The blockade and the cruisers - y James russell Soley (1883) (14762710685)

Identifier: blockadecruisers00sole (find matches)
Title: The blockade and the cruisers / y James russell Soley
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Soley, James Russell, 1850-1911
Subjects: United States -- History Civil War, 1861-1865 Naval operations
Publisher: New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
Contributing Library: University of Connecticut Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Connecticut Libraries



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es to have the Merrimac removed from theNorfolk to the Philadelphia Navy Yard with the utmost despatch. TheEngineer-in-Chief, Mr. B. F. Isherwood, has been ordered to report toyou for the purpose of expediting the duty, and you will have his sug-gestions for that end carried promptly into effect. On the afternoon of Wednesday, the 17th, it was reportedby Isherwood, the Engineer-in-Chief, that the Merrimac wasready for steam; and fires were started the next morning atdaybreak. Everything was in readiness to proceed to sea,and officers and men were detailed for the vessels that wereto go out. But the Commodore, still influenced by the de-sire to allay suspicion, and by the assertions of some of hisofficers that if the Merrimac were removed Virginia wouldcertainly go out of the Union, could not bring himself totake decided action, notwithstanding the explicit instructionsof the Department; and at two in the afternoon, he orderedthe fires to be hauled. Meantime the enemy were takingI.—3
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Ports m,o\Lt?v - Hampton Roads. THE CHESAPEAKE. 51 advantage of every hour of delay. Troops were thrown intoNorfolk in considerable numbers, and batteries were erectedopposite the Yard. Light-ships had already been sunk in thenarrow channel off Sewalls Point, and other obstructionswere put in position on the subsequent night. McCauleysent a message to the Commanding General, Taliaferro, tothe effect that if he continued to throw up works in a threat-ening position, the Commodore would regard it as an act ofwar, and fire upon them. In reply, General Taliaferro dis-claimed any knowledge of the existence of the batteries ; andMcCauley ^was obliged to rest satisfied with this answer.Lieutenant Selfridge of the Cumberland volunteered to takethe Dolphin down to Craney Island, and prevent any furtherobstructing of the river; but the Commodore, though at firstconsenting, finally refused to give him permission. On Friday, the 19th, Commodore McCauley resolved todestroy the principal vessels. I