The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-03-15
The Fight In Hampton Roads.

In giving place to all the details which have
yet reached US of the Naval combat in Hamp-
ton Roads on Saturday and the following night,
which Though the Rebel assailants were ulti.
mately driven back to their hiding places--the
Merrimac, their best ship, apparently in sink
ing condition) will inevitably be regarded by
the impartial as National defeat and disgrace,
it seems our duty to recall some antecedent and
not very creditable facts.
The Rebels opened fire on Fort Sumter on
the 18th OF April last-and the fact was known
throughout the country forthwith. 1t was in
tended and understood to be challenge of the
Nation by the Slave Power to mortal combat.
Norfolk, as by far the greatest Naval arsenal
in the Slave States-perhaps in the country
was of course in imminent danger. 1t was
within less than days passage of Washing
ton and Baltimore, not two days from Phila-
delphia and New York On the 18th five days
after fire was opened on Sumter) the Virginia
Convention pretended to take their State ont
of the Union; and, though the act was passed
subject to ratification by popular vote, Gov.
Letcher Immediately issued Proclamation of
adherence to the Southern Confederacy On
the 10th, the Virginia traitors DISTRACTED Eliza
beth River below Norfolk, SO as to prevent the
passage of the National vessels from the Navy
Yard down into Hampton Roads, and so out to
sea. On the Goth (aght days after the opening
of fire on Sumter) the Navy Yard was hastily
dismantled by our officers in charge of it. the
the Cumberland sloop-of-war, jsunk by the
Rebels last Saturday, towed out while the
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Columbus, Meramac,
Raritan, Columbia, Germantown, Plymouth,
Dolphin, and United States--all ships of.war
OF various sizes, from three-decker down
were lit was reported) scuttled and set on FIRE
to keep them from falling into the hands of the
Rebels. We do not learn that any attack was
made by the Rebels (who were certainly in very
moderate force, nor that any effort was made
to arm the workmen in and about the Navy
Yard-who were naturally, instinctively loyal
nor to appeal to the loyalty of the vicinage.
1t is popularity understood that Taliaferro, the
Rebel chief, was drunk, so that he failed to at
tack, and let our Navy officers have things very
much their own way. That, with more powder
on hand than they knew how even to destroy,
they might have blown every vessel to atoms
in three hours, is at least very strong pre,
sumption. The Merrimac-wh;ch inflicted SO
singing blow on us last Saturday-was one
of those vessels.
Of course, we do not know that those Navy
officers who have not yet openly affiliated with
the traitors, did not here do their best. We
only know that somebody ought to have been
put on trial for their shameful, disastrous mis-
carriage-by which the Nation lost and the
Rebellion gained twenty-five hundred cannon
and more military and naval material than
could be bought for Ten Millions of Dollars.
We do not know that any one yet has been,
though nearly eleven months have elapsed
since the disaster, and the then commandment
at the Yard still wears the uniform and pockets
the pay of U. s. officer. That this is as it
should not be is our very decided opinion
The Merrimac, it was soon announced, was
raised by the Rebels, and was being iron pla-
ted and otherwise fitted for the destruction of
some of our vessels in the Roads, She has
been so fitting ever since, almost within sight
of our feet. Several times she has been an
nounced on the eve of coming out Once or
twice it was given out by the Rebels that she
was failure; and as Western man has said,
they "would rather lie on twelve months
note than tell the truth for cash." this should
have melted to greater vigilance. If we had
not the proper vessels on hand to resist her.
they should have been hurried up at least six
months ago. Yet when she does at last see fit
to put in an appearance, 10! one of our princi-
pal war steamships has been lying in the
Roads disabled for four months and cannot get
near her, while the only other ship fit to en-,
gage her gets aground--in water that her off,
GERS should know as thoroughly as their own
cabins-and cannot be brought into action
while two Of our noble frigates are torn to
pieces, one of them sunk, the other captued and
burned, and some two or three hundred of our |
brave tars killed, drowned, or captured.
We do not attempt to fix the blame of these
disasters. Possibly, there is no one to blame:
but the people will not believe it in advance Of |
thorough scrutiny. We respectfully call upon |
the commander-in.Chief Of the army and NAVY
TO have this whole bnsnesss sifted to the hot |
tom.-lN. Y. Tribune.
How THE VIRaIN1AEs TRY TO ESCAPE THE
DsArr:-The muster rolls just handed in to the |
colonies Of the nineteenth and one hundred and |
seventy ninth regiments are the most ridiculous.
y curious documents it has been our luck to en-. |
coanter. In their anxiety to get clear of militia
auty. Hundreds OF the men have attached To |
their names the record Of some permanent injury
Dr. horrible distemper. The rolls are thus made |
complete catalogues of all the ills that flesh ia
aeir 10. The great number of cne-eyed and |
leaf men, the prevalence Of chronic diarrhfra
md rheumatism in al its varieties. is truly "a.
'onishing. Some parties, who perhaps could |
link Of no particular affection, have stated in
General and comprehensive terms, that they |
sefe physically disabled" and in .bad health.
0ne oid gentleman, who ayowed himself nv. |
actually appended his will and cod. |
Gu 20 his signature. Great numbers have
'ened themselves exempted by the Governor
md numerous citizens, though only perhaps ma.
slng-A pair Of shoes for q clerk l.: the Treasurv
Department. have followed their names with ths
mpoainE announcement, employed on Govern.
nent work.
i u our opinion that this city ha, alre.dv
her quota TO the army; but We hope +
sseo muster-rolls will b publiahed, that de-
vosld may know the men who would shirk mus.