NORFOLK, May 10 – 6 P.
M.
Gen. Wool has just entered the city in company with Mayor W.
N. Lamb and a committee of the city government.
The last of the rebel troops left this morning and the city was left in
the care of the Mayor as the representative of the civil power. On the approach of our troops the Mayor went
with a flag of truce to the city limits, and an arrangement was soon made
between the Mayor and Gen. Wool that the city should be given up on the promise
of Gen. Wool that private property should be respected during the march on
Norfolk.
Three regimental cavalry camps were found deserted
apparently a day or two since. Gen.
Weber’s regiment, the New York 20th, was advanced on landing to
reconnoiter. Some six miles from the
beach, the Half Way House, so called, they found a place which had been
prepared for a battle field. Trees and
bushes had been felled and rifled-pits built, and early in the morning, as was
ascertained, several guns were placed in position. At this point some of the recruits of the
41st Virginia regiment were captured.
They report Sewall’s Point abandoned on the preceding night by four
companies, which had garrisoned the place for some weeks past. A negro was also captured at this place who
stated that it was the intention of the enemy to destroy the bridge over Tanner’s
Creek and then evacuate Norfolk.
Part of Max Weber’s regiment was pushed forward on the road
to the bridge, and the enemy was found posted on the opposite side of Tanner’s
Creek with three guns. The bridge had
been set on fire and was still burning at the time. Some six or eight shots, however, were fired
without effect, and our men, being beyond musket range, did not reply. The creek being about a quarter of a mile
wide, our forces were withdrawn, and started on another road considerably
longer, and reported to be defended by a strong battery. Not the slightest opposition was made,
however, to our advance, and fortifications, which were a mile and a half from
Norfolk, were found to have been evacuated after spiking the guns. They were extensive works and finely
constructed.
They arrived at Norfolk, after a tiresome march, at 5 o’clock,
without firing a gun and found the whole rebel force gone, the last leaving
this morning.
Mayor Lamb, with a committee of the city government authorized
for the purpose, met Gen. Wool with a flag of truce at the city limits, and
after a brief consultation the city was surrendered to the United States
forces. Gen. Wool then proceeded to the
City Hall with the Mayor, followed by a large crowd, where he issued the
following proclamation:
HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF
VIRGINIA,
NORFOLK, May 10, 1862.
The city of Norfolk having been surrendered to the
Government of the United States, military possession of the same is taken, in
behalf of the National Government by Major General John E. Wool. – Brigadier General
Viele is appointed Military Governor for the time being. He will see that all citizens are carefully
protected in their rights and civil privileges, taking the utmost care to
preserve order, to see that no soldiers be permitted to enter the city except
by his order or by the written permission of the commanding officer of his
brigade or regiment; or he will punish summarily any American soldiers who shall
trespass upon the rights of any of the inhabitants.
(Signed)
JOHN E. WOOL,
Major General.
Gen. Viele immediately appointed Mr. F. D. Davis his Military
Secretary. The very first parties who
entered the city were newspaper correspondents.
Gen. Wool returns to camp outside the city, and probably to Fortress
Monroe to-night.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette,
Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 14, 1862, p. 1
