The national Republican., 1861-08-02
From the New York Times.
THE DESTRUCTION AT GOSPORT
NAVY YARD.

In compliance with resolution of the House
of Representatives Of July l6, Hon. Gideon
Welles, Secretary of the Navy, has transmitted
to that body the correspondence relative to the
destruction Of the United States vessels and
other property at the navy yard at Norfolk,
Virginia. 1t has been printed, and copy lies
before u.s. We are sorry to find that the view
taken of the loss Of the public vessels and prop.
erty by the Times, ct the timeof its occurrence,
is fully sustained by this correspondence. The
transaction must remain stamped on the page
of American history a. the most disgrsceful
that ever befel our navy, and one of the most
ment. The blame of the affair will chiefly rest,
perhaps, on Commodore AcCsuley, whose con.
duct is wholly inexplicable, but seems to be q
compound Of imbecility, drunkenness, and
treason. .-...
The correspondence Is too voluminous for
entire republication, but the leading points in
the history of the loss of the vessels and proper
ty at the Navy Yard are as follows On the
tenth, and again on the twelfth day of April
last, Mr.. Secretary Welles wrote to Commodore
c. s. McCauley, commsndant navy yard at
Portsmouth, Va, warning him of impending
danger to the property in his keeping, directing
that the Merrimac (s splendid steam man.of.
war Of SO guns) should be got ready immedi.
ately and sent out of the hsrbor advising espe.
cial attention to shipping and stores IN the
yard, and suggesting that it might be best to
order most Of the shipping to sea or to other
stations" Mr.. Welles, in his letter of the 18th,
orders the Aerrimac to the Philadelphia navy
| be has sent Mr.. B. +. Lakewood, engineer.in.
chief, TO Norfolk, to expedite her sailing, and
directing the Commodore to have Mr.. Isher.
woods suggestions for that end promptly car.
ried out"
On the 18th of April, Com. AcCauley informs
Mr.. Secretary Wells that the Aerrtmac may
no,o be taken and used for temporary SERVICE
On the 18th of April, Mr.. Isherwood writes to
Mr.. Secretary Welles that he had reached Nor.
folk on Saturday, 18th of April-reported to
Com. McCsuley on Sunday, l4th-was directed
| by Com. McCsuley to proceed with his duty in
preparing the Merrimac to ssil. He began on
Monday morning, (l5th,) putting every avail
able man in the yard TO work, and worked day
and night till Wednesday afternoon, 9th, ]
when be called, in company with Chief Engi
neer Darby, on Commodore McCauley, and /" re
ported the machinery ready for steam, !" thai
forty. -four fremen and coal-heavers were en-
gagged and ready to go on board" and asking
him if he should FIRE up ct 'opce9 The Com
modore replied, "Not that afternoon !" bu
added that "if had steam on next morning
(l8th) it would be time enough"
Mr.. sherwood accordingly kept Q regular
engine room watch, and chad the fires started
at daybreak." At 9 A. M. he called on Com
modore McCauley, and reported the vesse
ready for issving;" "all the engineers, fire
men, and coal.heavers were aboard and the
ere was up" "The only thing wanted was hit
order to cost loose and CO." Gommodore Nc
Cauiey replied that be chad not yet decided tc
the course of few hours" Mr.. !. called the
Commodore's attention to the fact that ths
orders for the vessel to 60 we're "peremptory,
adding, that if she waited much longer 0ht
"could not sail till next day." and a nigh
distractions might be placed in the channel