Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-29
From the Richmond ENQUIRER, May 2sd, 1882.
The Destruction Of the VIrgtnia--A Reply 10 Conn
moaore TatnaIrs Report.

Inc Undersigned, Pilots on D0afG the late noble
steamer Virginia. were astonished and amazed to see in
the Richmond Enquirer of May 9Th the AFTERTHoUaHr
communication OF osah Tatnan, late Flag Officer COM
mandng the steamer Virginia, as it the FIRST
TIMATIoN had that we were to be made the ecape
goats for the sins of those higher in authority Hum
Die are 10 station, yet free, native born
Vrgnians and dare to hurl back 10 the teeth of Com
mOdore bis futile and contradictory missiles and if we
have the ability, to pour bot shot into his EXPOSED
BRoADsIDEs. To do this it is necessary begin at the
beginning OF bis letter to Secretary Mallory. Near the
commencement, be says begin with your telegraph
dispatches TO me Of the 4th and 9th instant, direct
ing TO take such position in the james river as
would ENTIRELY prevent the eDemy's ascending it,
Farther be says On the 9th you (Secreary Nal
ory) lagraphed to endeavor to afford protection to
Norfolk as well as the James river, which replaced me
in my original position" Why did he not state that
bis original position =" was in the Elizabeth river q
short dssnce below Craney Island which position on
y protected Norfolk, when LYING IN THE MOUTH OF
THE JAMES RIVER be protected 0rtok and at hesame
time protected Richmond because at all tides and at
any time, night day, the ship could be gotten under
way, and either intercept the Monitor if she attempted
10 20 10 Norfolk 0f which there was DO darger as she
was afraid as drath oil the Vrgira) get in her rear,
and follow her up and capture her. He says " Ga
tie 7th instant Commodore Holins reached Norfolk
with orders IRON you (Sec. Mallory to consult with
me, and such officers GIT Seect in regard to the
best disposition to be made Of the Virginia under the
press aspect OF things" But the next day. before
the time appointed for conference the enemy attacked
SeWelPS Point Battery and he 1.-THE COMMODORE left
the Navy ard to attack the Yankee feet and in the
meantime three OF the enemy vessels had gone ames
river, bound for Richn0nd-One of them being the iron
clad steamer Gaena that lately attacked Drurys Bluff
below Richmond. But it will be said that Commodore
iana had to go to Norfolk with the Virginia get
water, provisions, sc. This deny, because the Vir
gina might have been kept il the mouth Of the Eliza
beth river, in the mouth Of the James river, and
water, provisions, coal yea all she required could have
been carried down the rivers to her without the slight
est difficulty danger So the awful blunler Of going
to Norfolk, where she could only out at haeh
cGter and permitting the emmy to ascend the James
river u1mOested, cannot be justified excused by false
ly accusing the pilots CT deception The order from
the Secretary OF the Navy directed that the Virginia
should afford protection to the James River, we'll
to Norfolk and this order Commodore Tatnall DIS
OEEYED by going up to Norfolk and leaving James
river OPEN AND EXPOSED THE ENEMY And
even when the Virginia not at the Navy Yard she
lay in the Elizabeth river just below Craney Island in
stead OF lying in the of the James river where
she protected both Richmond aud Norfolk
| We now come to the assertion where Commodore
Tatnal says: The pilots had assured ME that they
could take the ship with dGaught of eighteen feet,
within forty miles of Richmond" This We deny. We
said with aUo5 able tides could take the ship to West
over, about three miles below Harrison Bar which is
about ftty-three mics from Richmond. But let
what was the Tes. object in tightening the ship. On
the return from Norfolk where they learned that Gen.
Huger had retreaed the batteries been abandoned ard
the enemy about to aky possession of Norfolk besay8
" 1t about O'Clock in the evening" and this
unexpected Information re dared prompt measures ne
Cessay for The S0tey Of the Virginia." Now, if words
to convey ideas, it not plain that the tightening
the ship not for the purpose Of coming up James
River attack the rOn-clad steamer GaleHa and two
other formidable guubOas, with the wooden Sides bow,
stern and rudder of the Virginia entirely exposed At
first The Commodore says the Virginia was ightened
for the safety OF the ship; and yet, in the com
municatiOn, be says determined to Tighten the ship
once, ard up James River for the protection Of
Richmond" \ OW, was there 10 panic here? Was
there not wanting the spirit the c0onss5, and calm de-
Cson OF our dear and beloved Buchanan What the
Virginia, that noble specimen of the genius Of her
structorshe that mistress OF at least OF all OF VT
gina's waters-requred MEASURES for her SAFE
ty At her very approach tie Yankee lr0nclad gun
boats and the whole Yankee navy seemed to tremble
and she had only to make her appearance and they
in o moment
But let US lift the veil little higher The Commo
dore said he had retired to bed, and between
two o'clock the First Lieutenant reported to that
alter the ship had been lifted to render her unfit
fer action the pilots had declared their inability carry
eighteen feet above Jamestown fats Now here is
admission that she unfit for action and yet this
Commodore says he intend d to take her up James rve
to contend with the iron clad Galena and two gun
boats " that had assembled James river, while he was
protecting Richmond by lying al Norfolk
Now we desire to state fact ard we defy contradic
tiol: that after the Virginia was lghtered as tC
render her unfit for ottion" having thrown al
her ballast and much of her COAL she drew aft t1sntl
feet six inches, and t1renty feet to'1gard This
CeVtaiucd by chief pilot Parshs going in boat anC
ascertaning her exact draft. And here wish to state
another fact exposing the ignorance of this Commando
of the draft OF his shp-so plainly that he tina
G "ruos may read" When the Virginia FIRST float
ed from the Dry Dock GOspOrt Navy Yard she drew
EIGHTEEN INCHES AFT and seventeen feet for
ward with fifty tons of COAL tanks of water forward
and her boilers filed. She he'd no guns Oh, shell,
ballast AMI has since had put upon her upwards OF 20
tons of iron. Thus she drew two feet six inches NOR
than had said she could carry to within 40 mile
OF Richmond, (eVen admitting what he Says though
deny its corcnes Now is it not plain, that the fac
of the Virgina's having had added to her weight NOR
than 200 of iron besides her guns shot, aud shell
aud stores, since she first cut of Dock, when sh
drew 8 feet inches had escaped the memory Of tn
J. Commander, CT be ignorant Of what he ought t
l. have kroWn? he says After the ship was rendere
e unfit for action he informed by the First leuet
re the pilots had declared their liability to carry
feet above the jamestown Flats" What the pilots di
ID say was that they desired if possible the ship shou!
" he ighened to less than feet the wind has bee
several days 10 the westward, which makes the tide
re much lower. But at the same time said we wei
# ready snd willing to obey the commands Of the Commar
der. ODe OF US remarked we were not afraid; when
T. Lieut. replied " No, know that for you have bee
tried and have proven yourselves men n courage II
fact is The ship could not be- gatened to draw te
" water, unless the guns ammunition, provisions, an
n nearly her entire supply of feel had been thrown owe
board which would have placed her at the mercy OF tt
eremy, and Commodore 1atnall ought to have known
T. before he attempted to tighten her.
ID The Commodore says beard his address to Il
Is crew But at the same time were not consulted
TO the tides wind depth of water that could be ca
ct red at that time. He says: Ga demanding from II
Chief Pilot MIR. Parrish an explanation of the pal pr
80 BILE deception he replied that feet would be carrie
It after the prevalence feasery winds aud that the win
cd for the last two DAYS had been westerly This stat