The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-08-27

Pennsylvania and the sloop of war
Cumberland. Right here let me say
that the Cumberland, though a frigate
when built, was later cut down to a
sloop of war and since known as SUCH
These two ships were moored outside
the ward. He intended to fire the
Pennsylvania and with the few Union
men there make their escape in the
Cumberland, which they subsequently
did. Commodore Paulding was thun-
derstruck when he learned that Com
modore McCauley had ordered the
ships sunk, and for what reason he
gave such all order, God only knows;
for with the ships at his command he
could have made mince meat of the
Two small cities and all therein con-
tanned, including the 1000 Rebel troops
in the suburbs. 1t is supposed the rea-
SON he did it was because his brain was
turned by the host OF traitor officers by
which he was surrounded.
1t is known that later, when Commo-
dore Paulding saw the ships all de-
stroyed, he ordered the buildings burn
ed, and Commodore McCauley sought
to destroy himself in one of the burn
ing buildings. His little son, a lad of
II years, came crying to Commodore
Paulding and SAID that he could not
get his father to leave the building. A
squad of men under the command of
Lieut.. Selfridge from the Cumberland
| were sent to his rescue and took him
by force on board that ship. Commo-
dore Paulding, with the advice OF the
other few loyal officers, caused the
buildings of the yard to be fired and set
fire to all the ships. They then made
their escape i'll the Cumberland, which
was lowed down the river by the Pow
nell. the vessel that had brought Com
modore Paulding and his aids from
Washington. Every ship and every
building in the yard had been fired, but
the attempt to blow up the docks fail
ed, though the men who made the at
tempt We're led by Commander Rogers,
who fought SO bravery under Farragut
at New Orleans.
These brave men became so bewilder-
ed by the flames and smoke, it being in
the nighttime, that they failed to find
but went in an opposite direction and
were captured by the rebels. They
were, however, relieved in short time.
The Cumberland made her way down
the river that night, and after being
hung up by the distractions at Sewalps
Point for few hours was gotten off
and come to anchor at Fortress MoE-
roe, to subsequently meet more disas-
trous fate. That mighty fleet was
thrown away by, the shilly shally con-
duct of the administration in trying to
conciliate the State of Virginia and
keep her in the Union, which was de-
fusion from the first.
The ships destroyed at the Norfolk
Navy yard that terrible night were the
three battleships Pennsylvania, Co
lumbus and Delaware; four frigates,
the Merrimac, Brandywine, Columbia
and Raritan; the sloop of war German
town and the brig Dolphin. With
them were lost 5000 guns of heavy cal
ibre and of the latest design, 300 of
them the latest approved Dahlgrens.
All of this vast number of guns were
turned against us and were found all
over the Southern Confederacy. These
guns were used against us at Vicks-
burg and all along the Mississippi. 1t
was these guns that destroyed the Frig-
ate Mississippi at Fort Hudson,-it
was these guns that met us in defiance
up the Red river, and on the James, and
all along the shores of the Confed-
eracy.
jTO RE CONCIuDED1