The National tribune., 1900-09-13

able to drive out the Federal vessels with
two or three volunteer companies and
three or four od-fashioned and decrepit
cannon! Thus it will readily he seen that
the unfortunate surrender OF this extreme
ly important and valuable naval post, be-
sides the immense loss of Government
property, induced a most detrimental
change in the views of the friends of the
Union, particularly in tito Counties Of
southeast Virginia.
The Confcderates rapidly pushed their
soldiers into Portsmouth, Norfolk and Suf-
| folk, reconstructed the Navy Yard, re-
paired the drydock. and commenced work.
when the Merrimac was rapidly built up
| from the hall of an old war vessel.
Immense supplies We're now brought IN
to Norfolk and Portsmouth and from
North Carolina and other States south TO
Richmond by way of the Weldon and
Richmond Road. with none TO modest or
| make them afraid. Recruiting in the
| northeast C0untie; received an immense
impetus, owing TO the excavations of Nor
folk by the Federal fleet.
| This immense fertilization ut the mouth
of the Elizabeth River after it was en-
! tirciy completed WAS assailcd by the armed
steamer Harriet Lane and other war YES
sells once or twice without making any
impression on the powerful works, as
might be expected; and no other attempts
| of consequence were made to recapture
| this valuable Norfolk naval station uE;il
the early Spring of 1862, when Gen. Wool
and Gen. Butler with n force varicusly cs-
timated at from 5000 to 10000 soldiers
of all arms, advanced upon the rear Of
| Norfolk, landing nearly opposite the old
| Federal Fort known as the "Rpraps,
which had been constructed many years
before the war, but which, on account Of
TIE constant but gradual sinking of the
foundation, was never of great use
to the United States, though | believe
that it was used during the war as a
| prison for ConfedcratcS. 1t was about
midway between Fort Monroe and the
Norfolk shore, and presented an imposing
appearance on entering Hampton Roads.
THE CAPTURE OF NORFOLK, VA.
In the early part of May. 1862. two
or three gunboats. with the Galena in the
| lead, advanced M the james River with
the view of aiding in the movement
against the rebel stronghold. Richmond.
About this period Gen. Butler organized
the naval and military expedition that re
suited in the final capture of Norfolk and
Portsmouth, thus securing aud holding the
immense property of the Government 10
Gated at those points, which had been
abandoned to the rebels about Il year pre-
viOuSly.
In May large fleet was assembled in
Hampton Roads. ana some 5000 or 10000
soldiers embarked on the vessels.
Gen. Butler had the news spread abroad
! among known rebel sympathizcrS at Fort
| Monroe and Hampton that the naval and
military expedition there assembled was
fof the reduction and capture of Whining
| ton, y. c., Il port which had become ia
nous as the home of the blockaderunner,
| and whence swift steamers secretly and
silently departed for England or the Ba
Lamas laden with cotton. tobacco, etc,
bringing back munitions of war for the
rebels The captains and owners also
brought TO Wilmington large and yalua-
BILE cargoes of dry goods and other salabe
goods, which could only be purchased by
the wealthy or fairly wealthy. ] reInem-
Der that the arrival at Wilmington of
blockade-runncr was the occasion Of eX-
IRENE rejoicing and agitation in Rich
mond, and Immediately long lines of He
brew merchants and Americans, too,
might be seen, rapidly marching to the
Petersburg depot, where they took cars
for Wilmington to make purchases of
blockade goods for the Richmond market.
The blockade goods We're sold ut public
auction in Wilmington to the highest bid
der, for gold, as | was informed by the
Hebrew merchants, who asked prices in
Richmond that would make cold shivers
run down your back and your hair to
stand on end.
The news which the General caused
to be scattered broadcast regarding his
intended movement against Wilmington
bore good fruit. The rebels swiftly ear
ried the news to Scwers Point to the reb
els there. and the information was quick
ly flashed to Richmond, when troops were
hastily dispatched from that point and the
Norfolk district, which materially weak
ened the garrison at Norfolk and Sewefs
Point; precisely what Gen. Butler had de-
signed and anticipated.
Gen. Buffers army and fleet, being now
ready, proceeded out of Hampton Roads,
in broad daylight, and its course WAS di-
rcctly south, and soon disappeared in the
distance, all of which seemed to fully CON
firm to the rebel mind the information
they had received regarding the proposed
attack by the Federal feet on Whining
ton.
About midnight the General, his fleet
and army, turned about and returned to
Hampton Roads and Fort Monroe, rapid
ly DISSEMINATING we'll to the left of the
heavy Notifications ut Sewef's Point, and
nearly opposite the old ''Ripraps' fort
The small garrison of the Point, discover
ing the movement just before daybreak,
rapidly evacuated the post, retiring OH
Norfolk, and, Selling the fcrry-boats and
small vessels of all descriptions, hastily
crossed the Elizabeth River to Ports
mouth, rapidly continuing their flight to
the bridge which spans the river known
as the Western Branch, some three miles
west of Portsmouth, Their burned the
bridge to prevent or delay pursuit, and
fed on to Suffolk. About the same time
the rebel ironclad Merrimac was blown
up, she being unit to proceed outside
even up the James to Richmond: and her
crew. crossing over to the south side of
the Elizabeth, ned toward Suffolk and
Richmond.
Craney Island at the mouth OF the
river, was also hastily evacuated. the gar
rison passing over a substantial bridge
which connected the island with the main
land. Gen. Huger commanded at Norfolk
at the time, and, it was said, took wing"
among the first to fly. .
AS Gen. Wool advanced toward Nor
folk and approached what was known as
the Marsh Bridge, he was met by the
Mayor and City Council Of Norfolk, who
handed the Yankees the keys of the city,
and some say they even carried an open
Bible at their head, hoping, no doubt, to
be received back into the folds of the old
Flag on Il sort of Divine basis.
But the rebs were sharper than the
Federal commander gave them credit for,
as | later heard from the Union citizens
of Portsmouth that this '.meek and lowly"
movement of the City Council of Norfolk
was planned to talk and Isaiaver with the
Yankees and hold them in gentle check
while the rebels were crossing the river
and fleeing to Suffolk.
The immense Navy Yard and its valua-
bic stores of various descriptions again in
possession of the Federal Government
Gen Robert Niele was 3udaced i'm COM