The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-23
sycITlNG INCIDENTS, &c, &c,

p.ssaurers from Norfolk laSt evening a.
rs that tho amount of guns, stores and
,,,nition secured by the Virginia forces,
nar ,hs barring OF the Navy Yard, was
,rr,ous. aud our correspondence confirms |
s,s,t The guns in many instances were |
'~..,.,f.e;ly spiked in tho hurry and alarm OF
r. raisral iucendiaries, and are in no re-
..,,,t damaged. We copy from tho Norfolk
,a-ali of Yesterday the following narrative
= ,he exciting events OF the two days pre-
ceinS
or saturday and Sunday the greatest eX.
..a,nent prevsiied in The city Troops We're
,,--v-irg 10 and fro, and every one an xious 20
- ,ghat vas TO be done. but unable TO Oh
e., th- desired information. The rumor was
=, tia Cumberland Was about to sail from
ths Navy Yard, and preparations were maze
a. rr,vent her.
A. n o'clock an officer came from the yard,
Ssr,fy flag OF trace, and was conducted TO
General Taiiaferro's headquarters 1T the ~"
lsutic Hotel, where consultation was heln,
which resulted IN promise from inc com
,nandsnt Of the yard, Com. Macauley, that
nous Of the vessels should be removed nor
shot G. III except IN sell deience. This Quoted
tbs e1t ,emeut, tut IL Was renewed al later
bon- :, hen ii was sscertaiued that the Ger
nau;os, and Merrlmac had been scuttied,
and th1t The heavy shears on the wharf, al
which he Germantown was lying mad been
outlaws :, aud allowed TO fail mid ships across
her tiacls carrying away the main topmasts
and va =. II was also perceived that the
men wers busily engaged in destroying and
tarowiL overheard side and small arms, &C,
and OF. 81 property, and boats were con-
stxutly t-assing bet tho Penns lNania,
Cumber,sn and other vessels. The AS sn-
-arc- Of he Commodore given by his otficer
~ the tyi.re interview, however, tended 10 al
lay the apprehension OF an Immediate collision
but The con tinued stirring movements at the
ward soon rendered Il certain that IL was the
intention Of Macauley to destroy all the
huidiugs and other property there-and IL
was there. ore with not much surprise that,
ahout mid ri light. after two or three slight eX-
plosions, the light OF serious conhaSraI ION
was obsery cd at the yard. Inis continued 10
Increase ard before daylight the demon work
Of dastruc ton was extended to the Immense
ship-houses known SIS and Is, the former
containing tas entire frame OF the New ork
u which bad been on the stocks diminished,
for some thirty eight years. and also 10 the
long ranges Of two-story Offices and stores on
each side of the main gate of the yard. Inc
flames and heat from this tremendous mass
OF burning material was set by South
Yves. wind directly towards the line OF the
vessels moored on the edge Of the channel OPP
1,}site the yard, and nearly all of these, too,
were speedily enveloped in flames.
The scene At this time was grand and terri
rc beyond description. The roar Of the con
fsgration was loud enough TO be heard a
three or four miles distance, and 10 this were
added occasional discharges from the heavy
guns of the old Pennsy lYania, shlp-ot the
line as they became successfully heated
These guns, il is asserted, were doable-shot
ted and directed at different parts of the yart
for the purpose OF enSurins It's complete &c
molishment. This. however, is certain-tha
II all her guns had been thus prepared and oil
retted the burnt district could not have beel
nors completely cleared Of it's appurienancea
TEE CUMBERLAND AND PAwsgg.
As soon as the torch had been successful
applied 70 the ship houses, the Pawnee
which had been kept under steam from tn
moment of her arrival about niShtfall OF
Saturday, was put IN N otion, ana taking IL
Cumberland in tow, retreated down tho har
Dor out OF the reach of danger-frelght e
with great portion OF valuable munitions
SC from the yard, and the Commodore an
other officers, who had won for them selve
the inglorious distinction OF destroying dertt
in ACCOMPLISHING such vandal work. Tn
thips proceeded as FAR down AS the barricade
81 the narrows, where the Cumberland wa
left II anchor, and the PaWnee continued O
10 Fort Monroe.
THB PROPERTY DESTROYED.
As far as we could Judge from g cursor
observation, the proper ~ destroyed ella ordcet
besides the ship houses and coutents, IN
range OF buildings on the nortn Nne OF III
ward except the Commodore's and Con
nander's residences. which are unhurt,l I'll
old marine barracks, and one or two worl
shops the immense lifting shears, the shlt
Pennsylvania, Merrimac, Rartan, Columoi'
and brig Delphin--burnt 10 the waters edge
the sloop Germantown, broken and SUM
the Plymouth scuttled and sunk even Wit
her deck and vast amount Of small arm
thermometers, and valuable engines and m;
chinery in the Ordnance and other shop
broken up and rendered utterly useless.
THB DIRT DOCK.
Appearances indicat ted that it was intends
!. 70 cripple this admirable and useful work, /
blowing up the gates, but from some eau
hi, work was not done, and the dock Wi
found TO be altoge ther unhurt.
We cannot bring ourselves to believe tn
any officer Of Navy, distinguished hither
high sense of honor and chivalrous cou
age, could willingly condescend TO such an i
glorious mode Of warfare as this. We rath
regard 1t as an eTnanation from the wretch
cabal at Washington, and prae tical carryi
out Of the tactics laid down by the villaino
Sumner, and other orators OF the Black Il
publican party. Burn, sink and destroy is t
word with them.