Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-05-26

in times of peace on Dead Sans deek but We were pre-
sent with the brave Buchanan Jones and other omcer
and crew. when they sank the Cumberland and destroyed
the Congress.
We have stood exposed to the enemy's fire on the
uncaledfor destroyed Virginia, when Rinie balls aad
cannon balls fell thick hail. 0ae OF US tirs fiot
Parish was on board the Harmony, commInded oy Tue
brave Captain Fairfax. when she fought the savannah
of Newport News He Was also on board inc sea nro,
under the brave veteran Commodore Lynch, when he
ook the Sherwood from the Express, and was under hfe
Of the enemy for two hours. From the nis1 Gay the
Virginia flung 10 the breeze the hig oil our beloved
Southern COnfederacy have acted as her pioS ana
we have shown eowardee, or an snWiingness 70 ooey
orders, or ncompeteLcy, let Buchanan, JONES' aho
Others say so. =,
Now, a few words as 20 the management OF the snip:
On the memorable battle Of the N aud sh OF hircn,
when the wonder OF the world (the ETglnia), under
command Of Buchanan and Jones, CALAMITY encountered
the Cumberland the Congress- the Minnesota, the Aoni
to- the St. Lawrence and several gunboats, crowd OF
twenty thousand peTsons with many naval officers,
united in one voice. in saying that the Virginia Was
''splenjijy managed" 0ns Of US pilot George Wngn)
poted the French ship Gsssend from Norcls with the
Wrench Minister on board aud had the high grauhcanon
of hearing from the lips Of the French commander the
compliment "Ghat the battle OF the n aud Sh the
Virginia was handled in mastery and seanan-hke man
ner" And, cir" he said, 81 have drawing will
show you Of the battle, and the victory Pilot Wright
remarked "Sir is very correct Thus it will be seen
u
mtndston bes owed upon Us until We reached Rlch'
mond, when for the first time, we are charged with
deception Commodore TAtnall says: 81 have seen no
dstruEt their good faith TO the Ooniederaey
Sir, did not require your enforcement. We arc
known BY men at least fully your equals and 10 man
has ever dared to doubt our loyalty 20 our 5 ate
and TO the South. II We had chosen 70 be traitors,
thousands and tens Of thousands might have been at our
command It could have been bribed TO pilo Union'
shius instead OF Southern ships. Though poor, and three
of US men of large fmilies dependent en- US for sub
sisteuce there ia Yankee gold enough il a the land
90 Induce US betray the Southern Confederacy. NO
Virginia pilot hiss disobeyed the proclamation OF our
Governor prohibiting them plotting Yankee menof-"ar
OF merchant vessels
We have neatly concluded this communication and
though a more thorough and elaborate answer would
have exposed the alacy and inconsistency OF Commo-
dorr Tatnas communication, yet wa hope enough has
been said open toe eyes OF the authorities and the
public.
Before closing il is proper to notice the unjust and
unmertad a'msut manifested towards Chief Pilot
PARISH Since the Virginia launched, Pilot Parish has
been with her in good and in evil report He received
commission as Master in the Navy sgned by President
Davis and has endeavOred TO do his duty to his State
and country.
Ca his arrival f. Richmond he was ordered to the
batteries of DreWrys Bluff He Immediately repaired to
that pest, and commenced With all his powers TO AID In
bockadng the James river, which had been exposed to
Yankee gunboas by the Withdrawal OF the Virginia from
the defences of the James river While thus engaged
pilot Parish received from Secretary Mallory an order
rsycking his commission and dismisaing hin from the
service Withou. af0dng him tho form OF a trial. and
without even notice OF q charge. Pilot Pdrlsh Wcuid
rather have fallen in defence of his country, leaving
good name to bis wife and children, than hus, without
hearing to be deprived of that to which be is justly
entitled But, conscious that full iuvesligaton Of
this whole matter will fully exonerato the pilots from all
blame in relation to the destruction Of the Virginia, pi-
lot Parish will content himself meanwhile with the con-
seriousness that he has done his duty have also the p
| lots associated with him on board the Virginia.
In conclusion cay that, In the des ruction OF the
Pdde Of the South, the pilots board bad no part
or lot and no faux or blame can be attached u.s.
WILLIAM PARISH,
| GEORGE WRIGHT. Pilots.
WHIT o CLARK,
| WILLIAMS