The weekly Butte record., 1862-06-07
Norfolk NAVY Yard.


ed to inquire into the circumstances attending
the surrender of the navy yard at Pensacolz,
and the destruction Of the property of the Uni
ted States at the navy yard at Norfolk, and at
the armory at Harper's Ferry, has been for
warded Us BY Senator McDougal Concerning
United States property at Norfolk, it contains
some interesting statistics, derived from reli-
able sources. A perusal Of the report cannot
fail to convince the reader, that its possession
by the rebels has alone enabled them TO resist
the authority of the Government Without il,
and the property there captured, the rebellion
would have long since been crushed out. The
dilatory policy of Buchanan's Administration
in not securing it against attack by the mob
cannot be condemned in too strong terms
Neither can Mr.. Lincolns Administrator es
cape wholly blameless. The first attempt
made By Mr.. Lincoln's Administration to pro
tect the Norfolk navy yard was on the 10th
of April, thirty-seven days after the incoming
of his Administration. Prior to the attempt
/
ais at Savannah, Mobile, Baton Rouge, Chata,
hooche, Augusta, Little Rock, and Liberty
Missouri, had been seized; the marine hospital
and barracks at New Orleans, and the navy
yard at Pensacola, had been wrested from the
Government; the mint, at New Orleans, had
been taken and plundered of its treasure all
10
rously surrendered by Twiggs Enough had
been done to show the determined animus oil
the rebellion before Government attention was
turned to the Norfolk navy yard. and the at
tempts made by Government for its preserva-
ton from the 10th of April were frustrated by
the officers AID agents in charge of it, until its
of the report cannot hold the officer in COM
mand, Capt McConley, gu:ltless of treason
But it was not our intention 10 find fault with
the authorities or to complain of the treason OF
those in command of the navy yard at \ Norfolk
at the time of its attempted destruction and
surrender, but, rather, to show the amount oil
property destroyed or captured at that place.
1t was one of the oldest, and by far the
most extensive navy yards and naval depot in
the country. 1t contained dry dock of gran
ite. The yard-three fourths of mile long
and one-fourth in width-was covered with
machine shops, dwelling houses for officers, and
storehouses of various kinds The evidence
introduced forced the committee to the conclu
sion that there were as many as two thousand
pieces Of artillery of all calibres, in and about
the yard, at the time of its abandonment. in
cluding three hundred Dahlgreu guns There
is scarcely doubt but that the number reach
ed a higher figure. 1t will thus be seen that
the surrender of this yard, through the treason
or pusillanimity Of the Government officers or
to defend it at all hazards, was the means OF
supplying the rebellion with its formidable ar
mament of artillery. and deducting all that
the Government troops have since recaptured
the rebels can still number their pieces of ar
tillery, captured at Norfolk and elsewhere. by
tens OF thousands. The total value OF the
property of the United States in and about
the yard, including the yard itself, and vessels,
was upwards of ten millions of dollars.
There were lying at the navy ycrd at the
time, the new steam frigate Merrimack car
rying forty guns, and worth, when fully equip
ped, twelve hundred thousand dollars the
sloop-of-war Plymouth twenty-five guns ;
the sloop-oEwar Germantown" of twenty
two guns and the brig Dolphin carrying
four guns. These were all efficient and valu-
able vessels. The battery of the q Merrimack =
was not on board, but she was in readiness to
be taken out from the yard. The armaments
of the d" Germantown and Dolphin were
on board, and they only awaited their officers
and crews 10 be ready for sea. The Ply
mouth was nearly ready for sea. The old
ship-of-the-lin Pennsylvania was in com
mission there as receiving ship and the ships
of-the-line " Delaware" of eighty-four guns,
and g Columbus" of eighty guns, and the
frigates United States" of fifty guns, d" Co
lumbia, of fifty guns, and " Raritan," of fifty
guns, were lying in ordinary at the yard The
unfinished ship-of-the-lin New York was
also lying on the stocks, in one of the ship
houses. The sloop-of-war Cumberland. -
carrying twenty-four guns, was at that time
the flagship of Captain Pendergrast, in COM
maud of the home squadron, and was moored
abreast of one of the ship-houses, at a distance
of one or two hundred yards from the shore
with her full armament and crew on board
and 10 a position to command completely the
cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth.
ALARM OF FIRE An alarm Of fire occurred
on Thursday morning. creating intense excite
ment for few minutes 1t occurred in the
row of wooden buildings on Bird street. be
tween Huntoon and Lincoln, in the building
occupied by Mr.. Garland, as fruit and vari
ETY. store, from a defective stove pipe, the pro