Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-05-22
From Virginia.
We make the following extracts frol


relative to the evacuation of Norfolk "A
As was expected, the traitor Byers, who.
tstole The Confederate steam tug Al. White.
and went over to the enemy on Thursday.
communicated such information to General
Wool as to. .precipitate the occupancy Of
Norfolk BY the Yankees and hasten its e
abandonment By our troops. On Friday the
enemy landed heavy body Of troops, va
riously estimated at from FIVE TO seven thous..
and, at Ocean View, some eight Of. ten
Emiles iu rear Of Norfolk, and commenced
march upon the city. The forces consist.
led Of infantry, artillery aud cavalry, and
the latter came near cutting OFF large
portion Of Col. Chambliss' regiment, which
fhad been stationed near Sewell' 8 Point.
Our forces triple quioked towards the old
borough, and made a very narrow, escape:
TT is said that when we burnt Indian Pol
Greek bridge, across Tanners Creek, the
Yankee cavalry were at one end Of it, and
would have seriously interfered with our
operations, but for the Beauregard Artillei
.|ry, Of Lynchburg, who, BY . few we'll di.
reeted shots, sent the Yankee ;horsemen:
flying beyond the reach Of our guns.
/ 1t is believed that all of our troops, arms,
ammunition, uartermasters' and commits
saries' stores were safely removed. gAil the
buildings at the Gosport Navy Yard that
could be destroyed, were fired and corsu-;
: med. Some Of them being freproof, could
not be so destroyed. The dry dock, one of
the most costly and perfect establishments
of its kind probably in the world, was
blown up. This dock is said to have cost
s5, 600, 900, and required several years for
Tits construction. Is - .,; : - ~
Several gunboats which had just been
completed, and, received their armament,
we're burnt. -Four other gunboats, on the
stocks aud unfinished, were also consigned
to the flames. The transport, -"William
Selden," and, a;number Of smaller steamers,
tugs, etc, were burnt. ,ea "a ,gr.5 ..,.:$$i
1 The 18th Virginia Regiment was the last
to leave Norfolk. They crossed the river
at Portsmouth, and from there marched q
distance of 18 miles to Suffolk gys2si
- It is generally believed by the few civil
ians who did get of, that not moro than
one hundred males outside of the army
have left Norfolk. Many females have left
since it became known that the oity was to
be evacuated, and large number who de-.
sired to leave still remain because of their
inability to get away. Soldiers inform US
that when they passed through Norfolk
Saturday morning they were everywhere
met by groups Of ladies, who, with tears in
their eyes, implored their protection %,
In relation to the destruction of the Vir-
|giuia the Dispatcb says :s2 sssaf 7453 i.
News of the destruction Of theairon.clad
steamer Virginia, which was tower Of
strength within herself, and which twas
hoped would contest the entrance ofithe
enemys gunboats into the mouth of the
James river, reached this city on yesterday
morning. We need not say that this intel
ligence created a profound sensation, and
that it was received with feelings of un-s
mingled regret by our people. We give
such incidents connected with her destruc.
ton as We have been able to obtain from
the most reliable sources. On Saturday
orders were received by her commander to
run her up James river, if practicable, and
if not, to evacuate and blow her up. A
consultation was had with her pilots, who
thought if she could be reduced to l3 feet
draugbt that they could bring her up as far
as City Point. Her draught was according
ly reduced, but it was found that this
brought her vulnerable parts above the
waters edge, and exposed her wooden keel
to the enemy's fire. To attempt an engage
ment under these circumstances and in this
condition, would have recklessly hazarded
the lives of her gallant crew, all of whom
were willing and anxious to cling to her to
the last, and even desired that she should
be run out OF the Roads by Fortress Mon
roe, and engage the enemy wherever found.
Against this, however, strict orders had
been issued, and as her pilots had conclu.
ded, after mature consideration, that it was
impracticable to make the passage Of the
James, no alternative was left her officers
and crew than to acquiesce in the stern,and
painful necessity for her destruction.
This was done, however, deliberately,
and without precipitation. She was fired
about II o'clock on Saturday night, and
exploded at daylight on Sunday morning.
From the amount Of ammunition in her
magazine it is certain that her destruction
was thorough aud complete, and that
scarcely vestige is now left Of the proud
est achievement of naval science known to
the worlds history. The explosion Of her
magazine was distinctly heard at a distance
Of twenty-five miles Before the torch was
applied she was beached near Graney ISL
and, and her crew landed. Nearly all of
her officers and crew arrived in this city
yesterday: ,e
n
AN ARRIVAL FROM NEW ORLEANS
Yesterday afternoon, the arrival Of a
schooner with white flag from New Or
leans excited much curiosity and sensation.
1t is in our power, happily, to satisfy the
public desire for explanation from official
documents published in the New Orleans
Picayune, Of Tuesday morning, upon the
subject. For a copy Of the Pseayume we
are indebted to the attention Of friend.
It appears that New Orleans is destitute
of food, and the city and Federal authori-