USA > Virginia > City of Portsmouth > City of Portsmouth > A record of events in Norfolk County, Virginia, from April 19th, 1861, to May 10th, 1862, with a history of the soldiers and sailors of Norfolk County, Norfolk City and Portsmouth, who served in the Confederate States army or navy > Part 33
USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > A record of events in Norfolk County, Virginia, from April 19th, 1861, to May 10th, 1862, with a history of the soldiers and sailors of Norfolk County, Norfolk City and Portsmouth, who served in the Confederate States army or navy > Part 33
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
MIDSHIPMAN CHAS. K. MALLORY was attached to the Beaufort in the battles in Hampton Roads, March 8th and 9th, 1862, and was said to have been the first Confederate to board the Congress. He lost his life on board the gunboat Chattahoochee in Florida, on the 1st of June, 1863, when she exploded her boiler.
MIDSHIPMAN P. H. MCCARRICK was a son of Lieutenant Patrick MeCarrick. He was attached to the gunboats Raleigh and Teazer and died from sickness.
MIDSHIPMAN PALMER SAUNDERS enlisted in Company G, 6th Virginia Regiment, (old Company F,) and was subsequently ap- pointed a midshipman in the navy. He lost his life in the cap- ture of the Federal gunboat Underwriter at Newberne, on the 1st of February, 1864, from a cut over the head with a cutlass.
CHIEF ENGINEER WM. P. WILLIAMSON entered the United States service October 20th, 1842, and was made a chief engineer March
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IN THE NAVY-NORFOLK.
15th, 1845. At the beginning of the war he was the senior en- gineer in the navy, and was appointed Engineer in Chief in the Confederate Navy, a position corresponding to that of Chief of the Burcan of Steam Engineering in the United States Navy.
CHIEF ENGIGEER H. A. RAMSEY was Chief Engineer on the Virginia when she had the engagements in Hampton Roads, and was attached to her in that capacity until her destruction by order of Commodore Tatnall.
MASTER'S MATE ARTHUR FREEMAN Was a member of a company of youths in Norfolk, who did provost duty in the city the first year of the war, and upon the evacuation of Norfolk, the com- pany having disbanded, he went to North Carolina and became Orderly Sergeant of a Company of Junior Reserves, and was on duty at Goldsboro. He was subsequently appointed a Master's Mate in the navy, was stationed at. Savannah, and was with the boarding party which captured the United States gunboat Water Witch in Ossabaw Sound, on the 3d of June, 1864.
CHIEF ENGINEER VIRGINIUS FREEMAN resigned from the U. S. Navy and joined the Confederate Navy, was Chief Engineer of the steamer McCrea at New Orleans, and afterwards superinten- ded the preparation of the machinery of the Mississippi and Louis- iana in that city. He was Chief Engineer of the Palmetto State when Captain Ingraham attacked the blockading fleet off Charles- ton, and was attached to the expedition to release the Confederate prisoners at Point Lookout, which failed because information of it was conveyed to the enemy.
CHAPTER XLVI.
IN OTHER COMMANDS.
There were a large number of Norfolk men attached to com- mands which were organized in other localities, and on account of the long lapse of time since the close of the war many of them cannot be recalled to memory, but the author, after diligent search, has been able to rescue the following from oblivion. He feels, however, that there is an unavoidable omission of many names which should be found here :
Burgess, T. J., Sergeant Co. A, 7th Georgia Cavalry.
Beall, Edward, private Otey Battery of Lynchburg.
Brown, George, private Fayette Artillery, Richmond.
Baker, John C., Lieutenant North Carolina Junior Reserves.
Broughton, Thos. B., hospital steward.
Bullock, W. H., private Company F, 15th Virginia Cavalry.
Bluford, Geo. W., private Co. D, 1st Virginia Reserves.
Camm, Robt. J., private New Orleans Cadets, killed at Shiloh, April, 1862. Corprew, John B., private Co. F, 15th Virginia Cavalry.
Fletcher, Hannibal, private Company I, 15th Virginia Cavalry.
Fatherly, Matthew W., Lientenant 8th North Carolina Regiment.
