GR 8J7 Duke University Libraries Report on vesse Conf Pam #315 OF VESSELS SUNK AND BURNT IN THE PAMUNKBY KIVER, 1!Y CAPTAIN CHAS. S. CAKRINGTOV. A. Q. M., UNDER THE 0RDKB3 <>? GENERAL JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON AND OTHERS. CONFEDEBATF, StATF.S OF AmERICA, i Dcpirrt merit, of Justice, \ ' Richmond, March 10, 1863. ) To the Congress of the Confederate States: The paper hereto attached, raarked exhibit A, contains a li.st of vessels which were seized by order of General Joseph E. Johnston, and used to transport provisions whilst the array was at Yorktowu. and, subr'equentlv, when the army fell back towards Richmond, they were either sunk''in the Paraunkey river, to obstruct it, or were burnt to prevent them from fallin;,' into the hands of the enemy. It con- tains, also, the names of the several owners of the vessels, when known, together with the valuation of each vessel and the names of the persons who valued them. There is appended to it a copy of the certificate of Charles S. Carrington, Major and Quartermaster. Under the general principles announced in ray opinion to the Sec- retary of War. on the 17th of October, 1SG2, the government ij responsible to the owners of the vessels for their reasonable value. 1 allow the claims, therefore, except in those cases where the owners are unknown, or their christian names are not given, or the value is not fixed, vi/.: Marv Elizabeth, Hannah Ann, Planter, Reliance, StarliTht.J. R, P>avlis'', owner;^ of which are unknown; and Palestine, an urmamed vessel, and California, owned respectively by Thomas Cloyd and Blassingham, whoso christian names are not given; and. tho'T. &G. Fair, Mary Layster, R. P. Wallar, Way, Little Addio. Mira'^e and Mary Alice, which are without valuation, ajid are not exclullcd bv reason of their beir.g in either of the other two classes . T. H. WATTS, Attorney General. o ooo Ceo d to S - - - - d c o ■■i ■0 •-» - »; 2 ■H' ' ■* " m u= B "S t. — . 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O • u • m O m S S ^ p fc m t» i-» p P -"S : M b£) ^ .^^^\:&5 a' The above named vessels were employed by the government during the occupation of the Peninsula by the army of the Confederate States, and on its evacuation were filled with stores belonging to the government, General Joseph E. Johnston commanding, etc., ordered me to send these vessels up the Tamukey river, and after discharging their cargoes at the White House, and filling a portion of them with sand and stone, to sink the same in the channel of this stream in such a way as to obstruct the passage of the gun boats of the enemy. He also ordered that a portion of these vessels should be sunk in the draw of the bridge at the White House, and again, that further efforts should be made by me to obstruct the Pamunkey river above the White House, by sinking another portion of these vessels, and if necessary to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy, that they should be destroyed. The vessels were sunk at " Cook's Island," in obedience to the first named order. This obstruction delayed the approach of the enemy, and time was thus given to save the cargoes of other vessels, delayed by head winds in their arrival at the White House. The vessels burnt at Cumberland, were destroyed to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy, whose near approach, to- gether with their being abandoned bj- their .crews, prevented their escape ; which was, also, the case with the vessels sunk at Garlick's landing. Those destroyed at the White House were sunk in the draw of the bridge. The vessels sunk and burnt at and near Bas sell's landing and New Castle, were either used successfully in obstructing the channel of the Pamunkey river above the White House, or des- troyed to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. The enemy reached these landings a few hours after these vessels were destroyed. The cargoes of these vessels were saved with the exception of a quantity of forage and some grain sacks, which it was impossible to secure, because of the retreat of our army beyond the safe reach of its.transportation. The rapid advance of the enemy, the want of labor, the desertion of crews and the necessity of my presence at different points prevented the valuation of all these vessels, and rendered an informal valuation of others necessary. I also, failed to obtain reliable information of the, names of the owners of these vessels, and from the above mentioned causes, and from the probable loss of pencilled memoranda made at the moment. I am not confident that all of the vessels destroyed by me under the orders, during the retreat from Yorktown, are reported in the above list. (Signed,) CHAS. S. CARRINGTON Major and Quartermaster. pH8.5