The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14
THE CONFEDERATE NAVY
By w. F. CLAYTON, of Florence, S. c.,
Late Past Mdshipn1an Confederate States Navy.

she is met by the little Monitor, and
for several hours the battle ragged
when shot from the Monitor sinks
the rebel Merrimac.''
This was too much for White. and he
exclaimed: You are an Infamous liar
This created considerable stir in the
audience. and the man on the stage
said: Il will see you later
White replied: Il will wait for YOU
He was in the enemy's country. with
no friends to back him, but he did wait
and smiling cordially, shook his hand
saying: Partner. what do you know
about this fight that you call me a
liar for telling it my way?" White in
formed him who he was nd gave him
true account of the fight. The stage
man thanked him, said he was glad
to get at the facts, but that to make
the show pay he would have to COZ
tinue telling 1t as he was doing, but II
he ever came South he would correct
it.
The necessities OF war caused Nor
folk to be evacuated. Tattnall had ask
ed permission of the Navy Department
TO run the gauntlet of Fortress Monroe
and alone go to York River and harrass
McClellan's base. This was refused
and he was ordered to guard both Nor
folk and the mouth of James River
until the stores could be removed from
Norfolk. The wooden gunboats had
been for some little time owing up
to Richmond three gunboats that had
been launched filled with stores and
other vessels with storeh, when a
tug deserted to tho enemy and ilnme-
diately landing was made on the
ocean side, and our small body OF
tTOOfyS had IN 10
eminent property and escape. The vir-
glEia was lying off Sewelrs Point.
where she had gone, and had driven off
the enemy's fleet. and when morn ar
rived Tattnall was surprised to see
no flag flying from either Sswelrs
Point or Craney Island. Sending a
boat to Norfolk the officer in command
found the hayward in flames and our
troops leaving from the Portsmouth
side, while the enemy >wcre entering
| Norfolk, So sudden had been the
evacuation that Tnttnai was given no
notice and found himself as 1t were
| deserted by his friends, Calling his
ofhcers and pilots in coupcil. he was
| INFORMED that II no could bring the
| draft of the Virginia down to eighteen
| 1eet they, the pilots, could carry her
! 10 Hog Island, about forty miles nm
| the James. All hands We're nut Ia
| work, and the desired draft obtained
] but In doing so tho wood works Were
4 exposed, and she was useless As a fight.
/ er' but on getting to Hog Island could
nave been hsought down again. All
4 this point the pilots Informed Com.
\ modore Tattnall that they had made
4 their calculation upon easterly winds
| mt as the winds had been westerly
they could not carry her up Now, What
was Tattnall 10 do? ship unit to fight
enemy all around him; there was bu,
one course and he adopted it-.destro,
me snip and save the crew, MAKING
ms way 10 Richmond. In the mean
'lne Inc Patrick Henry was the onl,
wooden shin In the lower James. wher,
she mad heen protecting the retrea
OF MaEruder's army before the advanc,
Of Mcclellan. We were steamint
slowly backwards and forwards he
tween Kings Mill Landing aud James
town Island. when an amusing inciden
occurred, long wharf ran out a
Kings MIL and about midday n cav
alrymap rode at full speed TO the en-,
OF Tho wharf and begged to be take,
on board. He said he belonged 10 tn
Black Horse Cavalry; that thev ba,
II been cut OF ana all captured but him