Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-25
From the Petersburg Express.

NORFOLK, April 20. lS6l.-Nearly 5000 barrels of
powder and fixed ammunition, were taken from the
naval magazine last night.
Six hundred and ninety barrels have been sent to
Richmond. The balance is well secured here.
The people are determined to secure every ounce
of ammunition they can
At least 1000 troops have been thrown into Fort
ress Monroe during the last twenty-four hours.
The Petersburg Volunteers marched through the
streets amid tumultuous cheering and waving ban
ners. All the windows and balconies were crowd
ed with ladies, and the sidewalks thronged with the
populace.
Property to the extent of millions of dollars in
value, was destroyed at the Navy Yard to-day.
The U. 5. sloop of war Pawnee, with reinforce
ments, has Just arrived.
The people are increasing the distractions in the
channel to prevent her return to Old Point for
more troops. Hot work ahead.
NORFOLK, April 2I.-The naval sloops Of war Ply
mouth Germantown and Merrlmac were scuttled
and sunk at the Navy Yard last night by order of
Com. McCauey. All the small arms aboard were
broden and thrown overheard.
Preparations are making to burn the navy yard,
and it is expected to take place tonight. All the
guns in the yard have been spiked.
Three thousand troops are expected here tonight
two thousand of them from South Carolina.
The gates of the dry dock are being destroyed
rapidly.
The Pawnee left this morning at four O'Clock.
She is now at Old Point.
The Cumberland could not pass the distractions
Before leaving, the infamous scamps fired the Navy
Yard, and the Pennsylvania is now mass of
ruins.
Ten thousand additional troops were being landed
at Old Point when the Baltimore boat passed.
NORFOLK, April 2I.-The navy yard was fired at
one O'Clock this morning, and the two ship houses,
sail and rigging lofts, and the marine barracks de-
stroyed, together with the ships Pennsylvania, Co
lumbia, Rarltan, Germantown, Merrimac, Dolphin,
and New York.
Every cannon was spiked, and all the small arms
destroyed.
Gosport is now in flames.
The Federal troops have escaped in the Cumbe r
land and Pawnee.
Three naval officers are under arrest in Norfolk.
NORFOLK, April q, 81. M-The prisoners taken
this morning are Capt Wright of the army, and
young Rogers, son of Commodore Rogers of the
navy.
The Cumberland is ashore on this side of Norfolk,
and the Pawnee on the other side. There is much
talk of attacking them and of opinion that
there will be an attempt during the Gay to take the
vessels at all hazard.
The enemy took two young men of our side pris-
oners last night They were reconoitering on their
own account
Wright and Rogers, above referred to, bore des-
patches TO Commodore McCauley. The dispatches
are supposed to be from Old Point but have not
learned their contents.
At one time Norfolk was in great danger of fire,
but the wind changing no damage done.
The negroes are hard at work, and breastworks
are being thrown up TO prevent the Cumberland
and Pawnee from getting back to the city as it is
feared they might fire on US.
NORFOLK, April 2l-3 P. M have Just returned
from tour of inspection through Gosport Navy
Yard. The damage is not so great as was at first
supposed
The guns were all spiked with wrought nails,
and are being unspiked in fifteen minutes each.
French Forrest has been appointed Commodore
of the naval forces of Virginia, by Gov. Letcher.
He now has charge of the navy yard, and is having
a heavey battery erected with sand bags at Hospi
tai Point, which is in our possession.
Four large Columbiads have been unspiked and
hauled down to the Hospital They are now being
mounted.
The Yankees destroyed all the small arms of
modern make.
The CommOdores quarters remain. Also the Naval
Storehouse, soldiers quarters, and the new ship
house which is only to be covered in.
The ArmOry is unhurt and it is estimated that
not more than one-fifth of the navy yard property
is destroyed
splendid lot of shot and shell still remains
The brass pieces taken in the Mexican War are
spiked with wrought nails, but not al all injured.
The old ship Pennsylvania has been burning all
day, and is now down to the waters edge.
Fortress Monroe has been largely reinforced with
men from Massachusetts,.
On the Norfolk side of the Elizabeth there is much
activity, aHd the people are busily terrifying the
approaches to the city.
Wagons, carts and negroes are all at work, and
the people seem 10 forget tisat IL is SUNDAY.
The Cumberland is still lying below, bristling with
guns.
There is great indignation expressed at the con-
duct of the Vandal incendiaries who seeded from
the navy yard last night.
The Yankees kept their plans to themselves.
The sentiment of Portsmouth is now unit for |
resistance.
NORFOLK, April 81. ii P. M.-The Cumberland"
lightened herself by throwing overheard some of |
her heavy armament, and thus got over the OBJ !
structions, and escaped.
The Pennsylvania, Merrimac, Germantown, Rari- |
tan and Dolphin" were all burnt and the plymouth"
sunk.
The most valuable portions of the Yard and ma |
chine shops, timber houses, etc., are all safe.
Only the ship houses marine barracks and Off
GERS Quarters were destroyed.
The attempt to destroy the Dry Dock proved an
utter failure.
Fifteen hundred pieces of the very best artillery
have been secured,
Two South Carolina regiments hourly ex-
pected.
Col. Walter Gwynn and the Richmond Grays,
Capt. W. NJ. Elliott, have just arrived.