Foster, W. E., Major and Ordnance Officer Custis Lee's Brigade, local de- fence troops.
Grandy, P. H., Major 1st North Carolina Regiment, killed at Gaines' Mill.
Grandy, A. H., Lieut. Co. B., 8th North Carolina Regiment.
Glennan, M., commissary sergeant of post at Fort Fisher.
Ghiselin, Jas. W., private, killed at Shiloh, April, 1862.
Harris, Hunter, private Daring's Cavalry.
Henderson, Thos. W., courier headquarters Army Northern Virginia.
Johnston, Chas. H., courier Gen. Pemberton's headquarters.
Johnston, Geo. W., Co. I, 15th Virginia Cavalry.
Johnston, James V., private Co. F, 15th Virginia Cavalry.
Leigh, Roscoe, private Co. I, 15th Virginia Cavalry.
Martin, Geo. G., private Co. A, 3d Virginia Reserves.
Mayer, John F., sergeant Co. A, 3d Virginia Reserves. Marsden, F. C., private Richmond Howitzers.
McKenney, Jas. M., private Richmond Howitzers.
Moore, Walter S., ensign 61st Virginia Regiment.
Newton, Thos., private Co. F, 6th Virginia Regiment, killed Sept. 14th, 1862, at Crampton Gap.
Parks, Marshall, commissioner for North Carolina and special service.
Pearce, Frank, private 13th Virginia Cavalry.
Reed, Wm. C., private Co. F, 15th Virginia Cavalry.
Rosson, John A., private Co. A, Mosby's Rangers.
Rickhow, Wm. H., purser's steward C. S. Navy.
Rogers, W. F., Captain Revenue Marine, detailed with the navy.
Smith, Peter, private North Carolina Regiment.
Selden, Wm., Captain of Engineers C. S. Army, killed at Roanoke Island, Feb. 8th, 1862.
Sharp, John H., private Otey Battery, Lynchburg.
Saunders, Hunter, private Richmond Howitzers.
Santos, Alex., private Richmond Howitzers.
Todd, Westwood A., private Co. E, 12th Virginia Regiment, promoted ord- nance officer Weiseger's Brigade, wounded Aug. 30th, 1862, at Second Manassas.
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IN OTHER COMMANDS.
Turner, Robt. G., seaman C. S. Navy.
Tucker, John S., Captain, lost an arm at Corinth.
Taylor, Washington, Adjutant Scott's Battalion, local defence troops, Rich- mond.
Thomas, J. W., Jr., Lieutenant Artillery Corps C. S. A.
Walke, W. T., private Co. 1, 15th Virginia Cavalry, promoted Adjutant 39th Virginia Cavalry Battalion.
Webber, John S., sergeant ('o. A, 38th Battalion Virginia Artillery.
Wyatt. John, sergeant North Carolina Regiment.
Williamson, John G., sergeant Co. A, 3d Virginia Reserves, surrendered at Appomattox.
Williams, Wm. Carter, Captain Co. B, 6th Virginia, killed at Chancellors- ville.
Worrell, Ed. W., sergeant Co. C., 6th North Carolina Cavalry.
Killed and died-5.
DETACHED ROLLS AT APPOMATTOX.
The following men belonging to detached commands are recor- ded as having been paroled at Appomattox.
FROM NORFOLK COUNTY.
B. A. Armistead, Sergeant Company I, 13th Virginia Cavalry.
Lloyd Bunting, private Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry.
John T. Griffin, captain and assistant civil engineer.
Geo. N. Halstead, Assistant Surgeon C. S. Navy.
Geo. W. Wallace, private Signal Corps.
Wm. H. Halstead, private Signal Corps.
FROM NORFOLK CITY.
Lieutenant Jos. T. Allyn, attached to ordnance.
Assistant Surgeon Richard D. Bagnall, 3d Georgia Regiment.
Lieutenant F. E. Goodridge, ordnance duty, Pickett's Division.
Captain and A. Q. M., O. H. P. Corprew, Mahone's Division. Surgeon F. L. Galt, C. S. Navy.
Chaplain Robt. Gatewood, Starke's Artillery Battalion.
