Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-24
THE EVENING STAR.
Further Particulars Of the Evacuation OF
the Gssport Navy Yard-Arms and Gov
eminent Stores DESTROYED.

Further Particulars Of the Evacuation L
the Gssport Navy Yard-Arms and Gov
eminent Stores Destroyed.
From the Norfolk Herald Of the 22d instant
On Saturday and SUNDAY the greatest excite
ment prevailed In the city. Troops were hurrying
II and fro and every one anxious to know what
was TO be done, but unable to obtain the desired
Information The rumor was that the Cumberland
was about 70 sail from the Navy Yard, and prep
aratiops were made to prevent her.
At II o'clock an ofaCer came from the yard,
bearing a fag Of truce, and was conducted to
Gen Taliaferro's Hsadq uarters at the Atlantic
Hotel, where a consultation was held which re-
suited In promise from the commandnt OF the
ward, Com. Mscauley, that none Of the vessels
should be removed nor shot fred except In self
defence. This quieted the excitement; but II was
renewed at later hour, when ID was ascertained
that Tho Germantown and MeTrimac had been
scutued, and that the heavy shears on the wharf
at which the @. was lying had been cut away and
allowed to fall mid-s6ips across her decks, carry
Ing away the main topmasts and yards. IL was
also perceived that the men Were bus!ly engaged
in destroying and throwing overheard side and
small arms, &c, and other property, and boats
were constantly passing between the Pennsylva-
MIA, Cumberland, and other vessels.
The assurance Of the Commodore, given by his
officer al the truce interview, however, tended to
allay the apprehension Of immediate COLI sion.
Is { the continued stirring movements at the yard
soon rendered il certain that IL was the intention
OF Macauley to destroy all the buildings and other
property there-and Ii was therefore with cot
much surprise that, about midnight, after two or
three explosion the light Of a serious confiagra-
ton was observed at the yard. This continued to
increase, and before daylight the demon-work Of
destruction was extended to the immense ship
h'uses known as A and b, (the former containing
tde entire fame Of the New York, a. which had
been on the stocks unfinished, for some thirty
eight years, and also to the long ranges of two
story Cfices and stores on each side Of the main
gaze Of the ward The flames and heat from this
tremendous mass Of burning material, was set by
southwest wind directly towards the lire OF
vessels moOred on the edge Of the channel oppo-
te the yard, and nearly all Of these, too, were
speedily snvelOped In flames
The scene at this time was grand and terrific
beyond description The roar Of the conhagra.
ton was loud enough 10 be heard at three or four
miles dlstance-and to this were added occasion.
al discharges from the heavy guns Of the old
" Pennsylvania" shi p-of-line, as they became
succezsiyelY heated. These guns, II is asserted
Were double-shotted and directed at different
parts Of the yard for the purpose Of ensuring It,
complete demOlshment. This, however, is GER
tain-that If all her guns had been thus prepare red
and directed, the " burnt district u could not
have been more completely cleared Of its sppurtc
nances.
AZ soon as the torch had been successfully an
Piled to the ship houses, the Pawnee which had
been kept under steam from the moment Of her
arrival about nighfall on Saturday, was put In
motion, and taking the Cumberland in tow, re
treated down the haTbor out of the reach Of
dangsr-freighted with great portion ofvaluabl,
munitions, &c, from the yard, and Conmodor,
and other officers. The ships proceeded as fa
Gown as the barbados at the narrows where tn,
Cumberland was lef' at anchor, and the PawRe,
continued on TO Fort Monroe
As far as we could judge from cursory obser
walton, the property DESTROYED embraced besidei
tue ship houses and contents the range Of build
lnss on The north line Of the yard, Except The
CommodOres and Commanders residences
which are unhurt,) the old marine barracks ant
eEe or two workshops, the immense ling shears
the shi Ps Pennsylvania, Merrimac, Raritan, Col
umoia, and brig Dolphin-burnt to the water
edge; the sloop Germantown, broken and sunk
the Plymouth, scuttled and sunk even with he
deck; and vast amount Of small arms. chrome
meters, and valuable engines and machinery II
the Ordnance and other shops broken up anC
rendered useless
Appearances indicated that il was intended 4
cripple tie dry dock by blowing up the gates bu
from some cause this was not done and the dOcI
was found 10 be altogether unhurt.