The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-08-27
rHE EyAcUATIOs OF NoRFoLK.
OnriaI History or the Affair.

/
| OAIcial History or the Atsair
| MajorGeneral Huger publishes the following let
ters by authority OF the War Department. The
permission was granted, as lac states la published
letter preceding them, las a eais OF refn;ing the
eaiumnious fasehoods eirealsied by des'gning per.
sons TO induce the public TO belLsve that be aban-
dDned Norfolk. We publish the letters as the Lis-
tsey Of n very important mosem~n, of tie war
| HEABq'gs DfPARfMESr or NoHroLK.4
| Ges. r. r. Lee Commanding sc:
| uEsGKAi~-l yesterday received letter frcu,
Gentrai H. Johnston, Informing the ene,ay
seems preparing to attack Yorktown with q pow
riiiil artillery and may be- compelled 10 ab IN.
don la. Peninsais He d.HFres u,, 10 be III pared
| for such contingency.
| For Il week past the enemy has kept brigade
ah,st near Elizabeth City, which can move TO any
| position on Chowan river, This forces landed
| ON The night of the 18th, and marched ON South
Ails, where they were met by the 3d Georgia regi-
ment and four pieces OF artillery and repulsed with
great loss. They have been reinforced during the
week ani are now afioat to the south Of me.
II the enemy gets possession Of the james river,
and can have moving force on it to land " here
he rleises, do not nee bow am TO prevent them
from landing and il they get possession of the
country west si this place, through which the rail-
Roads ass, well as tue waters the other three
sidei amy escape FROM here Is very doubtful.
II would not do to give up any part OF the posi-.
fion, as they would at occupy it, and cannot
begin 20 move the public property. The guns seat
tered at the different batteries could not be
moved with our means in weeks and where TO
move them tof The ammunition could be destroy
cd when not wanted
As to the valuable establishment of the Navy.
Yard which has more public property than the rest
OF The country, 1t is not under my CONTROL and
others must determine concerning il.
do not see what preparations can make for the
contingency, but TO repel every attack a. promptly
as possible. and defend the position rs long RS /
Can.
When they Lave the waters on both sides of me,
you can calculate how long can hold out as we'll
- can.
Very respectfully,
Yonr obedient servant,
BENZ. HuaER,
Maior- -0eueral.
HEADQUARTERS LEES HOUSE,
May lat, ls6!
GENERAL--i shall withdraw from this position to-
wards Richmond tomorrow night.
This movement requires a CORE spending
your part You will please, therefore, leave Nor
folk fof Richmond with your troops without delay.
Leave al little public property TO the enemy HI
possible.
Cooperate we'll you can with the COM
lnandant OF the Navy Yard
Send orders 10 any troops that may be stationed
On the south side OF James river To march at once
10 Richmond II they have heavy guns, they should
! be rendered unservieeable unless they be
moved. Powder should be saved III preference TO
any thing else.
Flag Officer Tatnall Is desired to cover your
movement by preventing the passage Of the ene-
| my's VESSELS up James river.
Report your approach tn Gen Lee. Confer with
Flag Officer Ta,ual. Most respectfully.
Your obrdient servant,
lSigEeil j. L. JOHNSTON. ueneral.
NORFOLK, May B. 1862.
HDQRs DEPT OF NoKFoLk,
Norfolk, Va, May 2, is62
Gea. J. f. IolHsson, Commanding, Ae., &c:
GENEhAL--lou our messenger delivered to me your
letter of the st of May, and one for Capt Lee and
Com. Tatnatl, which were delivered.
The Secretaries Of War and Navy arrived by the
cars to-day, aad were present when received your
letter, hlch submitted TO the Secretary Of War
He has given me sinlilar notice AID Instruct ions,
bu; Iirec ted the stores moved first, and
til. troops in the haste yonr letter requires.
will commence dispaiching the ammunition and
stores at once and get the sick who can be moved
sent of, and such regiments are not guarding ap
proaches.
The move ,aust be made with o,der, OF it will be
flight.
Very respectfully, your obd't servt,
BkNJ. HuGtR. Major General.
Maior- Gen. Beng Kagsr. conma,. Ing Department,
Of Norfolk
0ENERAt.---The determination ii Gen. Johnston
to iaii back Tie T.. niIsuia :,rs it necessary
that yon should prepare for spa. ~ evacuation Of
Norfolk. You will, accordingly send to Raleigh
all tho ammunition not necessary yoar field bat
tere3 aud tor such heavy guns you may use to
cover the evacuation. You win icxt send to the
same point all your provisions no required Tor the
use OF the troops during the eva ia.ion and their
march to Petersburg, ana such c Ihing you may
have on hand. And you will tn send 10 Rich
mond or Raleigh, according to yo,4. means Of trans
portaion, as many of the heavy suns you have
time 10 move, prefrrrng those of the heaviest cali
bre, aud especially the banded rihe guns Of The
navy pattern. The carriages should be sent with
the guns possible anu such shot ani shell, espe.
ciai,y for The riiied guns. can be carried.
t.f.. ..f
enemy ami cannot be carried III. must be destroyed
You will take control of the railroads leading out
oil Norfolk and Portsmouth, and allow nothing to
| impede the transportation of the Government. |
wish you act liz concert with the eonl.andant OF
the Navy 7 ard. and to facilitate the removal of
such property from the Navy Yard rs may be Sc.
| lected for removal.
You will bear in mind, however, that the pre.
seryaon OF your army il Of the first Importance
and that lis safety must not be too much haz-
asied by your Efforts to save the public pro-
perty.
would suggest therefore, that it will be well
TO concentrate 1t speedily possible near Sut-
folk, leaving in position only such portion may
be necessary to cover the evacuation. TO do this
effeetuay il will be well observe the shores of
James river, and the approaches to Norfolk on the
North Carolina side, and to hold the enGhiy in
check. il he advances, until your entire army is
withdrawn from Norfolk and Portsmouth, and
placed beyond the possibility of capture by q SUI
peri0r force
A brigade of no. less than three regiments will
Dc required at onco tor service north OF Richmond
aad should be marched forthwith to Suffolk, to be
sent thence by railroad or by the county roads as
, may be hereafter directed
Ii transportation, in addition TO that already on
the railroads. be used to advantage, call upon
| the Department, and such rolling stock will be fur
! nishel can be procured from other roads.
| Iwouid further suggest, as additional means Of
protection on tie North Carolina side that you dc
! s,roy the locks Of the Dismal Swamp Canal forth
with.
Very respectfully, your obt serv't,
! tSignedf GEO. w. RANDOLPH
Secretary of War.
HEADQs DEPARTMENT OF NORFOLK
Nay ID, lSt2
/ Gen. r. L. Lee. Commanding &c:
| GESkRAL-rbe Secretary OF War and Secretary
| Of the Navy reached here yesterday, and have
! communicated 10 me the views vi tho Government
1 as regards this place.
! also received yesterday General Johnstons let
| ter of May the lst, the substance Of which yen
telegrspbed 10 the Secretary Of War last evening.
My idea is that abandoning this place is abandon
! ing Virginia and it would be better TO sacrifice
every of in its defence than to give it up.
| shall carry out the orders promptly and
| regularly as can, bnt must keep troops enough
to preserve order and stop communication with
the enemy, or all the black and part OF tho white
population will be- visiting Old Point aud w ash
F., ing;on and applying tor Office.