THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602090588
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: GEORGE TUCKER
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
In describing the recapture of Norfolk by the Federal forces in May 1862, the recently published ``Norfolk: The First Four Centuries'' by Thomas C. Parramore with Peter C. Stewart and Tommy L. Bogger makes this incorrect statement: ``Lincoln stayed long enough to ride through the streets of Norfolk on May 11 . . . ''
Abraham Lincoln never set foot within the corporate limits of Norfolk, but he did visit the area briefly in 1862 to help plan the campaign that resulted in the retaking of the city from Confederate forces.
Gen. George B. McClellan's army was then in the first stages of the Peninsula campaign, while the CSS Virginia (the former USS Merrimack) and the USS Monitor had locked horns just two months earlier in Hampton Roads. At that point, Lincoln decided to visit Fort Monroe, ``to ascertain by personal observation whether some further vigilance and vigor might not be infused into the operation of the Army and Navy.''
As the presidential party, consisting of Lincoln, Secretary of State Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, and Brig. Gen. Egbert L. Viele left Washington on May 5, 1862, news arrived that the Confederates had abandoned Yorktown. The trip down the Bay on the Coast Guard cutter Miami was rough and it was not until late the next night that Fort Monroe was reached. After an early breakfast, the presidential party visited the Monitor and then went over to the Rip Raps. Just then the Virginia steamed into sight off Sewell's Point. Since it was surmised she might again engage the Monitor, the party took time out to witness the fight that never took place.
That night it was decided that Norfolk must be taken in order to deprive the Virginia of her supply base, and the next morning a bombardment of the Sewell's Point batteries began. But the sudden appearance of the Virginia put an end to the attack. It was then realized that a successful landing could only be made on the south side of Hampton Roads in a spot out of range of the Virginia's guns. With this in mind, Chase, Viele and others conducted a reconnaissance operation off Ocean View.
Returning to Fort Monroe, they found Lincoln in consultation with a pilot familiar with Norfolk area waters. The party set out again, that time including Lincoln, who refused to permit an attack on Confederates patrolling the beach. That night, 6,000 troops were ferried across to Ocean View on the Old Bay Line Steamer Adelaide. No resistance was made. Meanwhile, panic reigned in Norfolk, where the Confederate forces were preparing to evacuate the city and burn the Gosport Navy Yard (the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.)
Lincoln, Chase, Stanton and Gen. John E. Wool came over to Ocean View early the next morning but found that the troops had already begun their march toward Norfolk. Chase and Wool followed them, but Lincoln and Stanton returned to Fort Monroe to await the results. The troops encountered little resistance. Upon reaching Indian Pole Bridge (now the site of the Granby Street Bridge), however, they found it had been burned by the retreating Confederates, necessitating a detour.
Mayor William W. Lamb and members of the City Council were awaiting the Federals on Princess Anne Road with a flag of truce. Being assured that no resistance would be made, Wool accepted the surrender of the city and rode back into Norfolk with Lamb and Chase in the mayor's carriage.
Lamb's announcement of the surrender of Norfolk to a crowd at the Court House (now the MacArthur Memorial) ended with three cheers for Jefferson Davis and three groans for Lincoln. Later that evening, when Wool and Chase returned to Fort Monroe, they went straight to Lincoln's room.
``Norfolk is ours!'' Wool crowed. Stanton was so delighted with the news he hugged the general. The next morning as the presidential party was about to embark on the USS Baltimore to return to Washington, Commodore Louis M. Goldsborough announced that the Virginia had been blown up by her crew off Craney Island. Lincoln then visited Norfolk's inner harbor on the Baltimore to see the smoldering ruins of the Virginia and the still-burning Navy Yard. At that time he discovered the Monitor and other naval vessels had preceded him.
After another brief stop at Fort Monroe - Lincoln meanwhile having never set foot within the corporate limits of Norfolk - the Baltimore steamed back to Washington. In the words of the Secretary Chase, ``So ended a brilliant week's campaign by the President.'' by CNB