Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-05-24
DESTRUCTION OF THE MERRIMAC.

t'OufiS vi ueSlTuCllOu Oh oi'N NV
causes which led to it. The country will hardly be
convinced that it wise policy to evacuate Nor
folk at the time it was done, to burn the Merrmac
which really seems to have been a consequence OF
the evacuation:
RICHMOND, Va, May IA, 1862.
SIR; In detailing to you the circumstances which
caused the desti uction of the e. 5. steamer "Flr-
| ginia and her movements few days previous to
that event. begin with your Geographic dispatches
to me of the 4th and 9th inst, directing to take
such position in the James river would entirely
| prevent the cnemy's ascending it.
| General IIuger commanding at Norfolk on learn
ing that had received this order, called on me and
declared that its execution would oblige him to
abandon, Immediately, his Forts on "Craney Island"
| and "Scwells Point" and their guns to the enemy.
| informed him, that, as the order was imperative,
| must execute it. but suggested that he should tel.
egraph you and state the consequences He did so,
and, on the 9th inst, you telegraphed me to endeav
or to afford protection to Norfolk well the
| James river which placed me my original posi-
ion. then arranged with the General that he should
notify me when his preparations for the evacuation
of Norfolk sufficiently advanced to enable me
| to act independently.
On the 7th inst, Commodore Hnns reached
| Norfolk with orders from you to consult with me
and such officers as mi hit select in regard to the
best disposition to be made of the Virginia under
| the present aspect of things.
We had arranged the Conference for the next day,
the Sth but on that dav before the hour appointed,
the enemy attacked the Sewelrs Point Battery and
left nediately with the "Virgnia" to defend it,
We found six of the enemy's vessels, including
| the iron clad steamers, Monitor" and Manga
tuck" Smelling the Battery. We passed the Bat
terry and stood directly for the enemy for the pur
| pose of engaging him, and thought an action
tain, particularly as the minnesota" and "Van-
derbilt" which were anchored below Fortress Mon
roe got under way and stood up to that point appa
entv with the intention 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 the For.
tress followed by the Virginia" until the shells
from the rip Raps" passed over her.
The Virginia" was then placed at her moorngs
near SewellS Point and | returned to Norfolk to
hold the Conference referred to-
1t was held on the 9th, and the officers present
were Colonel Anderson and Captain --, of
the Army, selected by General IIuger, who too
unwell to attend himself and, of the Navy, myself
Commodore llOllins, Captains Sterrett and Lee
Commander Richard L. Page and Lieutenants APP
Catesby Jones, and j. Pembroke Jones'
The opinion was unanimous that the "Nirginia"
was then employed to the best advantage and, that
she should continue, for the present. to protect Nor
folk and thus afford time to remove the public prop
erty.
On the next dav, at 10 o'clock a. H., we observed
from the Virginia that the flag not fl wing
the Sewells Point Battery, and that it appeared to
have been abandoned. | despatched Lieut.. j. p.
Jones' the Flag Lieutenant to Craney Island, where
the Confederate flag was still flying and he there
learned that Large force Of the enemy had landed
the Bay shore, and marching rapidly on
Norfolk, that the SewellS Point Battery aban-
doned, and our troops were retreatIng. | then de-
Spatchcd the officer to Norfolk, to confer with
General lluger and Captain Lee. He found the
Navy Yard in flames, and that all its officers had
left by railroad On reaching Norfolk he found that
General Iluger ana all the other officers of the army
had also left that the enemy within half
mile of the city, and that the Mayor was treating
for its surrender
On returning to the ship, he found that Craney
Island and all the other batteries the river had
been abandoned
1t was now seven o'clock liz the evening, and this
unexpected information rendered prompt measures
necessary for the safety CT the Virginia"
The pilots had assured me that they could take
the ship, with draft of eighteen feet, to within
forty miles of Richmond.
This, the Chief Pilot Mr. Parrish and his Chief
Assistant Mr.. Wright had asserted, again and
again. and, on the afternoon of the 9TH, in my cabin
in the presence of Commodore lollinS and Captain
Sterrett in reply to question of mine, they both
emphatically declared their ability to do so.
Conhding in these assurances and, after consult
ting with the First and Flag LIeuenants, and fearn-
ing that the officers, generally, thought It the most
jud!ciOus course, determined TO Tighten the Ship
at once, ana run up the river lot the protection oil
Richmond.
All hands having been called on deck, stated to
them the condition of things, 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 in
the defence of Richmond, but that to effect this
would require all their energy in tightening the
ship. They replied with three cheers, and went to
work at once.
The pilots were on deck and heard this address
to the crew.
Being quite unwell, had retired to bed. Between
one and two o'clock in the morning, the First Lieu
tenant reported to me that, after the crew had
worked for five six hours and lifted the ship,
as to render her unfit for action the pilots had de-
cared their inability to carry eighteen feet above
the jamestown Flats, up to which point the Shore
on each side occupied by the enemy.
On demanding from the chief pilot, Mr. Parish
an explanation of this palpable deception, he replied
that eighteen feet could be carried after the prevail
ance Of easterly winds, and that the wind for the
last two days had been westerly.
/ had no time to lose. The ship was not in
condition for battle, even with enemy of equal
force, and their force was overwhelming. l. there
FORE determined with the concurrence OF the First
and Flag -Lieutenants, to the crew for future
service, by landing them at Craney Island the only
road for retreat open to and to destroy the ship
to prevent her falling into the hands OF the enemy
may add, that although not formally consulted
the course was approved by every commissioned
officer in the ship.
| There is no dissenting opinion. The ship was &C
cordingy put shore as the mainland, in the
vicinity Of .Craney Island as possible and the crew
landed she then fired and after burning fierce
! ly fore andaft for upwards of an hour, blew up a
little before five on the morning Of the 18th.
We marched for Suffolk, twenty-five miles, and
reached it in the evening" and from thence came by
railroad to this city.
|, will be asked what motive the pilots could
| have had to deceive me. The only imaginable one
is, that they wished to avoid going into battle.
Had the ship not been lifted so as to render her
unfit for action, desperate contest must have en-
sued with force against us too great to justify
much hope Of success and, battle is not their &C.