Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-06-03

The following report OF Captain lat
nall, late Of the Merrimac, explains the
destruction Of that vessel, and lays all
the blame upon the pilots, who, Tatnali
"RIcnnssD, May Il, 1862.
s.Sra-In detailing to you the oircum-
stances which caused the destruction OF
the Confederate steamer Virginia, and
her movements . few days previous to
that event, begin with your telegraph
ic dispatches to me Of the .4th and 9Th
inst, directing me to take such posi-
ton in the James River as would entire
ly prevent the enemy's ascending It. i
"General Huger, commanding at Nor,
folk, on learning that had received
this order, called on me and declared
that its execution would oblige him 70
abandon Immediately his forts on Craney
Island and Sowelrs Point ana tnell
ouus to the enemy. l informed him
That "A the order was itDperative,l must
execute it, but suggested that ne should
toleoranh YOU and state the consequences
He did 40. and on the 9Th instant You
autographed me to endeavor to afford
protection to Norfolk as well as the
lanes River, which replaced me in my
original position. then arranged With
the General that be should notify me
when his preparations for the evacus'
ton of Norfolk were sufficiently ad'
vanced to enable me to act independent
"On the 7th instant Commodore Hoi-
Inns reached Norfolk with orders from
Won to consult with me and such officers
as might select in regard to the oes'
disposition of the Virginia, under the
present aspect of affairs.
eve had arranged the conference for
the next day, the 9Th but, on that day.
before the hour appointed, the enemy
attacked the Sowell's Point battery, and
| LETT Immediately with the Virginia to
defend it.
ave found six Of the enemy's vessels,
including the ironclad steamers Monl'
tor and Naugatuck, ehelling the battery.
We passed the battery and stood direct
" for the enemy, tor the purpose OF
engaging him, and ! thought an action
certain, particularly as the Minnesota
and Vanderbilt, which were anchored
below Fortress Monroe, got under way
and stood up to that point, apparently
with the intention of joining their squad
ron in the Roads. Before, however, we
got within gun shot, the enemy ceased
firing and retired with all speed under
the protection of the guns Of the For
,ress. followed by the Virginia until the
shells from the Rip Raps passed over her.
"The Virginia was then placed at
her moorings, near SowePs Pint, and
I returned to Norfolk to hold the con-
ference referred TO.
ut was held OH the 9th, and the ofti'
GERS present were Colonel Anderson and
Captain -, Of the army, selected BY
. Gen. Huger, who was too unwell te
attend himself; and Of the navy, myself
Commodore Hollirs, Captains Sterret
and Lee, Commander Richard L. Jones
and Lieutenauts Ap Catesby Jones am
J. Pembroke Jones.
savsnsss. VAS ss, men empoysa to tie be a
for the present to protect Norfolk, an
thus afford time to remove the publ
I property.
ION the next day at 10 o'clock A. NJ
. we observed from the Virginia that tn
f flag was not flying on the Sowcll's Poin
o battery, and that it appeared to hav
y been abandoned l despatched 1t.
a p. Jones, the Flag Lieutenant, to era
, ney Island, where the Confederate fla,
was still flying, and be here learned
that large force of the enemy hat
landed on Bay shore, and were march
3 ing rapidly on Norfolk, that sowell'
9 Point battery was abandoned and GU
!. troops were rctreating. l then dis
patched the same officer to Norfolk t,
confer with Gen. Huger and Capt. Lee
: He found the Navy. Y ard in flames, ant
e that all its officers had left by railroad
0 On reaching Norfolk he found that Gen
Huger and all the other officers of the
army had also left-that the enem,
y were within half mile of the city, an,
that the Mayor was treating for its sur
c render.
v "On returning to the ship he fount
: that Craney Island and all the othel
batteries on the river had been abau
: doned.
!. at was now o'clock in the evening
and this unexpected confirmation rem
; dered prompt measures necessary fo
the safety OF the Virginia.
"Thc pilots had assured me that they
: could take the ship, with draft of Ii
feet, to within forty miles of Richmond
This the chief pilot, Mr.. Parish, ant
bis chief assistant, Mr.. Wright, had as
,, serted again and again !; and on the af
tcrnoon Of the 7th, in my cabin, in th,
presence Of Commodore Hollins ane
Captain Sterrett, in reply to a question
Of mine, they both emphatically de-
clared their ability to do so.
"Coniding in these assurances, and
, after consulting with the First and Fac
Lieutenante, and learning that the off.
Gers, generally, thought it the most ia.
dicious course, determined to Tighten
, the ship at once, and n ! up tho rive,
, for the protection Of Richmond.
CAN hands having been called on
deck, stated to them the condition Of
things, and my hope that, by getting
up the river before the enemy could be
made aware Of our designs, we nigh,
| capture his vessels which had ascended
it, and render efficient aid in the defence
OF Richmond but that to effect this
would require all their energies iu light.