Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-07-01
Fnr pryxSos OF psrwRYs BLUE.
DRawRIs BluYr, Jrn, 2sb, 1852

DRlwRrs BLUTT, Juns 2s.b, 1852.
TO tAs Editor Of the Wing:
Our attention has been called 70 communication pub
shed In the Richmond qlirer of the 90 h instant,
wherein Navy man unoer the NON de pune Of R'y,
claims for the Navy the obsnu ting of the river and the
credit Of ell the delenees The fgb, and everything that
has been done at iris Place Hence the necessity Of
this note and statement Of facts connected herewith
TIE galan. Ii; l. Isvy, that IT, the PIuck Henry and
.nesoWn with .heic esexs, arrived here about ush
days before the ghs The Edgneer bad ALREADY, tf,er
many disuliss collected the necessary materials and
org z,d efficient working party, and the obstruc
tons we're then far advanced Nth fair pres ,ect OF
speedy completion in spite Of the delay ocSssiond by
freshets We are aware that the Navy SEED in
the distractions, eIeep: by dismounting, placing and
sinking il the gap st for her, the steamer JamestoHt
toe three heavy guns mounted in the for. proper tsd
been In position far back the 10 h Of April and by
thigh authority they reg rded for soma time cut
6cieut to protec. the obstruoons from any sudden
saught-the mounting Of the navy tu outside the fort
was 60 after thought TIE OF the jamestown and
Patrick Henry, OF course assisted in mounting these
guns but if We mistake not the msOr part Of he labor
WAS shared by the willing and energetic artillery compa.
ny~Of Captain A e. Dre"ry, of Chesterfield. part
of the crew Of the Aerrimac arrived here on Monday
night-the fight look place Thursday morning. What
they on Tuesday aud Wednesday, We have since ss
csrained, to assist in hauling two three gus
from the llbdng to the battery. We all in the
mud and water soldiers and sailors but 1t is sufficient
for the public to know that the three coumbsds inside
the tors mouned manned and fought by brave and
gallant sCliers-these guns red hundred AID three
shots, the three guns on the outside manned BY ihe
crews Of the Patrick Henry and JAmes;OSu aud over
looked by their respective officers fred about Iy
shots. The only other IN in position niue inch
DaisreD, manned by gup' crew OF tho Gerrmsc, ba.
this gu did not fire all for reasons satisfactory
10 Us and It's commander. Yet, In spite OF these
ficis, Mr.. R'y, BY inference, chooses to sIrogst
to the navy alone the glory Of that day, quietly
coming il himself fer share OF that TO which he il
10 noWise eAtded and eschsWing altogether ii,
rights Of The mods bus gallant sodiers-Wby reD
der unto tt ar the things TIA: are CeiiIsS Bat ju.t
here, Mr. Editor, may fsrh,r aud ID propreIy
Ser, that the Who bore the bsunt OF the Eight al
Drewry's Brf aud who coatIbu,ed, from the very b..
ginning Of the work to Us end, mere hIg,y 70
he re,ult than any others engaged in ii, have
thought that their existence lar depended upon th
asGinmenls of ht.le military notorsty as 10 Undue,
them 10 appropriate TO themselves any hoaoIs whici
I-ty belonged 10 another. They clAined have beer
IA lenc by higher motives and sanding, they did
upon their native hills, il was enough for lhm 10 knos
tlAt they had performed unimporanl part 10 driving
back our common enemy and # Mr.. Riy bad becl
more moderate il his appropriations, we I'd nothing
10 asserting that the Wlo io glt that fgat, beeV
hey could well flrd to make the sscrace wOul.
in spirit of charity, not in sympathy, tsva Willingly
shared the honOrs Of tho day 10 ben1hG gsll,DGn who
evidently Ia in trouble, for, ii in the destruction Of tina
poble ship the Nerrnac, there is thing Of which BE-
can be proud he Says he L. why Il il thst he has
thought is necessary TO array before the putlo his
achievements e. Drewrys uf in vudicstiol Of BIZ
course and Why i. that Court Of I;q Try Of his
class 10 the faoe Of all that he pretenGs 10 have accom-
plshed there, has nevertheless pronounced against Il
ac Aud where ore Gao be hope that DISCERNING pub
lie will think much better Of j.? We can bsvs TO mo
ives 10 dc'rAc from the merits Of Ne Ray" much ess
from the officers and crew Of the Aerrmac, but 1t ia
little rems tile that he should claim Tor himself Gnd
crew 50 muoh credit Whea tIu they did no: Ere
grr ON Dreary's us OF thai occasion. Aad II thc
public at large and the cijEsrs OF Richmond more
especially already satisfied whom they are
indebted cor the salvation OF the city they referred
TO the Il Al report OF CSnmirisr E4rraDd, Who wa
then in charge Of the post aud Mr. R,y is cot willing
to rest biz claims there it IS because he nowhere nep
cusj therein.
How the unhsppT obstruction Of tho He,rimac o,
the" time aud place "Was tina sayaiicn of the cry o.
Richmond" and Row she could 70, have prevented
rAasp ports from a,o .uding james yer b,osuse, it l.
supposed, none haze since attempted IT, are questions
We leave for the scientific public to discuss and Ii
learned NAVAL G,acrsl Cou-. " raI" TO b, C,rvered
il Rctnond n decide. FAR PLAY