The National tribune., 1909-08-19

13 miles of line somewhere by vigor-
GUS reconnaissance, Mcclellan began TO
organize grand siege after the man
ner he had observed of the British and
French before Sebastopol. Gen. Fitz-
John Porter was appointed Director of
the Siege" Gen. McQuade General of
the Trenches" and the troops were set
to intense labor in opening roads, build
| ing fortifications and bringing up and
| mounting heavy guns. Some of these
were 100 and 200-pounders, and in all,
beside line of works, one mile from
Yorktown, there were IA heavy bat
teries and three redoubtS built and
heavily armed. Magruder says, ITO
my utter surprise he tMcClellan) per-
mitted day after day to pass without
| an assault" and that II was intensely
relieved and amused when / saw that
General with his magnificent army be-
gin to break ground before miserable
earthworks, defended only by 5000
men,"
This sort of thing went on for a long
month, when, Johnston having concen-
trated his army, he gave orders for
Magruder to withdraw, which he did,
without molestation, carrying away
everything but his big siege guns.
1t was Manassas over again, with the
bluff carried to the last limit
Stanton Plans Campaign.
The indefatigable Stanton saw an op-
portunity while all this was going on.
Burnside's success in North Carolina
had made Norfolk vulnerable to attack
from that side. McClellans movement
on the Peninsula uncovered the city
from that side. Gen. John Z. Wool was
in command of the troops around Fort
ress Monroe. Mcclellan who was
already beginning to clamor for more
troops, wanted WooPs command added
70 III Io6
but wanting active employment, was or
dered by Stanton to advance on Nor
folk. which he willingly did. Not find
ing the Navy Department eager to
tackle the Merrimac, Stanton had en-
gagged Vanderbilt to provide fast vessels
to actually run over the terror when
she should next emerge from the shell
ter of the batteries. Vanderbilt sent his
best vessels, which he had named after
himself, with a resolute Captain and
crew, who were burning with impa-
tience to have a go at the monster.
President Lincoln, accompanied by
Secretaries Stanton and Chase, went
down to Fortress Monroe TO see Gen.
Woors movement. Secretary Stanton
telegraphed back:
"The President is at this moment at
Fort Wool witnessing the gunboats
shelling the rebel batteries on Sewalps
Point At the same time heavy firing
up the James River indicates that
Rodgers and Morris are fighting the
jamestown and Yorktown. The boom
of heavy cannonading strikes the ear
every minute. The Sawyer gun in Fort
Wool has silenced one battery on Sc
wallis Point. The James rifle does good
work
1T was a beautiful sight to see the
boats moving on SewalPs Point, and one
after another open fire and blaze away
every minute.
"The troops will be ready to move in
an hour. The ships engaged are the
Dacotah, Savannah, San Jacinto, Moni-
tor and Stevens. The Merrmac is ex-
pected out every minute. A rebel tug
came over this morning. and said the
Merrinlac was at Norfolk when they
left"
The Merrimac came out of her hole,
but seeing the Vanderbilt showing too
much kcerness to get at her prudently
hunted cover.
Gen. Wool, who was accompanied bv
Secre tary Chase on his march, found
the guns at SewalPs Point, which had
been such an annoyance for months,
spiked and abandoned, and when near
ing Norfolk was met by the Mayor and
Councilmen. who came out to surrender
the city, which the enemy had aban-