The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-07-01
THE NORFOLK NAVY YARD.

.
The destruction of the Navy Yard
at Norfolk and the events and cir
cumstanees of which it was the re-
suit, are dwelt upon at length:
At one time it was even thought
doubtful if Washington could be
held, as the people at the North, un.
prepared for such an emergency,
were slow in getting troops to the
capital. Those who had been plot
ting against the Government in the
Navy Department felt such that the
Norfolk Yard would fall into the
hands of the Secessionists, as every
thing possible had been prepared
for that event. They lost DO oppor-
tunity to impress upon the mind OF
the Secretary of the Navy the i'm
portance of doing nothing to offend
theState of Virginia and give it an ex-
cuse for seeding from the Union on
the gronnd of State rights which
meant that the Government should
exercise no authority over its own
property withinthe limits OF seced-
ing State. The Navy Department
at that moment seemed powerless to
preserve the public property at Nor
folk against the rebel troops then
assembled in Virginia. General
Scott threw cold water on every at
tempt to hold the Norfolk Navy
Yard on the gronnd that be had no
troops to spare. as he could not de
plete Fortress Monroe which must
be had at all hazards.
The Secretary of tn. Navy, find
ing himself unable to cope with the
difficulties of the situation summon
ed 10 the Navy Department Com
modore Hiram Pasling, a loyal
officer, but who was declining in
years and not equal - a position
which requires not mly energy OF
mind but great bodily vigor. Com
modore Paulding broie up the con-
clave which was in the habit of
meeting in the Burea, of Ordnance,
for he felt that these officers were
inimical to the Government and be
recommended to the Secretary of the
Navy to change the suspected chiefs
of Bureaus for othas that were
known to be loyal. The Depart
ment did not seem &c reflect that a
few armed towhoats with marines
on board could have been sent from
New York to tow all the vessels IN
der the guns of FGtress Monroe.
One tug with tweIty-four pound
howitzer on board, ppperly handled
would have been master of the stu
ton. ard if the Navy Department
had displayed a littlecominon sense
in this emergency tie Government
would have been savd deep humili-
alton and loss in aips, guns and
stores not easy to renir.
The disloyalty which existed to
such an extent am'ng the officers
did not at that tim extend to the
mechanics, for the. worked night
and day until the derrimac's ma
chinery was repaird. Then fifty
four fremen and coa-heavers volun-
teered for the serve of taking the
Merrimac out. Th work was all
done with the conent of Commo-
dore McCauley, butwhen he was in
formed that everything was ready to
fire up. ne replied hat next morn
ing would be tine enough. At
midnight the firessere started and
the engines WORKED at the dock and
found to be in god order. Next
morning the Cmmandant was
again informed tht everything was
ready, but he reiied that he had
not decided to sen the ship out. 1t
was in vain thatle was reminded
of the peremptor character of the
order which Mr. sherwood had
brought from tn Secretary Of the
Navy to get the Mrrimac out at the
earliest possible aoment he only
replied that he wuld let his decis-
ion be known irthe course of the