The New York herald., 1862-04-19
Report Of the Senate Select Committee
on the Surrender of Norfolk Navy
Yard and Harper's Ferry.
Ceneure Of the Buchanan end
Lincoln Administrations.
Captains Paulding, McCauley and Pendergrast
Also Censured,
TO-, &c.. 10.

WASHINGTON, Aprn 10, looZ
REPORT OF TIE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON rHE
SURRENDER OF THE PENSACOLA AND NORFOLK
NAVY YARDS AND HARPER's FERRY ARM0RY
The long expected report Of the Select Committee ap
pointed in the Senate last July to inquire into the cir
cumstances attending the surrender Of the Pensacola
Navy Yard tho destruction Of the public property
Norfolk and Harpers Ferry, presented to-day by
Senator Hale. The report occupies eighty aoscap
pages, and IL accompanied by tremendous mass of
evidence. Five thousand extra copies arc to bs
printed.
Tho committee did not examine tho Pensacola affair,
and touched the Harpers Ferry matter briefly.
The committee describe tho condition OF the
Norfolk Navy Yard and the property in 1t
whom il was abandoed. It was three. quarters
Of . mile long and quarter mile wide. It
by far the most extensive and valuable one in the
United States 1t had granite dry dock like that at
Charlestown Mass Tho yard covered with machine
shops houses for officers and store houses Of various
kinds 1t was provided with ship houses complete
and unfinished marine barracks sail oft ryges loft,
gunners loft shops for carpenters and machinist and
large amount of tools and machinery. besides great
quantities of materials provisions and ammunition Of
every description. There at least two thousand
pieces Of heavy ordnance, three hundred Of which
were DahIgren guns Some of these witnesses thought
there three thousand there Lying at the
yard was the Merrmac worth twelve hundred Thousand
dollars the Plymouth and Germantown. twenty-five
guns each and the Dolphin four guns-all efficient
sells. The old Pennsylvania was in commission
ceivng ship and the Delaware, eighty fonr Columbus,
eighty guns and the Columbia and Raritan afty guns
each lying in ordinary at the yard and the ship
of-the.line New York the stocks. The Cumber-
land Commodore Pendergast lay in position that COM
mandcd completely the cities Of Norfolk and Portsmouth
The total property s estimated by the Navy Department
one hundred and eghty-ons dollars. The committee
speak Of the great necessity existing Of protecting
by all means the Norfolk Navy Yard not only on ac-
Of the great value OF the property here but Of its
important position in references events then impend
Ing Thoy give summary Of the events looking to hos
tites from the South during the FIVE months preceding
tho abandonment Most OF the hostile demonstrations
had been made before Mr.. Buchanan retired and the
committee charge upon him grave derelicton and neg
lgencs of official duty in temporsing with the rebcop
They also intimate that his slow 10 appre
ciate the critical condition OF affairs, and that
precious opportunities were wasted during ths
thirty days that elapsed before tho rebellion
vigorously assaed Tho committee say that for this they
find extenuation only In that insane dsusion which
seemed to possessed tho public mind that the por
tentious clouds that had blackened the hoavsns for
months were charged with real danger, and TO
bs disspated by continuation OF forbesrancs which
had been continued SO long that 1t had ceased to be
virtue and had become the most disgracefu weakness
and pusianimity."
The conduct Of Captain McCauey, commandant Of the
yard examined at length His conduct Of affairs, the
last of which to scutle oil the vessels except the
Cumberland, is fully condemned. chapter of the
report devoted to the history Of the Merrac and the
circumstances OF her loss to our navy The officers Of
the gate anxious to take her away and the Navy
soon possible if she not absolutely nOedod for
tho defence OF Norfolk Commodore McCauley not-
fed on the 18th of April that she ready andhe said
steam might be got up next morning. Her engine
put in motion the 18th at the wharf, but Captain
McCauey ordered the fires drawn and she lost
government.
The committee TO tho following conclusions
Frt-The administration OF Buchanan was guilty o.
negligence In not taking extraordinary care and employ
ing every possible means to protect and defend this
yard after indications Of danger had manifested them
solves.
Second-The administration OF Mr.. Lincoln cannot be
held bameless for suffering thrtysovon days to eapse
after it came into power before making movement for
the defence Of the yard.
Taird-Captan McCaulcy was highly censurable for
negleong to send the Serrimae from tho yard as he
was ordered and also for scutng the ships nnd pre-
pairing to abandon tho yard before any attack made
or seriously threatened when he should havo defended
it and the property entrusted to him. rspeng force by
force as he instructed to do the occasion should
present Itself.
Fburth--Capaln Pauding ccnsurablo for ncgectng
to 4consult with Captain McCauey and Captain Pen
dergrast, while he was at the yard. the 17th Of
April in regard TO the 10 be pur-
sued in the event or an attack upon tho
yard and also for immediately upon his arrival the
yard the goth ordering the property bo burned and
the yard abandoned before taking proper to
tisfy himself that any necessity for such measures
existed.
FYhh-captain Psndsrgras,. in command Of the Cum.
berland, tho flagship OF tho Home Squadron, made
suggestions the proper to oo adopted and
socs 10 have taken part In the transaction except
move his ship as ho was directed.
Tho committee say they suggest no re-.
nedy for the errors which they think havo
been proved In this case. 50 far tn . officers
OF the navy are concerned II belongs 70 the
Executive Department OF the government TO determine
wha. course shall be pursued Tho estimation formed By
department Of the conduct OF Captains McCauey,
Paulding and Pendersrast, has been manifested By
leaving tbs hrst named without active duty and assign
ing 70 the others the commands Of two Of the most i'm
portans Navy Yards We have sft, ,namsy-Brookyn aud
Phiadelphia.
In concluding what they have thought IL
their duty 70 say this subject. the com.
mittse would simply ronark that the lesson
Afforded BY the surrender Of the Norfolk Navy Yard will
not be wholly without rs value to US, we shall learn
nv n Al nation that pusanmity In the defence Of our
rights may bs - seriously injurious the open
Of our enemies.
In rsmarkng upon the subject Of the Harpsrs Ferry
Armory tho committee for csnsurs in tho
conduct Of Captain Roger jones' To hc neglect OF the
government TO take any 10 strengthen and do
fond that establishment during the winter preceding Its
abandonment the same general remarks applicable
a. those made in reference to the Norfolk Navy Yard
The committee making this report was composed sf
Senators Hale. Johnson (of Tennesses) and Grimes.
TEE PeRr SURVEYORS AT ALBANY AND TROY.
Mr.. Harris Of New York, introduced n'ths Senate TO-