Lieutenant Chas. K. King, C. S. Navy.
Quartermaster Win. C. Marrow.
Lieutenant B. A. Marsden, Co. D, 1st Va. Battalion.
Surgeon Herbert M. Nash, Artillery, 3d Corps.
Private W. Hunter Saunders, Richmond Howitzers, General Long's head- quarters.
Lieutenant-Colonel John S. Saunders, attached to ordnance.
Lieutenant-Colonel A. W. Starke, commanding artillery battalion.
Courier John H. Sharp, headquarters artillery, 1st corps General E. P. Al- exander.
Master's Mate Wm. Smith, C. S. Navy.
Surgeon J. H. Southall, 55th Virginia Regiment.
Lieutenant-Colonel Walter H. Taylor, Adjutant General, staff of General R. E. Lee.
FROM PORTSMOUTH.
Tudor F. Brooks, Commissary Department, Mahone's Brigade.
W. T. Fentress, Lieutenant Light Artillery, on detached service. Frank T. Foster. private Signal Corps. Nat. C. Gayle, Carpenter C. S. Navy.
Leroy C. Godwin, private Signal Corps.
Wm. R. Hanrahan, Sergeant Signal Corps.
Samuel Hoffler, Ordnance Sergeant, Mahone's Brigade.
Wm. L. Hatton, private Signal Corps.
J. M. Hudgins, Captain and A. C. S.
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
Wm. H. Hughes, Lieutenant Lee Battery.
John A. Lovitt, Gunner C. S. Navy.
Richard B. Levy, private Signal Corps.
E. Newton Mahoney, private Richmond Howitzers.
Wm. R. Minter, private Naval Brigade.
F. M. Moore, private Signal Corps.
Jos. T. Owens, Captain Co. D, 26th Va. Regiment.
R. H. Parker, Assistant Surgeon 32d N. C. Regiment.
O. J. Peters, private Signal Corps.
Jas. Parrish, Surgeon Beale's Cavalry Brigade.
Thos. Scott, private Signal Corps.
T. J. Savage, private Signal Corps.
O. V. Smith, 4th Corporal, 3d Company, Richmond Howitzers.
G. S. Vermillion, private Signal Corps.
Luther Williams, private Naval Brigade and Company K, 9th Virginia Reg- iment.
T. H. Wingfield, Medical Inspector Army of Northern Virginia.
Jas. H. White, private Signal Corps.
E. M. Watts, Surgeon Simms' Brigade.
C. M. Young, Sergeant Signal Corps.
The following anecdote of General Robert E. Lee, which has perhaps not been in print before, shows how that great leader could preserve his cheerfulness even amid the confusion of disas- ter and defeat. It was the morning after the retreat began from Petersburg. Miss Jennie Riddick, of Nansemond county, Vir- ginia, accompanied by Captain J. T. Griffin, of Norfolk county, and Rev. W. B. Wellons, a chaplain in the army, were in a cov- ered wagon searching for Miss Riddick's brother, who had been wounded a short time before and sent to a hospital. He was Cap- tain of Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry, and it was her inten- tion, if successful in finding him, to take him with her in the wagon to prevent him from falling into the hands of the enemy. Presently Generals Lee and Longstreet, accompanied by their re- spective staffs, rode up, and, being an acquaintance, General Lee spoke to Miss Riddick. She asked him the shortest route to North Carolina, and he told her that his intention was to try to get across the river and follow the line of the railroad, and ad- vised her to pursue the same route, then, happening to look into the wagon and noticing Captain Griffin and Rev. Mr. Wellons, and remembering that North Carolina was the Gretna Green for runaway couples from Virginia, a sly twinkle came into his eye as he remarked : " You needn't go there; here are the preacher and the young man convenient, and you can get married right here," and calling to a member of his staff, he said : " Come here, Major, we are about to have a marriage." The marriage, how- ever, did not come off. Miss Riddick presented General Lee with a handsome boquet, but he requested her to keep it for him. Mo- mentous events were following each other very rapidly then, and he never had an opportunity to call for the flowers.
*
CHAPTER XLVII.
THE FIRST IRON CLAD -- THE "VIRGINIA " (MERRIMAC.)
