The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-01
A SCRAP WAR HISTORY.


AsCRAP OF WAR HISTORY.
INTERCEPTED LETTER FROM CONFEDERATE
MARINE OFFICER
W,suIsaroS, November II, 1891
10 he Editor Of The Army and Macy Journal
Sir. Asa matter of much interest,
send YOU herewith, for publication,
copy Of letter from rebel navy OH
GER to friend in Texas, which w was
intercepted during hostilities: ..,.s w;
JAMS RIVER SQUADRON
'"ds, a. 1 = Is.rS; H. A.'' have Intended writ
ing for some time, but have not done SO
from the fact that the mail communica-
tons have been 40 interrupted for some
time: but now believe / have a SAFE
conveyance for some letters, ana VIII
avail myself of it and write several:
Our affairs do not look very bright at
present the bad turn things have TAKEN
dates, In my belief, from the removai o.
General Johnson from the command Oh
| the Army Of Tennessee, sherman,
since that time, has moved wherever nc
pleased, and, after sweeping through
| the state of Georgia, unobstructed Al
| most, is now endeavoring to close ~ the
rear of Richmond, compelling us 10
eyacuate Charleston, and, in fact, ire
entire state of South Carolina. Inc
! loss of the country will be OF little mo-
ment did it not interfere so seriously
with the supplies for this army, which
have 10 be drawn tom s9stnw W;s.;'
! Georgia. The northern hair OF Nirsi-
9inia' Including the rich .Shenandoah
| Valley. has been made n desert waste ny
the ravages of war, and North Carolina
and Virginia together could not support
An army of twenty-thOusand men. we
expect 10 hear of battle daily between
our forces and Sherman, anu nope for
| tho best results, since General Johnson
has been placed In command Oh our
forces.
On the lines around Richmond every
thing is very quiet, Grant evidently
waiting for Sherman tn accomplish his
purpose before he moves. II we sue
coed in whipping Sherman everything
will then be well.
Our squadron, consisting Of the IRON
clads Virginia, Richmond and this
vessel, on the 23d ultlmo, proceeded
down the river some ten miles and, but
for the timidity Of the pilots on the
Virginia and Richmond, would have
changed the entire phase OF the war in
this section, our object being nothing
less than the division Of Grants army
!, into three parts and the destruction Of
his water base at City Point. We were
, | To 90 through their Instructions, and,
after running through their pontoon
bridge, some fifteen miles below, would
!. have left one iron-clad to cruise up and
t. down the river to prevent them rom
y | communicating with each other; the
|, other two would have gone down to
: City Point, some forty miles farther,
Z and there INSTRUCTED the channel with
! | sunken vessels, so that it would have
been impossible for them to have re-
moved them under the fire of the IRON
clad that would have been left to prevent
them. while the other iron-clad would
; have been free to run up the Appomat-
tox. Grants army would have been
> cut in three parts with no prospect OF
J being able to communicate with each
other. Our army would then have been
: able to mass and crush each part in
= detail.
e This vessel passed through the YAM
!, kee obstructions at 80 A. M, and we all
flattered ourselves that every difficulty
Q had been overcome. The enemy's fire
:, from their mortars had been quite trou-
! blestme for some time, but their heavy
e guns had not struck US once. After
u waiting for the other vessels tor about
an hour, and seeing nothing Of them,
y our captain sent me in O small boat
to report to the commodore that
e we were safely through, and ask If we
e should wait any longer. / went up to
i the distractions, and, seeing nothing of
: them, continued for some distance before
[ came to them. After reporting, the
: commodore ordered me to return with
i out delay and report to our captain that
!. both the other vessels were aground, and
y would not be able to get Oft before II
;. A. NJ the next day. This compelled an
u abandonment of all ideas of success, for
' the first requisite was a complete sur.
), prise, and before the next night they
q would have time to concentrate large
: fleet above City Point. We came up the
!, | river some IL miles, and at daylight the
!. enemy had an easy range from hisshOre
:, batteries of 100 and 200-pound PARROTS
- on the vessels that were aground. The
- projectiles had no effect ut eleven hun
: dred Yards, but double-turretted moni.
= tor, seeing their helpless condition, came
- within one thousand yards and opened
with 1l-inch and l5-inch guns. The 10
inch were the only ones that did any
- damage and they did not penetrate, bu
-, crushed in six (6) inches of iron an(
- twenty-eight (2s) inches of wood. TIL.
10 splinters killed six (6) and wounded
NJ fourteen "a men. Projectiles of thi,
. weight will penetrate any iron-clad tina
I'd has ever been built, ! believe.
This squadron is now commanded by
- Admiral Semmes, late of the Alabama
~, He is small man, nothing particularly
81 striking in his appearance, except his
VI eye, which is very fine and piercing.
hu think his reputation will suffer with the
ne country in having accepted this com
III maud for he has not room here to fight
,or as large vessels as these are.
,n / remain very truly yours,
ed. Il. II. EGGLEsToN.