Suffolk Taken

SUFFOLK, VA., May 18.

This place, seventeen miles from Norfolk by rail, and twenty-five miles by road, was occupied by Union troops this morning.  No rebel troops were found.  Many inhabitants had left and those remaining were bitter against us.

Reconnoisances were made yesterday to Kempsville, Gov. Wise’s place; the town was found almost deserted.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 21, 1862, p. 1

General Robert E. Lee to Colonel G. W. Custis Lee, June 13, 1863

Richmond, Virginia,

June 13, 1863.

I send down Colonel Long to see if possible what this move of the enemy up the Peninsula is. I believe it to be a raid to destroy our crops and lay waste our country. All the accounts I get agree in stating that the enemy has sent off his troops from Suffolk, Yorktown, Gloucester, etc., to reinforce General Hooker.

He can only have a small force in that region, which he has wholly collected for this expedition. We must do the same and beat him back at all hazards. General Hooker's army has not moved in that direction as far as I can be certain of anything in war. It is extending now up the Rappahannock.

I hope Fitzhugh is doing well. Let me know how he gets on. Give much love to your mother and sisters and remember me to all friends.

God bless you all.

SOURCES:  John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 246-7; For the date of this letter and a full transcription see Clifford Dowdey and Louis H. Manarin, Editors,The Wartime Papers of R. L. Lee, p. 514.

General Wool tersely telegraphs to Washington –

“We have Suffolk.  The process is nearly complete.” Then says Vanity Fair, “The anaconda is tightening its last coil and Suffolk-ation has already set in.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 3

Southern News

FORT MONROE, March 7.

A flag of truce from Norfolk brought down the commandant of the French steamer.  He represents that there was great excitement at Norfolk.  The hotels were swarming with officers from the Gulf States.  The Virginia troops have been sent away.  The people dread the destruction of the city in case of an attack.

A strong force is concentrating at Suffolk to check Gen. Burnside, who was reported to have reached Winton in force, and was moving on Suffolk.

The reason given by the rebels for not returning Col. Corcoran is, that maps and drawings have been found concealed on his person.  No farther communication has been received as to the release of prisoners at Richmond.

Richmond papers of Friday contain no military news, except the arrest of a number of Union men, principally Germans.  A detective officer broke into the room of the German Turners, and found two American flags, and a painting on the wall of the goddess of liberty holding the Union colors and a shield, with the words underneath “hats off!”

The House of Representatives have passed a resolution, by a vote of 71 to 11, recommending and directing the military commanders to destroy all the cotton and tobacco in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy.  A resolution was also adopted asking the President to inform the House of what foreign vessels of war are doing in Hampton Roads.

The Richmond Dispatch says that a vessel drawing sixteen feet of water recently passed out of Charleston harbor.

Chas. Palmet, arrested for disloyalty a few days since at Richmond, had been discharged.

Specie is quoted at Richmond at 40 a 50 per cent. prem.

A dispatch from Atlanta, Ga., says that the Federal troops have possession of Murfreesboro, and the Gen. Sidney Johnston has retreated to Decatur, Ala.

The steamer Merrimac was lying near the navy yard yesterday morning, with flag flying and a crew on board.  She draws 23 feet of water, and was described to me as looking like the roof of a sunken house, with a smokestack protruding from the water.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 10, 1862, p. 1

Occupation of Suffolk

SUFFOLK, Va., May 18. – This place, twenty seven miles from Norfolk by rail and twenty five by road, was occupied by Union troops this morning.

No rebel troops were found.  Many of the inhabitants had left.  Those remaining were bitter against us.

Reconnoisances were made yesterday to Dempsville, Gov. Wise’s place.  The town was found almost deserted.

A flag of truce was sent out yesterday in the direction of Suffolk to return the prisoners of State released from Fort Warren.

The sea board and Roanoke Railroad has been found to be in good condition to Suffolk, only a single bridge having been destroyed.  The road will be repaired immediately, and running stock put in condition as soon as possible.

A large quantity of copper bolting was found stored in the railroad storehouse yesterday, of which possession was taken.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 4

Suffolk Taken

To Hon. E. M. STANTON, Sec’y of War:

FT. MONROE, May 14. – We have Suffolk.  It was taken last evening by Major Dodge.  All is quiet.

Major General McClellan’s troops are at Cumberland.

(Signed.)

JOHN E. WOOL, Major General.

Cumberland is in Kent county, on York river, on the line of the Railroad leading to Richmond and about twenty-five miles east of the latter place.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 17, 1862, p. 3