Abstract log of the U. S. S. Susquehanna.
May 8, 1862.--At 11:45 a.m. Captain Lardner came on board from shore and we immediately got underway under steam. At 12 m. beat to quarters and cleared the ship for action and stood toward Sewell's Point, in company with San Jacinto, Dacotah, Seminole, Monitor, and E. A. Stevens. At 12:30 fired on the rebel batteries at Sewell's Point. The other vessels also commenced firing. The majority of our shot were fired from the rifle and pivot guns. The rebels fired at long intervals, and at 2 p.m. they slackened fire and about this time their flag was shot away; and the ships having obtained nearly the exact range, most of the shell exploded inside of the fort. Made signal to the fleet "Enemy's fort appears abandoned." At 3 p.m. made signal to "Follow our motions," and stood toward Fortress Monroe, the rebel steamer Merrimack steaming down from Craney Island toward us. Flagship made signal "Resume your moorings." At 4:30 Merrimack turned and stood toward Craney Island again. At 5 came to with starboard anchor in 15 fathoms water; veered to 40 fathoms chain.
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Report of Flag-Officer Tattnall, C. S. Navy.
RICHMOND, VA., May 14, 1862.
SIR: In detailing to you the circumstances which caused the destruction of the C. S. S. Virginia and her movements a few days previous to that event, I begin with your telegraphic dispatches to me of the 4th and 5th instant, directing me to take such a position in the James River as would entirely prevent the enemy's ascending it.
General Huger, commanding at Norfolk, on learning that I had received this order called on me and declared that its execution would oblige him to abandon immediately his forts on Craney Island and Sewell's Point and their guns to the enemy. I informed him that, as the order was imperative, I must execute it, but suggested that he should telegraph you and state the consequences. He did so; and on the 6th instant you telegraphed me to endeavor to afford protection to Norfolk as well as the James River, which replaced me in my original position. I then arranged with the general that he should notify me when his preparations for the evacuation of Norfolk were sufficiently advanced to enable me to act independently. On the 7th instant Commodore Hollins reached Norfolk with orders from you to consult with me and such officers as I might select in regard to the best disposition to be made of the Virginia under the present aspect of things.
We had arranged the conference for the next day, the 8th, but on that day, before the hour appointed, the enemy attacked the Sewell's Point battery, and I left immediately with the Virginia to defend it.
We found six of the enemy's vessels, including the ironclad steamers Monitor and Naugatuck, shelling the battery. We passed the battery and stood directly for the enemy; for the purpose of engaging him, and I thought an action certain, particularly as the Minnesota and Vanderbilt, which were anchored below Fortress Monroe, got underway and stood up to that point, apparently with the intention of joining their squadron in the roads. Before, however, we got within gunshot the enemy ceased firing and retired with all speed under the protection of the guns of the fortress, followed by the Virginia, until the shells from the Rip Raps passed over her.
The Virginia was then placed at her moorings near Sewell's Point, and I returned to Norfolk to hold the conference referred to.
It was held on the 9th, and the officers present were Colonel Anderson and Captain ----, of the Army, selected by General Huger, who was too unwell to attend himself, and, of the Navy, myself, Commodore Hollins, Captains Sterrett and Lee, Commander Richard L. Page, and Lieutenants Catesby ap R. Jones and J. Pembroke Jones.
The opinion was unanimous that the Virginia was then employed to the best advantage and that she should continue for the present to protect Norfolk, and thus afford time to remove the public property.
On the next day, at 10 o'clock a.m., we observed from the Virginia that the flag was not flying on the Sewell's Point battery and that it appeared to have been abandoned. I dispatched Lieutenant J.P. Jones, the flag-lieutenant, to Craney Island, where the Confederate flag was still flying, and he there learned that a large force of the enemy had landed on the bay shore and was marching rapidly on Norfolk; that the Sewell's Point battery was abandoned and our troops were retreating. I then dispatched the same officer to Norfolk to confer with General Huger and Captain Lee. He found the navy yard in flames, and that all its officers had left by railroad. On reaching Norfolk he found that General Huger and all the other officers of the Army had also left; that the enemy were within half a mile of the city, and that the mayor was treating for its surrender.
On returning to the ship he found that Craney Island and all the other batteries on the river had been abandoned.
It was now 7 o'clock in the evening, and this unexpected information rendered prompt measures necessary for the safety of the Virginia.
The pilots had assured me that they could take the ship, with a draft of 18 feet, to within 40 miles of Richmond.
This the chief pilot, Mr. Parrish, and his chief assistant, Mr. Wright, had asserted again and again; and on the afternoon of the 7th, in my cabin, in the presence of Commodore Hollins and Captain Sterrett, in reply to a question of mine, they both emphatically declared their ability to do so.
