to cripple tElis admiia able and useful wolk, oy
blowing Up he gates. but liurn some ciuse this
vas not done, and THE deck was found 10 &c
altogether unhuIt.
We canrc. bring ourselves 10 believn that
arr ltEccr Of a Navy, distinguished ni,ticTtot T.,
O high sense O. ho0or aud chir.!rous Courage,
could Willingly condcscrnd 20 such an ing!ori'
Gus mode OF warfare Us ;hls. We rather re
gard it as an emanatiDn ir2m !hc wEetcAsd
cabrl At Weshiogtcn, and = prac.icA carrying
out Of the tactics laid dnwn " ti.c rsl!,inou>
S;:m:.er ard other orators Of the Black RenGb'
lican party. Barn, siila; snG destroy is the
word with ,nrrn.
The Flag OF tEo Old Dominion.