[from our Correspondents.]
Portsmouth, April 22, 1861
The past two days with us contain events of wondrous interest.
Saturday our troops were under arms all the day — our community was all excitement.
Rumors from the Navy-Yard came thick and fast.
About one o'clock, or before, it was ascertained that the fine war steamer Merrimac was scuttled, the Germantown was crushed by the ponderous shears, and the small arms on board the ships were being broken in pieces and thrown overboard.
It was evident there was a panic among the remaining officers of the yard and of the ships.
They were regarded as tokens of a felt necessity to surrender upon demand.
Thus events were strangely thickening, when about nine o'clock, a loud shout from a steamer as she passed our wharves, up to the yard, broke on our ears, surprising and saddening all hearts.
It proved to be the steamer Pawnee, which had brought from Washington a large reinforcement of troops for Old Point.
She was said to have on board now 500.
As she fastened to the wharf out poured her troops.
In a few moments, the sound of scores of sledge hammers broke on our ears, as they spiked the cannon, battered them and attempted to render them useless.
It was evident a thorough destruction was intended.
Soon powder trains were laid all over the yard, and by 1 o'clock the Barracks was on fire.
Between 4 and 5 o'clock, with the ship Cumberland in tow, the Pawnee steamed off, and at a given signal the match was applied, and the whole yard seemed to be in a blaze.
The scene was terrific beyond conception-- description is impossible.
The fire raged four hours; but it has turned out that only a small portion of the yard has been consumed.
The principal buildings, including the splendid officers' quarters and the Dry Dock, are unscathed.
The ships Pennsylvania, Germantown, Merrimac, and two others, I believe, have been burnt to the water's edge.
But a very large amount of property has been unhurt, and fall into our hands most opportunely.
The cannon are very little damaged, and before the sun went down yesterday a number of them were prepared to occupy the battery being raised on the Hospital shore.
Yesterday was a day of terrible excitement.
Hundreds of men were working most vigorously and effectively.
Thousands of persons visited the Yard.
This attempt to destroy the public works here, and with them a large portion of our city, is a vandalism and cowardice which bespeaks the meanness of Lincoln and his coadjutors.
It will carry with it a moral effect worth more than millions to us. A feeling has been wrought among this people which makes them more than legions to war against the vile fos. It has enkindled universal hate and contempt in this community.
The world's sympathy, too, must be drawn out by this act towards a people thus visited by the malignant, yet impotent, effort to destroy them, by the doomed wretch who is called the President.
Two officers, said to be one of the Army and one of the Navy, were seized in their attempt to cross from the Yard over the river.
They are lodged in jail, as is reported.
All day Sunday there were rumors of a threatened bombardment of the two towns, if they were not given up. For a period, the excitement here was intense, but towards evening it died away.
We are busily engaged preparing batteries, and shall be well prepared in a few hours to give a warm reception to any attempt at attack.
But I must hasten this for the mail, omitting many particulars of interest.
Enuh
Norpole, April 22, 1861
The town is alive with soldiers.
Military forces are coming in from all quarters, and the most general unanimity of opinion exists as to beating back the Black Hawks of the North.
The people seen to know nothing but fighting, and I tell you, we are the boys to do it.
The Navy-Yard particulars you will find correctly reported in the Norfolk papers.
The Grays, of your city, are a brave set of fellows, and will fight when the momentous time comes.
They are quartered at the Virginia Hotel, Commerce street, and seem to be enjoying themselves admirably.
The Petersburg soldiers are quartered at the Fair Grounds, just outside of the city, and enjoy themselves as well as can be expected these equally times.
All our military are under martial law, and no man is allowed to pay any attention to anything else.
Business is almost entirely expended, and God only knows where this thing will end.
Fortress Monroe has been reinforced strongly, and troops still continue to put up there, so report says.
We will have it yet, just so sure as the sun shines to-day.
Yours,
Powdee
