Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-19
The Capture or Norfolk.
INFORMATION ABOUT the MER.
UlMAC.
rha rorlificatlOms for the De.
fence Of the city.


The Foraifications for the De.
fence Of the city.
Editorial correspondence of the n. Y. Timesl
SATURDAY EVENING, May 10.
Last night man in gray naval uni
form accosted General Viele, at the At
Ian,ic Hotel, and wished to know if he
would be arrested. The General told
him certainly, if he wore that uniform.
This morning he made his appearance
in the same uniform again, and was ar
rested. He proved to be the sailing
master OF the Merrimac. He knew no.
Thing of her having been destroyed, but
said that her last orders from the gov.
ernment was to 60 up the James river
for protection against the Federel gun
boats. Tatnall had rendered his resig-
nation rather than take her up the York
River, but had Withdrawn it on receiv-
ing notice Of this change in her desti-
nation. The prisoner was taken on
board the Monitor, and had long con-
versation with Lieut.. LETTERS about the
contest between the two vessels. He
said no shots from the Monitor had pen
etrated the Merrimac, or injured Ter in
aoy way except by starting her timbers !;
and that the only shot which entered
her was one from tie cumberland which
struck her port hole, split the gun, Kill
led two men, and wounded seventeen,
including Captain Buchanan. This man
did not concede that the Merrmac was
afraid to fight the Monitor, but he init
mated very plainly that there had been
great dissat,atact'on among the crew,
and great difficulty in bringing them to
obey orders. lie thought they would
not blow her up so long as there was
any chance of making her useful in the
James River or elsewhere /; but that, IT
this project bad been given up, they
would be very likely to dispose OF her
in that way.
have no doubt whatever Of the de-
struction of the vessel. 1t became G, in
fact, a necessity, after the surrender Of
Norfolk. She could only 60 II miles
up the James River, as the ~..cs vas
not deep enough tor her,-apd our gun
boats are already far beyond that point.
If it was certain that the rebels were
determined to make another stand 10
front of Richmond, l should think it
strange that they should consent to tore
90 all aid from this formidable vessel ,
which might at least prevent other gun
boats from going to the assistance OF the
attacking army. Bat the destruction
of the Merrimac confirms the impression
| have received from the recent military
movements of the rebels, aud which |
have more than once expressed, that
Virginia has been substantially aban.
doned by the rebel government.
NORFOLK, Sunday, May l1-2r. NJ.
seized the first opportunity today
to take look at the Qualifications by
which Norfolk has been SO long defend
ed against our fleet. 1t is easy to see
that their strength has not been exag-
gerated. The works on Sewall's Point
are quite extensive, intended for forty
guns, only twenty. three of which, how
ever, have ever been mounted, and OF
these only seven now remain. Craney
Isand-long, low and level-stands
Just at the eatra' ce of the channel, and
has upon it very formidable series Of
skllliulIy constructed earthworks, intcp.
ded for fifty guns, of which thirty-nine
had been mounted, -mostly nine and
ten-inch Dahlgrens, though there were
also rifed and Parrot guns among
them. There were also nine finished
classmates on the north baslion, and five
unfinished. The works are all admira-
bly, constructed. Next beyond Craney
Island, on the right, is most beautiful
semi-circular water battery, with eleven
cascmates, and finished in as fine style
az any works of similar kind | have
ever seen. Still further on, upon the
same SIDE, is still anoti er battery, while
on the opposite shore stands Folt Nor
folk. All these works together consti
tutc a gauntlet which it certainly would
not be prudent in any but the powerful
vessel Of war to attempt to run. Then,
too, just below these batteries, directly
across the channel, has been driven
mes Of piles, an opening being left in
the middle for the passage of vessels,
intended, however, TO be closed in an
emergency by sinking the immense hulk
Of the old United States, which lies
close by for preparation. Upon these
piles, the San Jaclnto, as she was going
n to-day, stuck fast for a couple OF
hours, but finally extricated herself with
out injury.
The rebels succeeded in almost com.
ple,eIy destroying the Navy Yard last
night. Hundreds of them we're busy in
setting fire to all the buildings and all
the vessels, and this morning little re
manned but smoking ruins and dismal
desolation. The grea, eastern aud west
crn ship houses, the marine barracks,
officers quarters, smiths shops, engine
houses, DC, were all consumed. The
r.bels had built and launched two iron
vessels, mounting tour guns each aud
built IN ~ater-tight compartments, so as
to be raised or sunk 1T pleasure. These
we're not intended to be propelled, but
to be used as stationary batteries for
harbor defence, or else to be lowed out
to operate against our wooden vessels
They were burned, but not SO seriously
injured as to be entirely useless. A
number OF small vessels and schooners
were also burned. Great Efforts were
made to destroy the dry.dock, but they
were unsuccessful.
The magnificent naval hospital re-
mains untouched. Even the vandalism