Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-05-21
LETTER FROM CoNMODORE TATNALL.
The following lie copy of letter addressed by Com
modore TAtnall to Secretary Mallory

The following lie a copy Of letter addressed by Com
modore TAtnall to Secretary Mallory:
RICHMOND, VA Nay l4th, 1852
Sir:-ln detailing to you tho circumstances which
caused the destruction OF the o. g. steamer "Vfginia"
and her movements few days previous to that event.
begin with your teegrlphio dispatches to me OF the
h and 9TH insts, directing 10 such position 10 the
James river a. would entirely prevent the enemys as
| ccnding il.
General Huger commanding at Norfolk, on learning
that had received this order called and declared
that It's execution would obge him 10 abandon, immsd
atey his Forts Craney Island" and "Sewells Point
and their guns the enemy informed him, that the
order imperative, must execute il but suggested
that he should telegraph you and state the consequen
he did So and, on the 9th inst, you teegrsphed
to endeAvor 10 afford protection TO Norfolk as well
| az the James river which replaced Inc in my original
position. then arranged with the General that he
stould notify me when hs preparations for the
on Of Norfolk sufficiently advanced to enable me
| t. act Independently.
| On the 18th inst, commodore Holns reached Norfolk
with orders from you to consult with and such off,
GERS might select In regard TO the best dispos ion
loo made Of the Virginia under the present aspect oil
| things.
WI had arranged the OIDlerence for the next day. tie
H. but that day, before tee hour spp5in ed the
eny attacked the seEeIl's Pc Battery, and tfG Im
me,iA1ly with the Virginia" to fndit
We found sn Of the enemy's vessels, irc,uding the
iron clad steamers Monitor sud "Nangatuck" shellirg
the Battery. We passed the Battery and stood directly
for the enemy for the purpose OF eng aging him, and
thought action certain, particularly the "hinntso
"a" and Vanderbilt" which anchored below For
tress Monroe got uuder way and stood up that 20
appeuty with the intention OF joining their sou
Ia the Roads. Before, however, got within gun-shtt
the enemy ceased firing aud retired with s speed uIder
the protection OF the guns OF the Fortress followed by
the Virginia" until the shells from the "Rip Ripe" pass
| ed over her.
The "Viignisn was then placed at her moorings near
SewehJ Point and | returned TO Norfolk TO hold the
| CO ference referred TO.
It was held the b, and the officers present
| Colonel Anderson and Captain -, Of the Army, &C.
lected by General Huger WIN too unuC TO attend
himself and OF the Navy, myself Commodore Holins,
Captains Serrett und Lee, Com nander Richard Page
and Lieutenants Ap. Catesby Jones, aud j. Pembroke
| Jones. ,
The opinion was unanimous that the "Virgnia" va,
then employed 10 the best advantage, and that she
should continue for the present. to protect Norfolk and
thus sfJrd time to re move the public property. n
On the next day, at ten o'clock A. n We observed
from the Virginia" that the dag not flying tie
SsHels Point Battery and that appeared have
abandoned. despatched Lieut. J. P. Jones, the Fig
Lieutenant to Craney Island, where the Confederate
flag was still flying, and he there learned that large
force of enemy had landed on the Bay shore, and
were marching rapidly on Norfolk; that the SeSells
Poin. Battery abandoned, and our troops were re-
treating then despatched the same officer to Norfolk
to confer with General Huger and Captain lie. BE
found the Navy Yard in flames, and that all its officers
mad left by railroad Ga reaching Norfolk he iouad that
General Huger and all the other officers OF the army had
also left that the enemy wcre'uithn half mile Of the
civ and that the Mayor treating for its surrend.r
Ga reurni to the ship, be found that Craney Island
and all the other batteries the river bad been aban
doned.
Il Ilwasnow Z o'clock In the evening, and this uneI
peced information rendered prompt Measures necessary
for the safety OF the Virginia
| The niola had aaBurpu that thew could take the
ship With draft of eighteen feet to within forty miles
of Richmond
rni, the Chief Pilot, Mr. Parrish, and his Chief As
sistapt Mr. Wright had asserted, again and again and
on the afternoon OF the 1th, in my cabin in the pre-
sence of Commodore Holns and Capt Sterrett, in reply
to question Of mine, they both emphatcaly declared
their ability TO do so.
Confdng in these assurances, and, after consulting
With the FIRST end Flag Lulenants, and learning that
the officers generally, thought II the most Judcious
course determined TO Tighten the ship at cnce, and run
| up the river for the protection OF Richmond.
All hands, having been called on deck, stated "a
them the condition Of things, and my hope that, by get
ting IN tho river before the enemy could be made
of our design We might capture Es vessels wh CHI hat
assembled It, and render i,ient aid ia the defence o.
Redmond but that TO effect this would require all thel
energy in tightening the ship They replied with three
| cheers, and vent to work at 0ncs.
The pilots deck, and heard this address to h'
crew.
| Being quite uuwell, had retired to bed. Between
one and two o'clock in the morning, the First Lieuen
ant reported to that, after the had worked fo
i've or six hours and lifted the ship to render hei
unfit for action the pilots had declared their inability 70
carry eighteen feet above the jamestown Flats up &c
which point the shore each side, was occupied BY
the enemy. .
On demanding from the chief pilot, Mr.. Parish, at
EXPLANATION of this papable deception he replied that
eighteen feet could be carried alter the prevalence o.
eSs.ery NnGs and that the wind for tie last two days
| had been westerly.
Ihsd no time to lose. The ship not in a condition
for battle even with enemy of equal force, and then
force was overwhelming therefore, determined with
the concurrence Of the First and FagLeuenants, tC
save the crew for future service, by landing them 81
Craney Island the only road for retreat open to and
to destroy the ship to prevent her falling nto the hands
of the enemy may add, that although not formally
consulted the course approved by every commits
stoned officer in the ship.
There is no dissentit opinion The ship was accord
ingy put on shore the main land in the vicnit!
Of Graney Island az possible and the crew landed sh'
WAS then fred and after burbiDg frcey fore and az
or upwards of hour, blew up little before five oil
the morning OF the llth.
We marched for suf Dix, twenty-five miles and reach
d it in the evening, aud from thence came By rairo'c
, 70 this city.
/ will be asked what motives the pilots could hsvt
had 70 deceive me. Tie only imaginable one is, thai
they wished to avoid going into battle.
Had the ship rot been lifted, to render her UNI
for action desperate contest mus. have tn3ued with
force against great TO justify much hope OF sue
csas aud as battle is their occupation they adopted
, this dtoruul oourse TO avoid IL. ] cannot imagine
Anotter motive, for had no Ieason to tisIrus
, their good faith 10 the Oonfederacy.
Ny acknowledgements due 10 the lat Lieutenant
Ap Oatesby Jones' for his uhtiring sErrtious and for
the aid he rendered me 10 all things The details fol-
firing the ship and landing the left TO hin
and everything Geniu::ed with the most perfect
order.
To the other officers Of the ship generally, an alsc
thankful for the great zeal they displayed throughout
Toe Virginia" longer exists, bu: three hundred
brave and ssllfa officers and saved to the
Confederacy
Oourl nf Trouirv will bl ordered 10