Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-07-16
OF this force the following In commission, tie re-
main der heinr in ordiparY dismAntlea, DC.

8 SideIwheel steamers 90 oo
SecopS class steam sloops, 40 40
Third-cass screv steamers, rs 90
Side. wheel steamers, t 90
l Steam tender, If 10
~ g.. ass
These vessel, had complement exclusive of officers
and marine Of about COO men, and nearly all OF them
we're on foreign stations The home squadron consisted
of twelve vessels carrying 1877 guns and about oOo
men OF this squadron, only four email vessels, carry
ing twenty Eve guns and about $50 men, were in north
ern porAL
TIE VIRGINIA NAVY YARD
The vandsl attempts TO destroy the Gosport Navy
Yard and the vessels lying near by and their seizure BY
the forces Of Virginia are thus spoken Of;
The Navy Yard at Norfolk projected by fortress or
garrison has always been favored depot With the gov
eminent Il was filed With arms and munitions and
several shps were In the harbor dsmansd and in ordn
ary and In no condition to be moved, had there been
men 10 move them. There were, however, no seamen
there or on home stations to these vessels even
one of them Of the larger class and any attempt to with
draw them or either Of them without crew, would in
the then sensitive and disturbed condition Of the public
mind, have betrayed alarm aud disrust and been likely
10 cause difficulty.
the commandant of the yard was carly in April advised
of this feeling and cautioned 70 extreme vigilance snd
orcunspection. These admonitions were, few days
later repeated to Commodore AcOauey This CON-
mandant whose patriotism and fidelity were not doubted
vas surrounded by officers in whom he placed confidence
but most of them as events soon proved, we're iathess
TO the flag and the country.
On the 10Th of Aptil Commodore McCAuley was Or
dered to pat the shipping and public property IN cond
ton TO be moved and placed beyond danger, should IL
become necessary; but 10 doing tnn ne was rned 10
.ke no steps that could give needless alarm. The steam
frpste Merrmac could, It vas believed, were her ma
cbpery In order be made available In this emergency
not only to exricate herself but the other shipping in
the harbor. Not knowing however, who could be con-
ided in TO take charge Of her, commander and tvo
engineer, were detailed to proceed to Norfolk for that
purpose Two days after, the 18th of April the De.
nartment directed that the herrimac should be prepared
70 proceed Philadelphia with the utmost Dispatch
IL was stated that to repair the engine and put IN work
inc condition would require four weeks. Dscredtipg
this report the engineer was ordered TO proceed
forthwith IN person. and attend 10 the necessary prepa
ratons
On the l6:h April the commandant was directed TO
lose no time in placing armament on board the Aeri-
mac 10 get the Plymouth and Dolphin beyond danger;
to have the Germantown in condition to be towed out
and 10 put the more valuable public property ordnance,
sIVf-s. a. .A-s ,h.y eond At any mo-
ment be moved beyond danger.
cb hat On snf5gT and dispatch Of the ensnss II.
the commandant OF the yard that on the l7h INC ncr
Imac would be ready for temporary service; but vhen
on the afternoon OF that day. tho engiDeern-chief
ported her ready for steam, Commodore AcCsuley re-
fused 10 have her filed up Fires were however, built
early the next morning and at nine o'clock the engines
were working, engineers 6remen, &c, board but the
commandant still refused TO permit her TO be moved and
in the afternoon gave directions to draw the rcs The
cause Of this refusal the Merrm4c has no CT.
PLANTATION other than that Of misplaced confidence in his
jauior officers, who opposed It.
As soon as this fa:ai reported to the De.
b.rtment orders wers instantly issued to Commodore
Paudiug to proceed forthwith to Norfolk With such Of
fcers and marines could be obtained and take com
maud Of all the vsaels aoat that station; to repe
force by force and prevent the ships and public proper
y all hazards, from passing into the hands Of the in
surrectionists But when that officer reached Norfolk
oa the evening OF Saturday the GOTH he found that the
DO der magazine had already been seized and that
armed force had commenced throwing up batteries in
the vicinity The commaudsnt Of the yard. after refu
sing TO permit the vrssels to be moved on Thursday
and emitting il on Friday, ordered them TO b. scuted
on Saturday evening and they sinking when Con-
modore Pauding with the force under his command ar
rived at Norfolk. The officers knowing that to mink the
ships would be only temporary deprivation to the in
surg nts who would, when In full possession Of the
pace again have them saoat ordered the torch be
applied 10 the sinking ships Pursuant TO Instructions
he also destroyed far no able With bis limited
force the public property in the yard before abandoning
the plsce.
