Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-22
THE LATEST NEWS.
Important from Norfolk.

| PROPERTY u. 3. VESSELS sCUr.
| TLED-StNktNG OF TIE PENNSYL.
| VANIA, RARITAN, COLUMBUS, AMI
| DELAWARE-GR GREAT EXCITEMENT
| AMONG THE CITIZENS.
| From ths Bdliimors American
| From Captain Russell and Msjor Allan, Of tb,
| steamer Louisiana, and passengers we have the
| following matters Of interest which transpired
since sue LEFT on Friday evening. The steamer
passed down the Chesapeake with sixty five pas
sengers. nearly all of whom were returning from
the North to the South
The United states frgate Merrimac, CAPTAIN
Pendergrast, OF Ky, in command, took position
| in the harbor between the cities of Norfolk and
Portsmouth, simultaneous TO which the forces in
| the hayward commenced the tearing down ~ ali
the buildings and the spikIng Of all the cannon
In the yard, and a general destruction of all the
Government property. The ship houses Were
being torn down, and the factories leyeled WITH
the ground, with the intention, Il was said of
nflne them and abandoning them on Saturday
A flag Of truce was sent by the Mayors Of Nor
folk and Portsmouth to Captain Pendergrast 10
know what was the purpose Of his belligersnt at
hre upon the town. He replied that be would act
altogether on the defensive. IL fired upon or the
Navy Yard attacked, he would feel {. his duty in
seif-defense, to fire upon the two cities
In addition TO the destruction Of property in the
ard, all the vessels At the Navy Yard Including
the ships Pennsylvania, the Columbus the Della
ware, the Raritan, snd the Merrimac were
scuttled and sunk, previous 10 which their guns
Were spiked, and all the arms Of them were
thrown overheard. The only vessels retained
with which IL was intended 10 carry away the
forces when the work Of destruction was com lete
We're The steamer Pocahontas aud the nag -ship
Cumberland ~
As Captain Russell came out CT the port he met
the United States ship Pawnee, crowded with
troons, aud the inquiry was made as 70 the depth
Of the water at the mouth Of the harbor They
Were told that no vessel drawing over eleven feet
could enter. IL is not known whether she at
tempted to enter the harbor, or whether she re
turned to Old Point
The steamer Spaulding, Il is said attempted 10
return to Boston with her troops, but they mutt
nleo against the Captain and complied him TO
take them To Fortress Monroe She landed her
troops there, rs did also the Empire City, from
New FORK, carving in all nearly two Thousand
men. IL seems, however. that the Spauldinp left
Fortress Monroe without troops for Fort McRen-
ry, In the harbor Of Baltimore, where she took in
coal and left for the North
The excitement at Norfolk and Portsmouth last
evening is represented 10 have been most intense,
the women and children were hying from the
cities, and the whole male population rallying 10
arms. IL was expected that the shops and the
ship-oflne New York, on the stocks would be
fred before the foryss abandoned the Yard
The dwelling Of the buildings bv being blown
to be an effort to destroy all without fire. for fear
the conhagration might extend to the two cities
The people of Norfolk had seized the powder
house at Craney Island, and removed all the
powder IL contained up to the city and were max
ing arrangements for vigorous defence
There had been no FIRE applied 70 tue buildings
at the Navy Yard when the Louisiana left. at six
O'Clock last evening No stiempt was made 70
interfere with the boats Of the Norfolk line either
by the Government or by Virginia