The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-24

ted to Commodore McCauiey. his coinnIan-
dant, whose patriotism and fidelity were not
doubted. was surrounded by officers in whom he
placed confidence; but most Of them as events
soon proved, we're faithless to the flag and the
country.
On the 10th of April, Commodore McCauley
was ordered to put the shipping and public prop
erty in condition to be moved and pla, ed beyond
danger, and should il become Necessary; but in
doing this be was warned TO take no steps that
could give needless alarm. The steam trigate
Merrimack could il was believed, were her ma
chinery in order be made available in this emer
gcncy not ony TO exrficate herself, but the other
shipping in the harbor Not knowing however,
who could be corfided in TO take charge Of her,
a commander and two engineers were detailed
to proceed 10 Norfolk for that purpose. Two
days after, on the 18th of April, the department
directed that the MerIimack should b. prepared
to proceed 20 Philadelphia with the utmost dis
paNh I, was stated tha. to repair the eugioe
and put i, in working condition would require
four weeks Discredilirg this report the ensin-
eer in chief WAS ordered 10 proceed forthwith in
person aud attend 70 the necessary preparations.
At the 10th Of April the commandant was di.
rectcd To lose no time in placing armament on
board the MeIfimack; % Get the Dolphin and
piyr.oa;l beyond danger; 10 have ,he German
town IN a condition TO be towed out, and 10 put
the more valuable putlic property, ordnance.
stores. &c, cn shipboard, so that they could, al
any moment, be moved be, ond danger.
-Uca was the energy and dispatch o. the en-
rinc,r IN clei that on the 10th the party was
advised b, the commandant Of the yard that on
;he 18th tie NerIimack would be ready ioE TEN
poT.-y service but Sher, on the afternoon al
that day, the engineer iii chief reported her
ready fer steam. Commodore Mctauiey refused
to have her hred up. Fires were, however,
built earl. th' next morning, and al U clock
the engines were working, engineers. bremen,
&c, ola board, but the commandaut still refused
to permit her To be moved, and III the afternoon
gave directions to draw the fires. Tie cause oi
this ..i,i-ai TO move the Merrimack has DO ex-
panation Other lhan Of misplaced confidence In
his Junior officers who opposed It,
As soon d. I is fatal error was reported To the
department, orders we're instantly issued to Com
modore Pauld.ng TO proceed forthwith 10 Nor
folk with such officers and marines as could be
obtained, AID take command OF all the vessels
ahoa; on thai station TO repc force by force,
HI. prevent the ships and public property, at all
hazards from passing into the hands OF the IN
surrrriioniSts But when that officer reached
Norfolk, on The evening of Saturday the 10th,
he !o;ud that the powder magazine had already
been seized and that an armed force had CON-
cemenced throwing up batteries in the vicinity.
The ccmmandant OF the yard, after refusing TO
permit the vessels to be moved on Thursday, and
emitting it on Friday, ordered them to be scut-
tied on Saturday evening, and they were sinking
when Commodore Paudng with the force under
his command, arrived at Norfolk. This officer,
knowing that to siLk the ships would be only
temporary deprivation TO the insurgents, who
would, when in full possession OF thepIace, again
have them aiOat, ordered the torch 20 be sp-
piled to the sinking ships Pursuant to nstruc-
tons he also DESTROYED, as far as he was able
with his limited force, the public property III the
yard, before abandoning the place
The Cumberland was tOwed down the river
and passed, after some little delay, over the Oh
suuctions that had been sunk in the channel 10
prevent her removal
This unfortunate calamity at Norfolk, not only
deprived the Government of several vessels, but
of large amount o' ordnance and stores which
had there accumulated. In preventing the ship
ping and property from passing into the hands
of the insurgents who had gathered in cOnsd-
erable force in that vicinity under Gen. Taafer-
no, Commodore Paulding. the officers and those
under them, performed their duty, and carried
out, as far az in their power, the wi hes Of the
Government and the instructions of the depart
meDt.
THE SLAVE TRADE
The following captures of vessels engaged in
the slave trade have been made since those men-
toned in the last annual report OF this depart.
ment:
Bark Cora, captured on the coast of Africa,
September &c, 1850, by the United States sloop
Constellation, Capt. j. S. Nicholas, with cargo
of 7c5 Africans, 694 Of which were delivered to
the United States agent at Monrovis.
Brig Bonita, captured on the coast Of Africa,
October Is, 1860, by the United States steamer
San J.cinto, Captain 7. A. Dornin, with cargo
of 750 Africans on board, GIG of whom were de-
livered to the United States agent at NonrOvia.
| Brig Tuccoa. captured on the coast Ct Cuba,
| December 20 1850 by the United States steam.
er Mohawk, Lieutenant Commanding 7. 4. NJ.
| Craven.
| Bark Mary Kiuball. captured on the coast of
Cuba December 30, 1860, by the United States
steamer Mohawk, Lieutenant Commanding T. A.
NJ. Craven.
| Ship Nightingale, captured on the coast of
Africa, April II, 1851, by the United States
/ sloop of war Saratoga Commander Alfred Tay-
Tor, with SCI Africans on board, sol of whom
were delivered 10 the United States agen, at
Monrovia
The Cora and Nightingale were sent to New
York the Nonita TO Charleston, and subsequent.
/ y to Savannah; and the Tuccoa aud Mary Kim
ball TO Kew West, and delivered into custody of
the proper officers.
CONCLUSION.
I In discharging the duties that pertain to this
department, ana which have developed upon il
during the brief period It has been ih,rusted to
my hand have shrunk from no responsibilities
and #, in some instances, the letter of the !aw
has been trauscended, It WAS because the public
nece ssities required it. Ia have declined the
exercise of any powers but such as were clearly
authorized aud legally defined, when the Govern.
ment aud the country were as>ailed and their ex
isteuce cndau gered, would have been an inexcu.
sable wrong and cowaTdly omission When,
therefore, the navy called into requisition to
assist not only ia maintaining the Constitution
and to bel execute the laws, but 20 contribute
in upholdins the government itsel! against a
great conspiracy, did not hesitate. under your
direction, to add TO is strength and efficiency
by chartering, purchasing, building, equipping
and manning vessels, expanding the orgaIiizatioF
aud acc, p;ins the tender Of services from patri
otic Individuals, although ther. be no specific
legal enactment for some OF the authority that
has been Exercised.
Submitted herewith are supplemental estimate:
from the several bureaus, 10 meet deficiencies IL
the appropriations for the naval service for the
fiscal year just closed and for the year ending
June 81, 1862.
The appropriations for the fiscal year, ending
June 80. 1862, amount in the aggregate 20 sl3,
4 los, ,675 80 The estimates nov submitte,
amount TO $50, ,6O9, $50 30. For detailed state
ment of these estimates l refer to the reports o
the chiefs o. tie bureaus.
EInEnN Of, ,ba