The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-12

McC auey moved the 3lst OF the same mcnth up
the naval anchorage, one and half mile below inc
Norfolk Navy Yard, for repairs. On the nth OF Aprh
following the Cumberland moved mp TO position
OF OF the ship houses within one or TWO nun
yards of the Shore and, with full arm ament ana
crew board lay in such position as 70 command ths
entire harbor tie cites Of Norfolk Portsmouth, the
Navy Yard, and the approaches to it. For several
weeks the Convention Of Virginia had been in session
ana by its violent debates had clown the excitement all
over the State to q blaze. At Norfolk par
ticularly the public feeling against the government
was intensely bitter Ths military companies
Of Portsmouth and Norfolk were caheo ouS
and paraded under arms rumors were circulated Oh
contemplated attack upon the Navy Yard ana oil he efeo
ton OF batteries at St. Helena so az to bear upon INC
yard and threats boiserously made OF an nias-
date if the authorities at the yard shoua mako
any attempt to defend themselves TO remove any por
ton the public property Some light pots were SUNK
IN the river between Sewalls Point and cransy isana
for The purpose or obstrucng the channel the night
az ths 10th of April The Merrimac put in readiness
o DC sent out the harbor on the 17th OF April TIC
Virginia Convention had in secret session. passed the or
snance of accession the 10th Of April and proceeded
Al to foot preparations for attacking or reduc
ing the yard The Southern officers in the yard having
accomplished their purposes by remaining resigned on
tho 18Th OF April and the day General Iiaferro
arrived Nt NOrlOk 10 siooFo
was undoubtedly design Of the State authorities TO
send capturing the yard On the following day
most OF the employees absentcd themselves from muster
aud il was evident that crisis at hand which would
cali for some decisive action the part Of the command
ant OF the yard.
rus pEsrRuorIos OF THE snPrNo, DOCKS, ETC., BY OUR
TROOPS.
Seeing the state OF public opinion against the govern
ment and the unprotected state Of affairs at the yard
N he no the Union naval
authorities at Norfolk but TO destroy all the property
belonging the government at that depot in order 10
prevent falling into the hands Of the rebels Accord
ngly the work Of demolition was commenced and the
immense works which had cost the Union so much TO
erect were destroyed set on Ere.
In the first place attempt made to mutate the
guns the yard by knocking OF the trunnions For this
purpose Numbered men were detailed from the Cum
berland under the command OF Lieutenant John H. Rus
sell, but though they worked for hour playing trip
hammer with eighteen pound sedgss upon the Dshgren
guns they resisted all their efforts; and such the
strength tenscty of the metal that they did not
ceed in breaking single trunnion. Many OF the old
guns, however, were destroyed. The duty Of mining
and blowing the dry dock given in charge to Cap
Charles Wilkes, and ofcers and men assigned
him for that PURPOSE and TO prepare for burning tho
buildings. Commander Rodgers, ard Captain Wright, Of
the engineers volunteered 10 destroy the dry Dock and
Commanders Alden ana SabGS were Glrected 10 provNc
for the destruction of the ship houses barracks, &c
lieutenan. Henry a. Wise ordered to lay trains
uron The ships and fire them at given signal and per
form that duty the thorough and encctual
Ter.
At alb ut two O'Clock all reported TO be ready and
the troops marines sailors and others at the yard
taken board the Pawnee and Cumberland leaving on
shore only many were required to set tho fires
The Pawnse then left the wharf, and at four
III. r,,oh
land in tow and stood down the harhor. Al twenty
minutes past O'Clock the concerted signal given
by a rocket from the Pawnee, the torch was applied
simultaneously at many points and In few minutes the
ships and buildings in the yard were wrapped in flames
The parties left shore to apply the matches all sue
ceeded in making their escape except Commander
Rodgers and Captain Wright who failed to reach the
boats left to bring them OF, and were arrested in the
morning at Norfolk and detained by the rebels rs
prisoners Of war. The officers ard men IN the b ats
pulled down harbor in the light Of the consgraon,
which Illuminating the country and The bay for
miles around, overlook tie Pawnoe at Crarey Island and
were taken on board.
singular fatality seems TO have attended this mad
attempt destroy the public property, which confined
its OPERATION principally TO the vessels which, before the
scutmg could easily have been saved, while The dry
deck the machine shops smiths shops ard sheds,
ponfers' shops and sheds, timber sheds, ord
building and foundries. sawinil, proyi
sion house, spar house, tools, provisions, dwell
iugs Of the commandant and other officers and in
TACT all The buildings in tho yard, except tho ship
houses marine barracks rgpers loft sail loft and ord
nance lift remained uunjIred and have beer since
Il tho use and possession OF the rebels Indeed they
Immediately took possession OF ali the buildings and
chncry, nd have since been and are nsing
them ~ The usual purposes of navy yard employ
ing them in the sfactlre OF arms. shot and Shell III
budding gboats ard ron-clEdIirg vcsses-os 10 be
used against the government. TIE guns have been
mounted batteries along Ito Elizabeth river and dis
tbuied among various forGcatons Throughout the
seeded States.
OF PROPERTY TAKEN
The worth Of the land which fell into tho possession OF
Tia rete is given follows:-
Navy Yard proper, containing So acres.... $4,000
=. lie ooStS ming IS &C ......... 1900
Maya hos pital, containing 100 49,. 70 900
for Norfolk, containing acres. ........... 10000
Total. $25s 900
The estimates OF the improvements are
improvements at Navy Yard Announcement. 81 944, 500
IMPROVEMENTS at St. Helena. INSTRUMENTATION. SOU
ovements III Naval Hos piial ......... GO 500
improvements At Naval Magazine ........... 1876. $50
prov meuts at other points. 226 600
Total. .So'oo4oo
Tho worth OF the vessels partially destroyed is thus
asiimated.-