The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-30
ing to the yard, transmitted to its command
ant an order for its instant destruction.

ing to the yard, transmitted to its command
ant an order for its instant destruction.
It was obcyed with That unquestioniug
compliance which characterizes the efficient
officer, aud hours sufiiced to cfIace the work
OF ages.
At ~ NJ. the regular employees ofthe yard
left it to so to their dinners, and so soon as
the gate closed upon them the crew OF the
Cumberland was landed. and the work Of de-
struction began. The shears were cut down
and allowed to fall across the Germantown,
causing her to sink, and then marines and
suilors were set to work at q wholesale ruin
Of munitions Of war. Muskets and small
arms were broken; powder, shot. and she'll
thrown into the river, and cannon spiked or
otherwise injured.
All the ships were scuttled by mems of
augur-holcs bored in their bottoms, and,
when twilight came, the magnificent yard
was Il mere wreck Of itself, with little to
mark its former greatness except its build.
incS, which were ordered to be let standing.
Preparations were now made for the evacll-
ton of the place. The officers and their
families Ind gone on board tho Cumberland,
which was TO convey them TO Fortress Mon.
roe; the Pennsylvania was abandoned; the
| marines were under marching orders, and all
was in readiness to depart. when the United
States steamer Pawnee was discovered
coming to the yard. On she came, her
band playing the national air and her decks
| crowded with soldiers; and all supposed she
had brought orders from Washington to hold
on to the yard and rCinfOrcements to secure
its safety. In place OF this her orders were to
make the ruin Of the yard even more COM
plete. The commander ut once landed his
entire crew, and tue work Of havoc was re-
commenced. Trains of powder were laid
along the principal avenues Of the yard, and
enormous quantities Of the same article We're
disposed 50 as to blow up the dry dock. All
the buildings and vessels were saturated with
turpcniine, and every imaginable method
WAS employed to render the ruin complete.
Ats \. u. April y, 1861, all being in
readiness. the Cumberland, toWed by the tug
Yankee and accompanied by the Pawnec,
sailed slowly away, aud the yard was aban-
donCd to its fate.
As the vessels passed the old foundry, q
short distance below the yard, ii rocket from
The Pawuec gave the signal and sealed the
doom Of the fary-yald.
BY simultaneous movement effected by
boats crews lett for the purpose the ships
and buildings were fired at once, and the
| effect was indeed appalling. The flames, act
| ing upon tue combuStihle materials Of the
immense ship-house soaked with turpentine,
produced contilgration Of Intense heat and
briiancy that lighted up the country for
miles around. Ship after ship caught fire,
and blaZed from water-line to top-mast,
while great tongues OF flame leapcd like lIv-
| ing things throughout their masts and rig
| ging.
Store.houscs filed with bitumcn, pitch,
and other infammable materials, ignited and
sent up sheets Of into'crlblc light to add to
the awful etl'uigeuce.
The roar and hiss Of the fire as it seized OIL
piles Of massive brick and stone masonry,
melting stores of lead and copper, and tin
roofing, as it surgcd along, was terrific.
The great stately ships, each one eudearcd
to the country by brilliant memories and
proud associations, stood out in bold relief
uS intense embodinentS of the element OF
fire. And As the flames ignitcd their shottcd
guns, they discharged their contents with n
mournful boom, as if they sounded BatiCH' 5
knell.
| 4 lurid glow rose above the yard high to.
| ward heaven, while streams and Convocltlons
| Of inConceivable lllStr3 shot up III great
| bursts of bri!iancv until the eye ached with
! the pure intensity OF living light.
The water, like Il great mirror, gave back
the conilagrltiOn with weird and magical
effects OF reflection. The earth seemed to
gicw and punt with derouring heat, and The
very air qlliyered like one vast sheet Of cryS-
taIIinc caloric. The sight was sublime.
IL might be so. No such costly pyrotecll-
mic display has ever greeted the gaze OF man.
| Years OF labor and millions Of money were
required to furnish the materials for that su
perb fire. And each spark, as it waited up
wards Or suuk softly into the crimSoncd
river. was the representative Of human in
| dtstry and the nations wealth. Heaven, less
destructive than uIan, assigned Il limit to the
| proud llames, and preserved the navy-yard
almost rs by miracle. That most miraculous
preservation, and the condition Of the Yard
at present, must be told in another letter.