No subject of general interest connected with the late war has been more discussed than the Confederate iron-clad Virginia, for- merly the United States frigate Merrimac, and no two descrip- tions of her are said to agree. The author was in a position to know many facts connected with the origin of the vessel as an iron-clad, and, in addition to his own knowledge, has had access to the original drawings and specifications in the possession of her projector, and is therefore in a position to write advisedly, and, as the vessel was the result of the inventive genius of Portsmouth and Norfolk marine architects and the mechanical skill of Portsmouth and Norfolk workmen, it is appropriate that her full history and de- scription, together with the circumstances which led to her build- ing as an iron-clad, should be recorded in this work and fully es- tablished in the interest of history.
In 1846 the United States Government decided to build, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, an iron steam sloop of war, the Alle- ghany, for the purpose of testing, on a large scale, a plan of sub- merged propellers, invented by Lieutenant W. W. Hunter, of the navy, and Mr. John L. Porter, of Portsmouth, was ordered there, as Acting Constructor in the navy, to superintend her building, and, while engaged upon this work, Mr. Porter conceived the idea of an iron-clad vessel which would be able to go to sea and still be shot-proof. His plan contemplated an ironi vessel, to draw nineteen feet of water, and all of the vessel above the water line and to a depth of four feet below it, was to be of a sufficient thick- ness of metal to render her shot-proof. His idea was that, with the ordnance in use at that time, three inches would be sufficiently thick for the armor if placed on an incline.
Mr. Porter made copies of his plan and forwarded them to the Navy Department at Washington, with the view of having the Government adopt them, but the times were not far enough ad- vanced for iron-clads, and the Navy Department took no further notice of them than to acknowledge their receipt, but Mr. Porter transferred them to his book of naval designs, which he retained and still has in his possession. The sides were inclined at an an- gle of 45 degrees, and the vessel was to have had a width, over all, of forty feet. The kunckle of the ship was to be two feet below the water line, and her gun deck three feet above that line. The gun deck extended the entire length of the ship, three feet above the water line, and the shield, in which her battery was located, was built in the middle of the ship. The ends beyond the shield
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
were constructed upon the same incline (as to their sides) as the shield, and the deck forward and aft of the shield, was protected with armor plate. The appearance of the vessel upon the water would have been similar to that of the Ericsson iron-clads of 1862, except that, instead of the sides of the vessel being perpendicular, they would have been inclined at an angle of 45 degrees, and in- stead of the upright turret amidship, there would have been the shield with inclined sides. The ports were to have been closed with wrought iron port shutters, and the resisting surface was to have been entirely of iron. Mr. Porter showed his plans to Lieu- tenant Hunter, who suggested as an improvement, an iron protec- tive deck, to be built below the gun deck, to prevent a plunging shot from going through her bottom, should it penetrate the shield. This was added, by Mr. Porter, to the drawings, before he for- warded them to Washington, and appears also in the drawings in his sketch book. It may be seen in the above plan, figure 1. This was ten years before England and France began thinking on the subject of iron-clads, and as far as Mr. Porter was concerned, was the result of his own ideas, without assistance from any one. The drawing in his sketch book is arranged with Lientenant Hun- ter's propellers attached. Below will be found a cross section of his vessel, taken amidship :
Gun Deck.
Water
Iron Protective Deck
Line.
Berth Deck.
FIGURE 1-Scale, 1-inch 15 feet.
But, as has already been said, the Navy Department in 1846, was not impressed with the idea of an iron-clad vessel, and Mr. Porter retained his own copy of his plans, waiting an opportunity to put them into practical operation. That opportunity arrived at the breaking out of the war between the North and South, but the limited means of construction at the command of the South, compelled him to modify somewhat his original idea, and for want of rolling mills capable of rolling out broad iron plates, he was compelled to use narrow plates and fasten them on a backing of wood.
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THE "VIRGINIA" (MERRIMAC.)
