Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
A correspondent of the Richmond Whig says that on Wednesday evening last, about sunset, a war steamer—supposed to be the Pawnee—opened fire on the batteries at Acquia Creek, on the Potomac river, which compliment was returned by our batteries.
On Friday, Cols. Kelly’s and Irvine’s regiments were at the burnt bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, four miles beyond Mannington, and sixty miles from Wheeling. These bridges were so far restored that trains with troops passed over.
A detachment of the Wheeling regiment was fired into at Glover’s Gap, by a rebel. He would have fired into the second train, but was shot by men who got out of the first train at a curve.
Special Correspondent to The Dispatch — Norfolk, VA, May 25, 1861
About two thousand troops embarked yesterday from Fortress Monroe, and proceeded South in small steamers and gun boats. At the same time all of the vessels that had been captured and held as prizes at that place sailed and went to sea. There are only four vessels left at Old Point and in Hampton Roads, viz : the Cumberland, the Minnesota (frigate,) and two small steamers
A Midnight March
Movement Upon Alexandria and the Virginia Heights
Brutal Assassination of Col. Ellsworth In Alexandria.
A Swift and Terrible Retribution
Last night was a stirring one indeed. Through the day and evening the reports of contemplated military movements kept the populace on the qui vive to which excitement fresh fuel was added on its being whispered that various Regiments had been ordered to prepare for immediate service; the words dropped also by Gen. Thomas at the Seventh Regiment camp that the storm was about to burst, indicated that a decisive move was to be taken. The general idea among the troops was that an advance was to be made into Virginia, but nobody seemed to be posted as to the exact purposes entertained at headquarters.
A correspondent of the New York Times thus describes the scenes presented by the destruction of the vessels and other U. S. property at Gosport Navy Yard, on the night of the 20th :
It is impossible to describe the-scene of destruction that was exhibited. Unweariedly it was continued from 9 o’clock to 12 during which time the moon gave light to direct the operations. But when the moon sank behind the horizon, the barracks near the centre of the yard were set on fire, that, by its illumination the work might be continued. The crackling flames and the glare of light inspired with new energies the destroying marines and havoc was carried everywhere, within the limits of orders. But time was not left to complete the work. Four o’clock of Sunday morning came, and the Pawnee was passing down from Gosport harbor, with the Cumberland, the coveted prize of the secessionists, in tow – every soul from the other ships and yard being aboard them save two. Just as they left their moorings, a rocket was sent up from the deck of the Pawnee. It sped high in air, paused a second and burst in shivers of many colored lights. As it did so, the well set trains at the ship-houses, and on the decks of the fated, vessels left behind, went off as if lit simultaneously by the rocket. One of the ship-houses contained the old New York, a ship thirty years on the stocks and yet unfinished. The other was vacant. The vessels fired were the Pennsylvania the Merrimac, the Germantown, the Plymouth, the Raritan, the Columbia, the Dolphin. The old Delaware and Columbus, worn out and dismantled seventy fours, were scuttled and sunk at the upper docks on Friday.