Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-24
THE BURNING AND DEsERr1oN OF GosPoRT
CorresPoadsncs Of he Petersburg EyPre'''
KoRsolE. April 81, 1861, 7. M.


States forces here did not mean to inaugurate hostiies
against the ci,izeus Of yrgnia but desired only to be
let alone If they we're attacked or their movements
ipterferei WITH force would be mt BY force, and the
ciGes CT Norfolk and Portsmouth would be shelled.
Al day long il WAS evident from proceedings in the
harbor that some unusual movement was about to be
made but It's precise nature one could determine
Everything however, indicated purpose on the part
o. the enemy 10 abandon the Navy Yard and destroy
all the property that could be removed With the
ebb tide quaint les of broken musket stocks noaed past
the city and workmen from the yard reported that all
the cannon had been spiked and general destruction
OF property was In progress. Later IN the day. twas
discovered that the Germantown, herrlmac, hati'ah,
Psmouth, and Dolphin, had been scutted, and that
pair CT shaers used for taking IN ana out the
mas's O, vcsses and erected cost OF $4,000, had
been ca; down. crushing with their wa, the stern OF
the Germantown, across which they were thrown. All
these acs aud othcs indicated purposes 10 retreat
Jus, after dark to the surprise OF ALL and the dsmay
OF many the Pawuee steamed Up the haIOor auG TOOK
poson az the Navy Yard, where she was received with
such shouts Ct rejoicing could be dlSu GUY heard
in this city Her arrival pu a face on matters IL
rumored that she brought large reinorcements and
that the Yard would be defended 10 the last eX-
trzmi;v but the Of this was her mission. She
was sent 20 destroy not protect She brought with
her 300 vorkmen from the Washington Navy Yard and
large quantities Of turpentine to be used III hiring the
buildings There is 6Oub. that It was the intention
the Government 20 make ths "oih VI uesuuCt'O"
c-m7l-e but panic seized those employed TO carry
thu design into effect and much Of the most valuable
property saved Shortly after the ARRIVAL OF the
Piwnec the military companies from Petersburg arrived
and as trains kept running lnui late hour IN the
NIGHT an impression prevailed among the enemy that re-
iDforrcments hv the thousand were being thrown into
The city, and that !mme1ilte attack might be expect
ed After that the only thought IVES how TO escape 1t
was cunning device Ct President Nahone, tina, running
o. the trains and ne deserves ered Tor practising so
successful, so sArewt Trick.
Anon, roid1isbt the alarm was given that the Navy
Yard vas o. hrc sui eaOuga there was, sicky
blaze that seemed neither ~ DIMINISH nor increase Tor
several hours. THIS hoSeger was only the beginning
Tn, tide was not VI fAvosble for the escape OF the
als ana wound not be az hood until Lay-break Mean.
is mon s,re kept busy ali night transferring every
-5r cgya'ue .om the Pennsylvania and the Navy Yard
20 ne Ptwn.e and the Cumberland, and both vessels
were loaded ga the lower ports.
Al length o'clock came and with il flood tide. A
rocket ,sot up rcm tae Pagute and den almost in
instant tie whole front Of the Navy Yard seemed one
,st sheet Of fame. Tha next inmate SreskS Of flame
shed aIo-y the rigging o. the Pe4Ls lyauia and the
other doomed Ships aud soon they we're completely
wrapped in the the deyOurirg clement The harbor vas
now o.e btZe OF light. Tue rcnotcst object were dis
--.ttv visible The sugaug flames leaped ald rOaTed
with mad violence, making tneir noarse wrath heard Il
,se sarc. of several miles. The people OF Hampton
AID even those who lived beyond the red light and
though. al NOifJla hre. IL Was certainly grand
d
mo-, given 20 man more than once il life tme 10 be-
rcd n the miiS. of tle balalce Of the scene, the
ptauee with the Cumberland 10 TOW, stole Ike guilty
t1ug through the hlr0cr fleeing from the destruction
d lal been sent TO accomplish.
BI. .uc go.a OF say Caiisn was only half performed
r most yel L. portions Of the yard still uatoGck
81 ard Az. row the property OF the State OF Virginia
T., only fr 'irr, DESTROYED tao sLip houses, q
officers quarters p su, Ci hsd wiki c5rcage, the ma
-i.e ta-racks ard some icg sheds. All the valuable
sorks ops vi their machinery the bolt-houses, .p,
aolses umberlouss with their costly contents, are all
lOw il our possession.
Tue dsy dock constructed at 80 much expense, and
he faest in the VERDI was doomed bU. no. destroyed
Fofv bi res o. powder we've introduced into Its cham
0-rs and -lOT match applied. But as n would seem,
1v tls iu.erpcsit0n OF Providence ihs magufcen, wok
.s sn,4ed The fire after burning few feet, went out
and did TO. ig c lie powder Tue dry dock is ours in
e.rf,,. c0ldUog T.e machinery ic tie shops IS also
o.ri,. t.e cutting OF iew belts being tao cxeat Of
tie damage iluc,.d o. IT, The stores OF costly timbcrs
l.t La- been e WORK OF years 10 accumulate are all
safe FGteu hundred pieces OF the hcc~t ordnance III
tls world a.t comparatively unLurL IL Is true that the
,eltr -uI Der OF tl,M were spiked but then the work
cIum- pcr'crued, tnat Ine spikes Tor the most
par. eau bee renewed without the leas; difficulty. Some
o. Cen can De piclei on with the u-gels Forty-two
s. re uusp tsd yesterday IN the course OF an hour.
