The National tribune., 1899-08-31
of Portsmouth, and told many interesting

OF Portsmouth and told many interesting
recollections of the evacuation of the Navy
Yard and Portsmouth by the Federal forces
at the beginning of the war. The Navy
Yard at that time was partially, destroyed;
the man-of-war Pennsylvania and the old
frigate United States were destroyed, the
Pennsylvania firing her guns as she burned
to the waters edge, some of the shots going
over the town of Portsmouth.
Then the Federal vessels passed out OF
the harbor with guns run out and ready Tor
action. The Confederate artillery on the
docks did not fire shot, neither did the
Federal vessels. No doubt the Confed-
crates refrained from firing, lest the Two
towns, Portsmouth and Norfolk, might be
shelled by the Federal vessels. The shocks
from the explosions in the Navy 1ard
fairly shook the town.
About 1852 the writer was Purser's Clerk
on the old frigate United States, then IN
ordinary, and used as a receiving ship.
At that time Lieut.. Spotswood was the
commanding officer. and resided on the
frigate, with his wife and two children,
occupying the large, roomy old officers
quarters, and they were very comfortable.
Commodore William Armstrong, however,
was in chief command and visited us from
Norfolk. from whence he came about once
a week in his splendid barge, manned by
dozen expert sailors.
The Commodore was always grandly re-
ceived at the "gangway' by Lieut.. Spols-
wood. and ] always assisted, when on the
shin. when he arrived. ! resided in Ports
mouth. and went on board ship every
morning as long as might be necessary to
perform my various duties Our gunner
was Mr.. Peterson, a veteran of the war OF
1872: our Boatswain was Mr.. Whitehead:
"Jack" Lindsey was our Boatswain's Mate;
Rooney was our cook, and Riley was
"Jack-of-the-dust." Singular that i should
remember these names after the lapse OF
more than 45 years.
Lieut.. Spotswood went with the Con-
federates, and was made Commander OF the
"Virginia Navy" He was from Peters
burg, Va. The others, l believe, retireo
with the Federal feet when Norfolk and
Portsmouth were evacuated. Commander
Armstrong was not allowed clerk, so
when he had a difficulty with the Com
mander of the Navy Yard, and reported him
to the Secretary of the Navy, because OF
some disrespect shown him by the Navy
Yard Commander in the Commanders
office. he called upon me to write his letter OF
complaint to the Secretary of the Navy.
readily complied, having every possible
respect for the grand old Commodore.
] copied mis- penciled letter in my best
STYLE and remember that the Commodore
said to me while l was writing: Joseph, If
you can suggest any stronger language
which might be used, put it down and let
me see il. stronger language' The
Commodore had already exhausted the
English language in his scathing rebuke
of the Commanders conduct. The Com
.mander had failed TO rise and remove his hat
when the Commodore had visited the office
of the Commander, in the Navy Yard, and
that was considered fiagrant and mon
strous offense by Commodore Armstrong.
could use no stronger" language than the
Commodore had used. / suggested "Fae
Victis" as a conclusion. The Commodore
smiled. but said: Let it go as it is, Joseph"
and it was so. These are pleasing recol-
lections