Mr. Porter was a constructor in the United States Navy at the beginning of the war, and up to that time, had superintended for the Government the building of the Alleghany, Powhatan, Con- stellation, Colorado, Seminole, Pensacola and other vessels. Hc was stationed at the Gosport Navy Yard in April, 1861, and wit- nessed its destruction by the Federal authorities, resigned his com- mission in the United States Navy, tendered his services to Gov- ernor Letcher, and was retained on duty at the Navy Yard. Be- lieving that war was inevitable, and knowing that the South was not able to cope with the United States upon the water, his mind reverted to the iron-clad which he had conceived in Pittsburg in 1846, and he went to work, so modifying it, as to bring it within the power of the Southern Confederacy to build, and, at the same time, to adapt it to the defence of the harbors of the South. The result was a vessel, the hull of which could be built in a few months. He prepared his plans and specifications, made drawings of the vessel and had a model made at the Navy Yard. Virginia had not then transferred her army and effects to the Southern Confederacy. Below will be found a cross section of Mr. Porter's model of 1861.
Gun Deck
Water Line.
Water Line.
FIGURE 2-Scale, 1 inch 15 feet.
At that time Commodore Marshall Parks, President of the Al- bemarle and Chesapeake Canal Company, had been appointed by the State of North Carolina, to act in conjunction with Comman- der Muse (formerly of the United States Navy), as commissioner to purchase and fit out vessels for the North Carolina Navy, to protect the waters of Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, and, visiting the Gosport Navy Yard upon business connected with his office, was shown this model by Mr. Porter, and was so impressed with it that he went to Raleigh and informed the Governor and men- bers of the Legislature of the plan, and suggested that some small iron-clads be built for the defense of the North Carolina sounds. He was directed to prepare a " Bill" to authorize the Governor to have some vessels built on the plan, and it was passed immedi- ately. The State of North Carolina, soon after this, decided to join the Confederacy, and Commodore Parks was directed to go
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
to Richmond and turn over all the steamers he had purchased and fitted ont, to the Confederate States Navy Department, and there- fore the iron-clads were not built. Virginia also joined the South- ern Confederacy, and Mr. Porter received an appointment as Con- structor in the Confederate States Navy.
The shield, which was on his Pittsburg model of 1846, is re- tained, but, while that vessel was designed for sea service as well as for harbor defense, his new model was designed for harbor de- fense mainly, and would not have been a good sea boat in rough weather. The original drawings are in the possession of the author. The vessel was to have been one hundred and fifty feet long on deck and one hundred and forty-four feet on the keel ; was forty feet beam at the knuckle and thirty-three feet across the bottom amidships. She was to have been built sharp at the bow and with flat bottom. Her draft of water was eleven feet, and she was fitted with a nine foot propeller. Her knuckle was nine feet perpendicular from the bottom of her keel and her water line was two feet above her knuckle, so that the eaves of the vessel were submerged two feet below the water line. The shield cov- ered the entire length of the vessel, was arranged at an angle of forty degrees, and was made circular at each end. The shield was to have had a thickness of wood and iron, of two and a-half feet, and the ends of the iron, or in other words, the eaves or knuckle of the ship, were to be two feet below the water line, just as he had planned in his Pittsburg ship. The armament was to consist of six 11-inch smooth bore guns, four broadside and one at each end. The end guns were to be pivot guns and have a range out of three port holes, and the broadside guns were on pivots also, and could fire out of each side. While the bow of the vessel was to be sharp, there was sufficient flare in her nine feet of depth from keel to knuckle, to take in the circular end of the shield. Mr. Porter's Pittsburg model was built with sides inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees, but the angle of inclination of this vessel was forty degrees. Mr. Porter made this change because the ord- nance in use in 1861 was heavier than that of 1846, and the lower the angle of resistance the greater the ability to resist. With a good engine she would have made seven or eight miles an hour.
