THE CAPTURE OF NORFOLK: Interesting Particulars of the Advance Upon and Occupation of the City; THE LAST OF THE MERRIMAC (5/13/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 5/13/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

OCEAN VIEW, OPPOSITE FORTRESS MONROE,

Saturday evening, 8 o'clock.

NORFOLK and Gosport Navy-yard again belong to the United States! Our troops under Gen. WOOL entered and took possession of the town at 5 o'clock this afternoon, receiving its surrender at the hands of the Mayor and Common Council. All the troops who had been holding it under Gen. HUGER were withdrawn yesterday, -- the public buildings and public property in the Navy-yard were all destroyed, -- the people remained in the city, and our forces entered into peaceable possession, being encamped two miles out of the town, in what is called the intrenched camp, which was very strongly fortified, and in which 30 pieces of cannon fell into our possession. Brig.-Gen. EGBERT L. VIELE has been appointed Military Governor of the place, and the strongest assurances were given by Gen. WOOL and by Secretary CHASE, who accompanied him throughout the march, that the persons and property of all the inhabitants should be treated with the utmost respect.

This is the general summary of the intelligence as I have just received it at this point from Gen. WOOL and Secretary CHASE, who have this moment returned from Norfolk in the carriage heretofore used by Gen. HUGER. The details of the expedition as well as its origin, are worthy of more specific mention. For some time past Gen. WOOL has been of the opinion that Norfolk might be taken without great cost; but nothing definite had been done in regard to it, partly because the cooperation of the Navy Department could not be secured, and partly because such a movement was not consistent with the general plan of the campaign which had been decided upon. After the fall of Yorktown and the withdrawal of the great body of the rebel army,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4062589/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Capture of Norfolk: Editorial Correspondence of the New-York Times – 2-6
The City of Richmond and Its Defences – 2
News From Fortress Monroe: Particulars Relative to the Destruction of the Merrimac – 6
The War in the Southwest: A Brisk Skirmish Between Gen. Pope and the Rebels – 6-7
Gen. McClellan’s Advance: News from the Army up to Sunday Evening – 7
The Battle at West Point: Details of Preliminary Movements – 7-8
Important from the South: The National Fleet Advancing on Mobile – 8
Department of the Rappahannock: Capture of a Rebel Infantry Picket by the Ira Harris Cavalry – 8-9
News from Washington: Return of President Lincoln from Fortress Monroe – 9
The Battle on the Mississippi: Highly Interesting Particulars – 9
The Next Rebel City to be Captured-Mobile in Danger – 9-10
Editorial: Pressing on Richmond-Impending Capture of the Rebel Capture – 10
The Occupation of Norfolk – 10
The Spirit of the Rebels – 10
The Merrimac and the Monitor – 10-11
Editorial: French Cis-Atlantic Intervention – 11
Mexico – 11
General News – 11

[nathanbedford]

But, where is Stonewall Jackson?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

He’s out there in the Valley somewhere. Not a threat at the moment. Gen. Banks will take care of him.

[nathanbedford]

My great-grandfather and great granduncle and half the rest of the tribe are out there with him but where are they?

What the Yankees know, or think they know:

He marched east out of the Valley only to assault general Milroy West of the Valley could it be that he has marched east out of the valley again to join the defense of Richmond? If so, Shields will get him, right?

If he stays in the Valley, as you say, Banks will get him. Meanwhile, Banks has withdrawn North toward New Market.

It appears that the federals were not alone in their ignorance of Jackson's whereabouts.

Jackson's Lieutenant, General Ewell was complaining, "I tell you, sir, he is as crazy as a March hare! He has gone away, I don't know where, and left me here with some instructions to stay until he returns, but Bank's whole army is advancing on me and I haven't the most remote idea were to communicate with General Jackson! I tell you, sir, he is crazy and I will just march my division away from here! I do not mean to have it cut to pieces at the behest of a crazy man!"

Where is Jackson?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gen. Ewell: "I tell you, sir, he is as crazy as a March hare!

Did you catch Judith McGuire's diary entry today? She isn't worried about Stonewall -

"The croakers roll their gloomy eyes, and say, 'Ah, General Jackson is so rash!' and a lady even assured me that he was known to be crazy when under excitement, and that we had every thing to fear from the campaign he was now beginning in the Valley. I would that every officer and soldier in the Southern army was crazed in the same way . . ."

[nathanbedford]

There is at least one other Confederate who has faith in Jackson's sanity and martial competence, General Robert E Lee, and we shall see in the coming days whether his faith is vindicated.

[AppyPappy]

The nearby community of Merrimac was named after the ship because a coal mine there produced the coal for the ship.