Confiding in these assurances, and after consulting with the first and flag lieutenants and learning that the officers generally thought it the most judicious course, I determined to lighten the ship at once and run up the river for the protection of Richmond.
All hands having been called on deck, I stated to them the condition of things, and my hope that by getting up the river before the enemy could be made aware of our design we might capture his vessels, which bad ascended it, and render efficient aid in the defense of Richmond, but that to effect this, would require all their energy in lightening the ship. They replied with three cheers and went to work at once.
The pilots were on deck and heard this address to the crew.
Being quite unwell, I had retired to bed. Between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning the first lieutenant reported to me that after the crew had worked for five or six hours and lifted the ship so an to render her unfit for action, the pilots had declared their inability to carry 18 feet above the Jamestown, Flats, up to which point the shore on each side was occupied by the enemy.
On demanding from the chief pilot, Mr. Parrish, an explanation of tibia palpable deception, he replied that 18 feet could be carried after the prevalence of easterly winds, but that the wind for the last two days had been westerly. I had no time to lose. The ship was not in a condition for battle even with an enemy of equal force, and their force was overwhelming. I therefore determined, with the concurrence of the first and flag lieutenants, to save the crew for future service by landing them at Craney Island, the only road for retreat open to us, and to destroy the ship to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy. I may add that, although not formally consulted, the course was approved by every commissioned officer in the ship.
There is no dissenting opinion. The ship was accordingly put on shore as near the mainland in the vicinity of Craney Island as possible, and the crew landed, She was then fired, and after burning fiercely fore and aft for upward of an hour, blew up a little before 5 on the morning of the 11th.
We marched for Suffolk, 22 miles, and reached it in the evening, and from thence came by railroad to this city.
It will be asked what motives the pilots could have had to deceive me. The only imaginable one is that they wished to avoid going into battle.
Had the ship not been lifted, so as to render her unfit for action, a desperate contest must have ensued with a force against us too great to justify much hope of success; and as battle is not their occupation, they adopted this deceitful course to avoid it. I can not imagine another motive, for I had seen no reason to distrust their good faith to the Confederacy.
My acknowledgments are due to the first lieutenant, Catesby ap R. Jones, for his untiring exertions and for the aid he rendered me in all things. The details for firing the ship and landing the crew were left to him, and everything was conducted with the most perfect order.
To the other officers of the ship generally I am also thankful for the great zeal they displayed throughout.
The Virginia no longer exists, but 300 brave and skillful officers and seamen are saved to the Confederacy.
I presume that a court of enquiry will be ordered to examine into all the circumstances I have narrated,(*) and I earnestly solicit it. Public opinion will never be put right without it.
I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
JOSIAH TATTNALL,
Flag-Officer, Commanding.
Hon. S. R. MALLORY,
Secretary of the Navy.
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Extract from letter from Commander W. N. W. Hewett, V. C., of H. B. M. S. Rinaldo, dated Fortress Monroe, May 10, 1862, forwarded by Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, K. C. B., on the 24th May, 1862.
May 8, 1862.--The same morning a Confederate tugboat arrived at Fortress Monroe from Norfolk, having deserted. She reported that the Confederates were prepared to evacuate Norfolk, etc., and that they had sunk the Virginia [Merrimack]. On this intelligence becoming known, at 12:30 p.m. of the same day, a Federal squadron, consisting of the Dacotah and Oneida, screw sloops of 6 guns each; the San Jacinto, screw, 11 guns; Susquehanna, paddle sloop, 15 guns; Monitor and Naugatuck, iron-cased batteries, moved up the river toward Sewell's Point and commenced shelling the Confederate battery on that point, at a very long range. This was the prelude to their intended attack on Norfolk. The Confederates returned a slow fire. I suppose their guns are not of very long range. The Federal squadron continued firing up to 2:30 p.m. without intermission. The Monitor was at this time about 1,800 yards from Sewell's Point. She was then observed to be coming back again toward the rest of the squadron, which were some 4,000 yards from the Point, and in the direction of Newport News.
The smoke of a steamer could be seen rising above the trees and moving along toward Hampton Roads from the direction of Norfolk. At 3 p.m. the Confederate iron-cased battery Virginia rounded Sewell's Point, and the whole of the Federal squadron steamed down quickly under the guns of the fortress. As the Virginia alone came within range of their guns, and those of Fort Wool on the Rip Raps, the Federal frigate Minnesota, accompanied by four large steamers, which are intended to act as rams, proceeded up the river abreast of Old Point and joined the rest of the squadron. With the exception of a few shots fired from the Rip Raps at the Virginia, the Federals made no attempt to molest her, but, on the contrary, as she approached them they steamed away from her. They left off firing at Sewell's Point immediately on sighting her coming from Norfolk. She would most likely have made her appearance before had the water been sufficiently high. The Virginia, having driven the Federal fleet away, returned and anchored under Sewell's Point, where she now remains.
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