The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-06-18
Letter from Commodore Tatnall.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE YlEG sIA-Ihe
following ina copy Of a letter addressed bycom
modore TaHlall to secretary Mallory:

following lSsa copy OF iet<er addressed oY Gem
modore Tatnail to secretary Mallory;
RICuaoND, va. May "a, 1862.
Sinh detailing TO YOU the cirCums anceS
which caused the destruction Of the G. 5. steam
q Virginia, and her movements a few day.
previous to that event, begin with your tele-
graphic dispatches TO me Of the 4lh and 9Th
instant, directing me 10 take such position in
tile DANES river as would entirely prevent the
cueny's ascending It,
Gen. Huger, commanding at Norfolk, on
learning that I had received this order, called
on me and declared that its execution would
oblige him to abandon, Immediately, this forts on
Craney Island and Sew ell's point, and their guns
to tile enemy informed him that, as he !
der was imperative, must execute it, but >ug-
gested that he should telegraph Won and state
The consequences lie did 50, and Oh the 6th
instant you teicgraphed me to endeavor to ut-
ford protection to Norfolk as well as the James
river, which placed NE in ny original position
then arranged with the general that he should
notify me when his preparations for the eracua-
ton Of Norfolk were sufficiently advanced to
enable me to act independently.
On the 7th inst. commodore Holins reached
Norfolk with orders from YOU 10 consult with
me and such officers as | might select in regard
TO the best disposition to be made OF the Viz
giaa under the present leet OF things.
We had arranged the conference for the
next Gav the S h, but on that day, before the
hour appointed, the enemy attacked Sewell'<
point battery and ! left immediately With the
Virginia 10 defend it.
ave found six of the enemy's vessels, incu-
ding the iron clad steam IS Monitor and Manga
tuck. Smelling The battery. We passed the bat
terry and stood directly for the enemy, for the
purpose Of engaging him, and thought an ac-
ton certain, particularly as the MINNESOTA and
Vanderbilt, which were anchored below fortress
M0aroe, got under way and stood up to that
point, apparently with the iptention OF joining
their squadron in the roads Before, however,
we got within gun-shot the enemy ceased firing
and retired with all speed under The protection
Of the guns Of tile fortress, followed by the
Virginia until the shells from the Rip Raps pass
ed over her
The Virginia was then placed at her moor
ings near Snwclfs point, and | returned to Nor
folk to hold he conference referred to.
1t was held On the 9Th, and the officers pres
eut were Col Anderson and Capt; ----, Of the
army, selected BY Gen. HugeF, who was too IN
well to attend himself, and, Of the navy myself,
commodore Hous, captains S errett and Lee,
commander Richard L. Page and leutrnants Ap.
Citosb7 Jones, and J Pembroke Jones
The opinion was unanimous that the Viz
ginia was then employed 10 the best advantage,
and that she should costume, for the present,
to protect Norfolk and thus afford time te re-
move The public property.
'On the next day, at 10 o'clock, A. N. we OIL
served from the Virginia that the flag was not
flying at Sewel's point battery, and that it ap-
peared to have been abandoned. despatched
Lieut. P Jones, the flag lieutenant to Crlnry
island, where the Confederate flag was still hY-
ing. and he there learned that a large force Of
the enemy had landed on the bay shore and were
marching rapidly on Norfolk that the SewelIs
point battery was Abandoned aud our troops
were retreating then dispatched the same
officer to Norfolk to confer with Gen. Huger and
Capt. Lee He found the navy yard in flames,
and that all its officers had lett by railroad. Ga
reaching Norfolk lie found that Gen. IIuEcranI
all the other officers OF the army had left, that
the enemy were within half mile Of the city,
and that the mayor was treating to surrender.
ION returning to the ship, he found that Ora
nev island and all the other batteries on the river
had been abandoned
1T was now seven o'clock in the evening and
this unexpected information rendered prompt
measures necessary for the safety Of the Viz
ginia.
The pilots had assured me that they could
take the ship with draft Of eighteen feet ID
within forty miles Of Richmond This, the chief
pilot Mr. Parish, and his schirf assistant, Mi
Wright, had asserted again ana agaia, i'll thc
presence of commodore Hons and Capt. Ster-
rrtt, in reply to question OF mine, they both
enphatically declared their ability to do 80.
"COnfding il these assurances, and, after CON
sultiug with the first and a,g Iieutenints, and
learning that the officers, generally, thought it
the most iudicious course, determined blight
en- the ship at once, and run up the river for the
protection OF Richmond.
''All hands having been called on the deck,
stated TO them the condition of this, and my
hope that, by getting up the river before the
enemy could be made aware OF our design, We
might capture his vessels which had assembled
It, and render efficient aid il defence Of R,ch
mUnd, but that, to effect this, would require al
their energy in tightening the ship. They r.
nlied with three cheers, aud went to 81 Ora a
once The pilots were on deck, and heal d thi,
address to the crew.
Being quite uuwel, had retired to bed
Between one and two O'Clock in the morning
the first lieutenant reported TO me that afr tbs
crew had wol ked for Eve or six hours, and liltrt
the ship 50 az to render her unfit for action, th'
pilots had declared their inability to carry i
feet above the jamestown flats, up to wbicI
point rhe shore on each side WAS occupied by til,
enemy.
ON demanding from the chief pilot Mr Par
ISL, an explanation of this palp eble deception
he replied that feet could not be carried afte
tile prevalence IF easterly winds and that tn
wind tor the last two days had been we. terly.
4 had no time to lo5e. The ship was not il
a condition for battle, even with an enemy 0
nnn.I fnrra and thnir fnr... was nvprwhelntinr