Mr. Mallory, Secretary of the Confederate States Navy, called the attention of the House Committee on Naval Affairs to the subject of iron-clads before the seat of government was removed from Montgomery to Richmond. England and France were then experimenting on the subject, and Mr. Mallory thought it would be desirable for the Southern Confederacy to own one or more of a sea-going character, but an effort to purchase two such vessels in Europe failed, and nothing of a practical character was done. On the 22d of June, 1861, Naval Constructor Porter received or- ders to report to the Navy Department at Richmond. The or-
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THE "VIRGINIA" (MERRIMAC.)
ders did not state the object for which he was to report, but he took advantage of the occasion to carry his model to Richmond for the purpose of submitting it to the Secretary. This was the model he had previously shown to Commodore Parks, and which has just been described. He went to Richmond June 23d (Sun- day), called at the Secretary's office the next day, and showed hin his model. The Secretary immediately ordered a board consist- ing of Mr. Porter, Chief Engineer Williamson and Lieutenant Brooke to consider it. Messrs. Williamson and Brooke were at that time in Richmond.
Thus far, in this account, the author has been writing of what passed within his own personal knowledge, but was not at the meeting of the board, and as to what took place there must rely upon the statements of the members of the board, for only those three gentlemen were present and no one but them could speak advisedly of its proceedings. The board met on the 25th of June, the day after Secretary Mallory ordered it to assemble, and Mr. Porter's model, which had been in the Secretary's office since the preceding morning, was submitted to it, and, according to the statements of Messrs. Williamson and Porter, there was nothing before the board or considered by it except that model. The board decided to recommend the building of a vessel after that plan, and, preparatory to making their report, began discussing the length of time it would take to complete her. Mr. William- son remarked, "It will take at least twelve months to build her engines unless we can utilize some of the machinery in the Mer- rimac." Mr. Porter asked, "Why can't you use it all? I can adapt this model to the Merrimac and utilize her machinery in her." Mr. Williamson replied, "I can." It was therefore de- cided at once to recommend that the Merrimac be converted into an iron-clad. Neither of the members of the board seems to have had any idea of making an iron-clad of that vessel previous to their assembling. Messrs. Williamson and Porter say the board was ordered to meet to consider Mr. Porter's model, and this statement is borne out by Mr. Brooke's testimony before the Con- gressional investigating committee in February, 1863. Mr. Brooke says: "The Secretary directed Constructor Porter, Chief Engineer Williamson and myself to meet him in my office here, and this model was examined by us all and the form of the shield adopted."
Up to that time Mr. Porter was the only member of the board who knew the condition of the Merrimac or how much of her was left. Mr. Brooke had not seen her since the destruction of the Gosport Navy Yard, when she was burned to the water's edge. She had been raised by the Baker Wrecking Company on the 30th of May, and Mr. Porter, as Constructor at the Navy Yard, had her put in the dry-dock and mnade a thorough examina-
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
tion of her. Mr. Williamson's duties were not such as to famil- iarize him with the condition of the vessel, so there is every rea- son to believe their version is correct, and that it was Mr. Porter who suggested that his shield be placed on the Merrimac. Mr. Brooke says Mr. Williamson first made the suggestion.
But, having come to the conclusion to adapt Mr. Porter's model to the Merrimac, the board prepared the following report, which they submitted to Secretary Mallory for his approval :
NAVY DEPARTMENT, RICHMOND, VA., June 25th, 1861.
SIR-In obedience to your order we have carefully examined and considered the various plans and propositions for constructing a shoot proof steam battery, and respectfully report that, in our opinion, the steam frigate Merrimac, which is in such condition from the effects of fire as to be useless for any other purpose without incurring a heavy expense in her rebuilding, can be made an efficient vessel of that character, mounting ten heavy guns ; two pivot guns, and eight broadside guns of her original battery, and for the further consideration, that we cannot procure a suita- ble engine and boilers for any other vessel without building them, which would occupy too much time, is would appear that this is our only chance to get a suitable vessel in a short time. The bot- tom of the hull, boilers and heavy and costly parts of the engine, being but little injured, reduce the cost of construction to about one-third the amount which would be required to construct such a vessel anew. We cannot, without further examination, make an accurate estimate of the cost of the projected work, but think it will be about one hundred and ten thousand dollars, the most of which will be for labor, the materials being nearly all on hand in the yard, except the iron plating to cover the shield. The plan to be adopted in the arrangement of her shield for glancing shots, mounting guns, arranging the hull and plating, to be in accord- ance with the plans submitted for the approval of the depart- ment.
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