The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-30

rx7.HrSrt>5 rAGx or HISTORY cLEvERLy
WRITTEN.
Portsmouth fvs> Correspondence Cincinnati
Commercial. December -.
Slowly lhc peaceful and prosperous years
wen, hy. sna in thcir quiet course the ma
,ion and the uayy-yard grew out OF infancy
;,., Jhr full strength and stature Of 4 man.
Al ,rtc,, Of the primcral forest vanished
;,u ihr var,l and the spot over which the
y.ar,rinyr had whi-,lct rc>cundGd TO the
.,qni,ag ct iNr >t"am-cn%iNtS and the roar OF
,Hr ho.-thToStCd furnaces. Massive cdliiceS
were erc2icd grand workshops Were built,
~ which every device ,hc ingenuity Of hU
man intellect .las a1T,ird TO things pertain
inr 10 the service OF the sea WAS executed or
improved upon: -hip-Aouses, so immense
fhi, ,2cy might have served as places OF
>.,;-,.sr for hr-c-s:zrd villages, rose up over
..i.nt SGrn, wien i,v within them rs 4 child
in Is cradle: stone piC!>, wharvCS, and abut-
meats oI .0y>-!i"h%d Soii0ity extended in
nri a!our the placid river which hathcd
Iacir bases: ol j2ci> O: Use and ornament
adorned .lic HyAutiiuly-- --radcd walks; mln,l-
tacsure> o; rae excellence and perfection Of
iini>h were cXvrUtcd by mechanics thor
oarnlv skilled IN their art: AID stately
s u;t> ~rrw into grand proportions FROM
Aecl ~ tupaa>,, HEd equipped with every
naval r"t,,ii>i;r, furnished with all NUM-
tons Of war. and made luXuricusIv beat
IiNll by every possible al0Tnmcnt and clc-
.s,ncc. s2Iird from the ward which had
clcl them into creation 10 tcir TO the
ends Of The earth the siar-rcIined banner,
and be the conscyvatorS OF American honor.
Trophies Of national glory were gathered
tri,mpHantly within the walls. Huge Span
80 4 y
with elaborate carvings OF such perfection Of
design and execution that they seemed the
master work OF master hands, were mounted
around the Grand Square. and uttered from
their vOiccles> mouths eloquent tales Of
American vaIora ut san Juan d'C iioa and Vera
tluZ; while lla~s. banners. ;tDd more sub
stantlI tokens, proudly attcStcd naval victo-
T;ts in which America lowered grandly su-
premc over England aud Algiers.
Successive Administrations bad added to
the accumulation OF stores and supplies unit
at Tie Gate Of April ~, 1861, property to the
value Of more than thirty millions Of dollars
WAS iuCEOScd within It. Ii contained tholi-
sands of cannon OF the largest c:liire and
most improved construction. Small arms OF
every n;;ilic and kind, OF the most costly un:-
trg!ll> and workmanship, were absolutely
countlcS> in nunhcra and variety. Shot. shell,
;!mi all conceivable kinds "i ordnance stores,
Wclc almost ~ sand OF the Stashurc in ahun-
,!ttlcr. IN inc!lcillaiic amoun; OF prori-
$ion> and supplies Tiled 10 rcpIction the
siorchou>es. while ships which bad cost mil
lions Of dollars lay along the WbarVcs or were
;nDoied in The stream.
The noble frigate Cumberland, fully armed
and manned. lay across the ceIna! Wharf,
while tie S!c.m tiigltc McIr.nac, recently
returned from the Pacific, with her engines
i'll running order. was stationed not far of.
Under The gigantic shears lay the German
town, fully riggcd and armed.
Just btaw the dry dock, in good COZ di-
ton. was the sloop-oi-war Piy:nouth, a.ti
immediate!y above it lay the old lnc-of. e,t-
lie ships Delaware and Columbus. Anchored
.iu>t below the yar;l. and forming the grand
81 Object of interest i'll This portion OF the
country. WAS The immense Ship-o!-thc-llnc
Fcun>y yivania, used a> II receiving ship, and
comprising, with her enormous proportions
ANA complement of iftceE hundred men, a
floating city within herself.
About her were The ships Raritan. Column
hla, United states, ard the brig Dolphin,
IN" latter having Il i'aitcry well manned, and
under command OF 4 most efficient officer.
Within the yard stood three tremendous
Ship.hoilse>, in one OF which was the uniin-
i-Hcd scvcnty-iour-gun ship New York.
AZ tl, time. and il addition TO the crews
Of the various vessrls attached to the yard,
there were six hundred men employed in il,
most Of whom were known to he tiitbiu to
Inc Government. Besides those who could
De relied on, arrangements had been made
with two volunteer companies, perfectly
loyal. ana living in Tie village OF Ncwtown,
Immediately adjIcCnt 10 the yard, TO rally to
lis defence III event OF an attack.
So stood in lis pride and magniiiccuce
what was CmDh2liT.!iy the naVV-yard OF
America. rs the sun rose 10 tlDon the event
ful day OF Apii! -. 1861. It's condition and
order rendered it ,cr!ee.lv able 10 resist the
Ms, roNrri.i! land fore" which might bc
U,o"g!,i at taat tine against il, While IN
attack rs W2!cr ;Tt;, from The nature o.
things. IN A'So!ute inip'ssihiiIiy.
.N tl, iili.c the almost ar%l,able force
wh!ch t:Ic Cuni.dcratcS could 4,avc brought
10 bear OH TIE ya:d consisted of few vel.
untccr companies uAlcr nn rc~nlr o:.a,iiza-
(Ioa, WAosc entire knowledge Of military
matters Was comprised in b:iliilnt uniforms
ana holiday Crlll, fur fouth of july pa
l.Hs,>. Mn1t fleet Such soldiers, Inspired
tLu"Gn they were ny sn!I!t Oi lhlenS"
urGoT, poorly armed ana entirely destitute OF
c''!!Don, couId have produced on heavy brick
Wi'iiS' !fo'eced ny ordnance lnanhcd ny SOL
"'ti' AcV"S'o'neU ~ t."i's Iiat''e" WIN tue
s1!.ic' can Dc c'>ii! eSliiA"eu;
III i',s' "'' "''"SA uijrh ,iJ lH'u ''s t.lt
l"lCTs 'hci' l" "oI'o'A any. "i''i'i'u1i' :
"op'a u"'' "'eii 4" '''1 %" i'"'''''o"' 80 nii-
FoSslo!''
~, however, II haa luuoe't tAlcutcht li!al