The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-05-20
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
VIRGINIA"
Letter from Commodore Tatnall.


Letter from Commodore Tatnall.
The following Is n copy of q letter ad-
dressed by Commodore ratnali to Secre ary
Mallory:
RIoHxokD. Va, May II, 1862.
Str: In detailing to y0a the circumstances
which caused the destruetio of the T. S.
steamer "Virginta," and her movements a
few days previous TO that event, begin with
your telegraplic dispatches to me Of the tn
and insts., directing lne to take such n
position In the james river az would entirely
prevent the enemy's ascending it.
General Hugsr, com landing at Nor folk
on learning that had received this Order
called on me aud declared that its execution
his forts on "Craney Isiand' ana ..SswelIs
Point and their guns to the enemy. lin.
formed him that, rs ths order was i'm pera.ive,
must execute it. but suggested that he
should telegraph you and state tie COnse.
Qusnces. He did 80, and, On the 9Th inst,
yOn telsgraphed me To endeavor to afford
protection to Norfolk we'll as the J James
river, which replacsd me- In my original posi-
ton. then arranged with ths q 4ene Il that
he should notify me when his preparations
for the evacuation Of Norfolk were sufficient.
~ advanced TO eaabie ma to act indsren4.
emily.
Ga the 7.h ins ant Commodore Ho!iips
reached Norfolk with orders from you TO con.
suit with me and such Off :ers rs ight select
the "Virginia" under the present aspec. OF
things.
We had arranged the conference for the
next day, the s.h, but GU that day, he:ore the
hour aprOin led, the enemy attacse ed the Sc w.
ellis Point battery, and ] left Immediately
with the Virginia 10 dstend IL
We found six Of the ea. MI 3 vessels, includ.
ing the iron clad steamers Monitor aud Nan.
gatuck. sheliing the battery We passed the
battery and stood 0irsntly for ths enemy, for
the purpose Of engaging him, and thought
an action certain, particularly as the Mime
sofa and Vanderbilt. which were anchored
below Fortress Monroe. g: under way and
stood up TO that point, apparently with the
10 ntention of joining their squadron in the
shot. the enemy ceased nrirg aud rstil cd Win
all speed under the protection OF the guns OF
the Fortress, f1llowed by n. Virginia until
the shells from the Rip Raps passed over
her.
The Virginia was then placed at her moor.
ipgs near SAwell's Poiat. and returned to
Norfolk to hold the conference referred to.
1t was held on the 9sh, and the eff .ers
present were Col. Al dzrson and q .pt. -,
OF the army, selected 5y GeA. Huge-, who
was too unvell to attend himself, and, of the
| navy, myself, Commoaors Hoiiins, and Cap.
| tains Sterrett and Lac, Com m0ndsr Richard
| l.. Jones, and LieIt-Lants Ap. Ca.esby Jones
| and j d. Pembroke Jones
The opinion was uaa n:mons that the Vir.
gIEia Was then employed 20 the best atvau.
| tsge, and that she sGcnld continue. for he
present, to protect Nortvix and thus afford
time to remove the public property.
On the next Gay. at ten c ciCca A. NJ. we OBJ
| served from the ''Vifgtnia' that tbs fl-g WAS
| not flying on the Sewe,rs Point Battery, and,
that IL appeared to have been abandoned.
dispatched Lieut.. J. r. Jones the Flag Lieu
| tenant, to Oraney Island, where the Uonfeda.
rate nag was still d. ing, and he there learned
that q large force Of the saemy had landed on
the Bay shore, anu We're marching rapidly on
| Norfolk, that the Sewelfs Point Battery was
| abandoned, and our troops were resrsatiaE.
/ then dispatched the same officer to Norfolx,
| n confer with Gen. Uager and Capt Lea -
| Hs found tho Navy Yard An flames, and that
| ing Norfolk he found tina: Gen. Hugsr and
all the other o1icers OF the army had also left,
/ thst the enemy were withia half a mile OF the
city, and that the Mayor was treating tor i.s
On returning to the ship, he found that
Oraney Island and ali the Osher batteries on
l the nves had been abandoned.
Is WaA new ssven O'Clock In tho evening,
and this unexpec'ed Information rendered
prompt measures necessary Tor tie -cesi y CT
The pilots had assured me tha. they coal.
take the ship, with draft OF oie hteea Gset, tc
/ within forty miles Of Richmond.
Hhtsf assistant, Mr. WQgnt. had asssTisc
!gain and again; ana on The afternoon Of 'ae
dore H0llins and Capt. bterfett, IA rsriy . :
question Of mine, they both cmpk aticaGy de.
| clared their ability to do SO
Con6ding In these aeearance,, and, alter
| consulting with the first and Flag L:ea.sr.
ants, and learning that the officers, generally,
/ thought II the most jadicious course, desai-
mined TO tighten the ship At once; ana run up
All hands having hesR called on deck,
| stated to them the condition OF thires, ana
/ my hope tnat, By getting up the river before
! the enemy could be @ade awsrs ofoGr deslgns'
/ cendsd 1t, and render efiiclent cid In tho de-
| fence Of Richpaondi bas that 20 eject this