The Cumberland was tored down the river and p,sssd
after delay the obs.ructions that had been
sunk in the channel to prevent her removal
This unforunss calamity Norfolk not only deprived
the Government OF several vessels bat OF large amount
o! ordnance aud stores which had there accumulated In
preventing the shipping and property from passing into
the hands OF the insurgents Who bad gathered 10 con-
siderable fosce In that vicinity under General Taaferro
Commodore Pauiing the officers and those under them
performed their duty and carried out so far as uas in
their power the wishes Of the Government and the in
slructons Of the Department.
Tur sNiLL.oRAYr ADDITIONS AND rHK BLOCKADE.
Belle wing that the emergency not only justified, but
absolutely required that all the public armed vessels
should be forthwith completed and equipped for service
orders given to that effect ard IN addition thereto,
the oommandants of the Navy Yards in Boston, New
York and Philadelphia were directed to purchase or
charter arm, equip, aud man steamers, which, upon
animation might be found ft easily convertible into
armed vessels suitable for the public service In order
support the Government and enforce the laws.
To carry into effect the proclamation whereby
unicaion With the ports Of the insurgent States in
terdcted, and an emoargo or blockade declared II be-
necessary TO copcentrate almost all the naval force
of the couary upon the Atlantic coast tho South of
the Chesapeake bay and In the Gulf of Mexico This eI
tensve line Of aboard embracing extent Of nearly
three thousand miles, with n numerous hsrbon and in.
lets was deemed too extensive for single command
aad the naval force 10 carry into fleet the proclamation
and execute the laws has consequently been arranged
into two squadrons The command of the first Of them,
the Atlantic squadron has been cop6ded Flag o ser
Sas H. String ham, and the second or Gulf suuidrop
is under command Of II s-ofdccsr william hervins.
- The necessity of an augmentation Of
insurreciion and assist in causing the laws to be eIecu
ted at all the poris Immediately felt ard class Of
vessels different In respects from any that we're In
the service 20 sennes the coast was REQUIRED
On the spur Of the moment transport steamers we're Sc
cured; bui though made capable Of sustaining small
arm ,ment they not such vessels would perform
continuous duty OF the harbors In all weather. They
will IL Is believed answer temporary purpose for the
hummer months but stronger and different description
of vessels necessary for the autumn and winter The
department. besides purchasing has therefore, contract
ed for the building OF tventyhree gun-boats each OF
about FIVE hundred burden; and has made prclm:-
nary for several larger and seter vessels
which shall not only aid 10 preventing illegal commerce.
but be made particularly serviceable In suppressng de.
preiations on that which legal Both OF these classes
are ofsizes inferior to the soopsows ordered BY the
lnt Congress. re l-s
The Department in carrying the order Of the last 49,
sion into effect directed the construction of two vessels
st each of the four yards making eight Instead Of seven
- be built In Consequence OF the great activity and
heavy demands At ell the yards TO equip and prepare
~ available vessel for service the construction Of these
soop4 has been retarded but Ia being prosecuted
with vgcr aud may expect they will be completed at
the earliest possible period.
rxEsEsr STRENGTH OF rur NAVY
OF the SO vessels, carrying 1916 guns hereinbefore
mentioned available for service on the 4th of March
Ie the slcop Levsnt has been given up as lost in the
Pacific the steamer Fulton seized at Pensacola;
and one figste two sloops, and brig we're burned
at Norfolk. These vessels carried lie guns The other
vessels DESTROYED at Norfolk we're considered worthless,
and are not included in The list Of available vessels
These losses left at the dispoea Of the department 90
vessels carrying LIZA guns all Of which are nov, or
soon si BE- in commission, With the exception Of he
Ysrnsat ship u The line, "a