On May 8, 1862, "Monitor", "Dacotah", "Naugatuck", "Seminole", and "Susquehanna" by direction of the President "-shelled Confederate batteries at Sewells Point, Virginia, as Flag Officer L. M. Goldsborough reported, "mainly with the view of ascertaining the practicability of landing a body of troops thereabouts" to move on Norfolk. Whatever rumors President Lincoln had received about Confederates abandoning Norfolk were now confirmed; a tug deserted and brought news that the evacuation was well underway and that CSS "Virginia", with her accompanying small gunboats, planned to proceed up the James River or York River.