Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-22
TIE Virginia.

The Virginia.
The news that the i" Virginia had been DESTROYED,
produced feeling of great sadness in city yeser-
day. part from the hopes connected with her future
there was pride felt in her late wonderful achieve
ment which gave the good ship place in the affections
OF the people. Aad it must have been agony to the
commander and crew to apply the torch to vessel that
had won tame as wide as the word and had goae un-
sca,hed through wars utmost appl ances.
We have gathered from gentleman who was on
board, the following particulars of the Vrgnas last
days
Il had been determined that the Virginia. after the
evacuation Of Norfolk should be brought into the James
Oommodore satnall, her commander, requested by
Gen. Huger 10 protect him on the water side while be
remained IN Norfolk, with the promise that twenty
hours notice Of the time Of The intended evacuation
should be given. he Virginia accordingly lay at Sew
ellis Poin. The reacbery Of Byers who carried over
the Confederate tugboat A. G. White, to the enemy,
revealed also the dismaDed condition of Norak, and
cpitated the coming of Wools troops ard the de-
parture of ours. The evacuation thus effected not
only without the propCs notice to Commodore Tat
na but be was not aware Of it unti it completed
Az officer who was sent from the ship to Norfolk to
communicate with Gel Huger, narrowly escaped fall
Ing INTO the euemy's hands.
Commodore Tanail now, at O'Clock on Saturday
evening, had to choose between two The
brave Fortress Monroe aud the large feet there,
juclu1ing the sMonitOr and other ironclads and at
tempt 10 eutar York Rivsr-he other was to carry ont
the purpose Of entering tbs James.
he latter still seemed most eligible, and was deter
mined upon Alea0whiie, difficulties had nterposed-
&c tie Cherry Of Beers had caused the enemy to send
gonboats up the james the day They were also
uly 0t the Intentions Of the Virginia, and pre-
pared to 0hstruct them.
The pilos required that the Virginia should be light
cred reduce her draught from twenty-five ieet
TO eighteen 1t IL o'clock Saturday night, the
set about this heavy work The ship thereby
ras2d cut OF the water to expose her wood work,
her ru3der and propeller She therefore left in DO
condition Tor lighting. Hence her escape up the James
river required that she should make the trip that night
At this condition Ct things the pilots nterposed say
that the westerly winds bad r3duced the water in the
river auu such the l0Wnees OF the tide, that they
could undertake TO carry the vessels up the James
Why they reserved this communication to such hour
needs xplan8tiou.
The condition # the sip such as to render
the other course al first entertained, alternative,
simple folly Nothing iDcd in the judgment of the
c3nmander hut to stroy ntr.
At two OC oCk Saturday nj ght, she ashore
Craney Island, and the crew commenced debarking
in two small boats At Ihree they were all on laud and
commauc2d their march 30 SUffJIk. 01 leaving, they
| tir d the Virginia. At five she blew up With tre-
mendoUs explosion. The cew bent their course towards
Suffolk, t"tnty-two mjles distant, which point they
reached at O'Clock OH Sunday afternoon They
there took tra0 Tor Petersburg, whence some Of them
have arrived in our city.
The Virginia was proyisioncd for one month and
bnt Tor the induced by the pilots, might have
mned Ionger adna', and taken chances of escape
hgWiug her way through the enPmys feet. But the
ttIec 10 take her up the JAMES ii the d7eught we're
duced eighteen feet caused the virtual dsmantng OF
the snip Ir ali p1rp0s aud when it tben decar-
ed that the low sgo ot the water rendered 1t impossi-
be tTiag der up With the despatch requisite Qnder
the circumstances, the escape ct her the fast
iac!osng lines Of the enemy who already at Pigs
Point, allowed 10 waste o. time in her destruction.
Since the Virginia had to be destroyed, it is relief
10 eel t5at il done il cold blood and by pre-
gwen das cruel fate Unexpectedly forced it up1n
rer commander. Strict inquiry will doubtless be made
the Combination Of circumstances that trained
III painful necessity SO far as 'aut Shall be discover
I'd any where. II must be vigorously Puhashed 30 far
the suit IS due 10 thsc accidents which make up so
large part Of war, must submit with equaulmy.
Bat as We a'e at plfseut crCunstarc9d the loss Of
the Virginia need not disturb Us much Practically it
is of small import for had already washed hands
of the water The closure OF the james below chmOnd
IS al that we were expecting OF the Virginia. Ii may
be effected without her, perfectly and completely. We
can imagine no deeper disgrace than Will 0Vertake our
engineers and our authorities generally if they fail in
ibis. The people ready TO best0W their absr in
limited amount at the cali Of government. A narrow,
crooked sIr am, with high banks af rd5 admirable Cp
portuniy Or the employment Of distractions, batteries
sbarph00ters etc Lit the fate OF the Virginia give
renewed energy 10 the preparations which still pro-
guessing and loss will be repaired. And let teach
Us not ID rely any means Ct defence, however
secure it may seem. BY some accident it may fail
Iet US, therefore, take pond OF late oy multiplying cur
barr tr3 aud Eu warEs and employing varied resources
Ii the enaDy'5 gunb0ata should break through Our
o. srgucto9s. ard batteries and escape o2I
sburpsd0oers there Is other OF meeting tbcm
that must be employed. Iron-cad or whatever they
may BE- We must bo1<d them. Cannot Richmond, can
not the glorious army which lies BY furnish enough
OF reso u.e for ibis purpose? We are t0ld thai
the Monitor readily be taken by boarding. We
must do it.
And in the narrow James, FIRE ships, too, can b
most advautageoul y employed Let US prepare the5
foE the cDLfaggaton if they shall be needed Let u
make Ricbmoud glorious both by land and water fo
successful heroisn.-RichmOnd Eaqui,er.
, THE FEDERAL FLAG OF tRUCE-As there is mu:i
speculation, and very TumOrs with re
ga to the Communication received by the conDn !dan
of this district, through flag of truce, Friday last
it may be we'll to give general statement of the fact
as they a,e:
Il 8ppeals that the communication referred to wa