The su tpi-g destroyed, e1csp. the Aesrmlc-whieh
vas q first class l-lal l.ga;o nearly uev-T3s o. 20
Great value. TIE rtur-yNaIia is 10 loss eyerybo-
knows The Plymouth Rlii;8L and Dolphin had been
f.l-ricd ,s ans .T0...y. Toe GerMIutOHl thOygl
ODD vas, ale tIsa.c. She can, however be easily
co. can all the OstS-s va u9ut any great expense
Fae P.uu.yylui. Is ut,si,y DESTROYED Tn Others
s,rs burnt OILY 20 tde waters edge, E-girg been pre-
.iol,'y sc.s The Plymouth Was not bur-t all.
ru5 cf.crs were mad. prisoner. th mouioug Lieut..
R,i,a.s eftle Navy. and Capt. Wright OF the Engi-
..srrC Corps OF tie AMY. They were much inshencd
tteu brought asso.- fearing tac vl5ls,ce Of the mob
~. i-h -, ti, surrounded ,gem Ia. being placed IN
80 rrt. o III. Il nTH sl.uwv Wei
zen 10 the Gtuerals heljqgartsls a this hocl-tAe A.
,rt-vg hour auy ucusc.a,iOl OF yiO.euce Insult
on the mart Of the citizens. They nos have the privilege
r the hor on their parole Tuey ceuouacc the stree
,, of tie property as bArbalous AID yauda; but say
hoy acre o1le % obey the orders OF their gOy>rnm n.
r. ~ re,. that the utter demoiICu Of everything that
could TO Do reuv.gt was IL their oJd,r ami bu, for
-- ,.-, Ieosiou Of PEA Immediate attack by over
r,y,,.'.- l5f,s the command would have been carried
,g- 20 the letter. Il was IN contemplation 10
min the dry dock the machine shops aud Other
..,-,,rcs and wltlu everything IN one common ruin.
glt ;h rlsa could not be carrea on iOr want OF time
accident b-e,;p.t1ted mllt.rs somewhat too. Ser
,.,lt of the mariGas named Myers know ne what was
r take pIscc aud LOT hing 20 be carried CH with his
,wr,, set fire to The barracks be!oIs the appointed
limo and eudtavor,d 10 escape in Gs confusion He
.eeiai bur was shot az several times while scaling
t9e WARS This circumstance creating lack Of conf
T. ne. ia their Ogn men, aud fearing an attack from
sitb M ,rev discontinued the preparations for firing
th, bu iiue- bur marched the men aboard the ships
ma waited for the tiie Thus property TO the value
of several millions saved Officers Re gers snd Wright
,r-c SOAR, "a from q cir commands when the eOull
er,.ion vas started and rush NJ the landing fou
spir ictio4 wi,3 vessel sgt or They then made all
b,e 90 the main e,r.rol yay v-ic1, ya,u they reach
ei thtg found cuy lcpet Etaos taT,ugh Which tcr:
b.l 10 maze their Wy 10 tie S 20, t.a.r ly-s Going
I-Upt, lie river they s,izd Oca' and st4r.ed in Fu
suit o. hc ret-es'ia- ships bag sslg nc ferry hudirg
d. Portsmouth, they Rtge headed Of By boat from
.lo-e wh.ca fred on them, AID they then made for
F nv Point where tlev were captured The Utmost
,n,u.io. a. seems prevailed in he ward all day yeser-
lty. AID sd lis. night Tue truth Is every body VAS
dunk from Commodore Aacaulay, the connlndanr,
down
The C,f-rlo,o-, ~s so drunk a. 10 De incapable Of
INV duty sai Lad Co be borne 10 the snip liter
Nrly et,rv officer o. is reported va. ha,ag high cid
time Il, stsrs 40 h4.y q swIiuc set opposed 10 C',
even lcs, filing the highest stations. gta,l. m4l az
rived here dis morning, she, with several others, was
arrested while uIs;tg through Washington, tor beli .
Soutierac-s and tahch into be present Of the august
Rt boon lie dtoltc that iilcol1 dsuu5 hat b.
could scarcely uslt in his Ia Tue CHAIR AID It
notorious r Washington tia De had been in state oil
b,as,Iy H. loxcator los more than thirys hours The
man is scared ueary desth ard few people in that
city arc 80 any better condition.
All day -,eldsy soldiers and citizens were busy erect
irg batteries on p0.l;s below the city.
Tue Naval HcspiL has been taken possession OF, and
thtr, the South Carol mans 10 be artered. Some
txeuy srs ia H. who suffered 10 remain, aud
will be properly taken care Of At this point au iron
battery Is 20 be erected
sand batteries in process of construction there
nov.
Guns were mounted at oh Fort Sosols, aud prepsr-
atoms making for constructing batteries, o. Crau'y