Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 1.

[393] Merrimack and Germantown were in a condition to be speedily put to use. The Merrimack needed repairs, but the Germantown was nearly ready for sea.

Notwithstanding the importance of the Gosport Navy Yard as a military post, and the immense value of the property there, not only to the Government but to the insurgents, the late Administration, in its endeavors to avoid irritating the secessionists of Virginia, had left the whole exposed to seizure or destruction by them. The post was circumvallated by a low structure, incompetent to offer resistance to cannon. There was neither fort nor garrison to cover it in case of an assault. In fact, it was invitingly weak, and offered strong temptations for even a few bold men to attempt its seizure. The new Administration seemed to be equally remiss in duty prescribed by common prudence until it was too late. Finally, after the lapse of more than a month from its inauguration, and when it was resolved to give aid to Forts Pickens and Sumter, Commodore Charles S. McCauley, who was in command of the Gosport station, was admonished to exercise “extreme caution and circumspection.” On the 10th of April, he was instructed to “put the shipping and public property in condition to be moved and placed beyond danger, should it become necessary;” at the same time, he was warned to “take no steps that could give needless alarm.” ¹

Informed that with the workmen then employed on the engine of the steam-frigate Merrimack, it would take thirty days to repair it, and anxious for the safety of the vessel, the Government sent Engineer-in-chief B. F. Isherwood, who discredited the report, to put the machinery in order as quickly as possible. At the same time McCauley was directed to expedite the work, and Captain Alden was ordered to take charge of the vessel, and, when ready for sea, to go with it to Philadelphia. Isherwood arrived at the yard on Sunday morning, the 14th,

April 1861.

and by applying labor night and day, he reported to McCauley on the 17th that the engine was ready for use.

In the mean time, Captain, now (1885) Rear-Admiral Paulding had arrived from Washington with instructions from the Secretary of the Navy for McCauley to lose no time in arming the Merrimack; “to get the Plymouth and Dolphin beyond danger; to have the Germantown in a condition to be towed out, and to put the more valuable property, ordnance stores, et coetera, on shipboard, so that they could, at any moment, be moved beyond danger.” The Secretary also instructed him to defend the vessels and other property committed to his charge “at any hazard, repelling by force, if necessary, any and all attempts to seize them, whether by mob violence, organized effort, or any assumed authority.” On the same day, in accordance with advice offered by Paulding, the frigate Cumberland, which had been anchored below, with a full crew and armament on board, was moved up to a position so as to command the entire harbor, the Navy Yard, the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, and the channel through which they were approached. After seeing these precautionary arrangements completed, Paulding returned to Washington.

The Merrimack being ready for sea on the 17th, Mr. Isherwood proposed to have her fires lighted at once, that she might depart before other channel