The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-10

her or turning her TO Richmond may now
be forced upon us at days hotce.
appraise you OF 1t. that we may De pre-
pared to save her
l have heretofore directed your atten-
ton to the removal OF public property
from Norfolk. and I have again 10 say
that all valuable machinery not really
needed for service must be boxed or Sec
ured and sent away from Norfolk at once
and that tomorrow ] will designate the
place 10 which IL must be sent. together
with all the public stores not immediate
~ required.
Should you not be able TO confer with
Gen. Johnston as TO the course TO be pur-
sued toward the public property, you will
regard yourself as bound to destroy all
the public property, including the work
shops. tools. and dry uock under your
command, IL necessary to prevent the en-
envy from possessing it,
on May this letter was sent TO Capt.
Lee:
sir: You have been informed by Gen.
Johnston OF his contemplated movement
on the peninsula, and that Norfolk must
consequently be abandoned. Also OF with
drawing from the yard. as directed by
Gen. Johnston, the public property which
may be used against us. embracing the
dock machinery, work shop. and timber
Lieut.. Harrison is ordered to have Mr..
Myers workmCn discharged and TO re-
port TO you for duty. Direct Commander
Page to secure Immediately safe place
In NJ c., at Raleigh or elsewhere. for
laboratory. and 10 transport all the or
dance stores he can save 10 y. g, keep
ing IN view that ammunition and arms
are especially 20 be cared for. All ord
nance stores and guns which cannot be
saved must be destroyed. Instruct Mr.
Peters TO remove his stores to y. g., to
Raleigh or elsewhere. beginning with the
most valuable provisions and clothing.
You will send nothing to Richmond that
can be sent to n. G. fear you may not
be able TO obtain transportation for all
the stores at n. c.
Your gunboats here will enable you 10
transport your ordnance stores and such
valuable machinery as you may be able
to save to Richmond. and the Virginia
and her consorts. under Flag Officer Tat
nall. will aid In the work. The Richmond
must be launched at once. You VIII az
ford every aid and facility to Flag Ofiicer
Buchanan and our sick and wounded men
to reach Richmond.
II the Plymouth can be lowed to Rich
mond she must be taken here, and, II
not. she must b destroyed with other pup
lie property. The armament OF your gun
boats. including the 11-inch gun at Sc
guns as you can save. must be taken to
Richmond or to Raleigh
Then follows a series Of kilograms, each
one more emphatic than the preceding
on May Capt. Tatnall received this:
Your despatch informing me that the
Virginia is detained at Norfolk from de-
rangement of machinery received. We
look to the Virginia alone TO prevent the
enemy from ascending the James River
Her presence in the river is Of vital i'm
portance, and you will please place her
there at the earliest possible moment.
On the same day Capt. Lee received the
report of Acting Constructor Pearce. who
was to destroy the timber and live oak
in the Navy Yard, and on May 10 he re-
ceived the last telegram:
'Send up by land as fast as you can
spare them all the cams and such wag-
ons, carts, and carriages as they can
bring"
On May H. 1862, the Virginia, on which
so much dependence had been placed,
drawing too much water TO pass up the
James River. was run ashore on Craney
Island, her crew Of 300 officers and men
landed, and the vessel fired. and at .
o'clock she blew up. And with her dis
appeared the principal prop Of the Con-
federacy .....