Wm. B. Cushing. I was then attached to the United States steamer
Valley City, Captain J. A. J. Brooks commanding. The vessel was
anchored about a mile west of Roanoke Island, in Pamlico Sound.
Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Paymaster J. W. Sands and myself, left the
vessel in the morning, the wind blowing a strong breeze from the
west, and arrived at Roanoke Island. The wind continuing to blow
almost a hurricane, we attempted to return to the vessel in the
evening, but failed; consequently we were compelled to remain on
Roanoke Island all night. As I said, it was on this evening I first
met Captain Wm. B. Cushing. He then was a young man of twenty-one
or twenty-two years of age, wore long, light hair falling around
his neck, and was rather reserved in his manners. Captain Cushing,
Captain Brooks, Paymaster Sands and myself, occupied a room
together that night. The next morning when I awoke, I found that
Captain Cushing had gone. Upon making inquiry about him, I learned
he had departed at 4 a.m. of the 23d, in his torpedo launch, a boat
he had constructed at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, for a certain
purpose, and had proceeded this far on his expedition with the
steam launch.
"In referring to my diary, I find that on Friday, October 28, at
5:30 a.m., the Valley City weighed anchor and proceeded toward the
fleet. The weather was clear but windy. We arrived at the fleet at
6 p.m. The fleet was composed of twelve double-ender side-wheel
vessels, manned, armed and equipped, and commanded by Commodore Wm.
H. Macomb, and was anchored about six miles from the mouth of
Roanoke river, in Albemarle Sound, and fourteen miles from
Plymouth, where the Albemarle was stationed. My diary states that
at 7 p.m. we got under weigh, and proceeded to the mouth of Roanoke
river, where we arrived at 8:30 p.m. At 11 p.m. we were hailed by a
voice at the mouth of Roanoke river: "Boat ahoy! send a boat!" A
boat was sent, and the man who had left us so early in the morning
of the 23d of October--Captain William B. Cushing--was brought on
board the Valley City in his stocking feet, with only a coarse
flannel shirt and pantaloons to cover him. He was wet, cold, tired,
hungry and prostrated.
"My diary states that after leaving us on the morning of the 23d of
October he steamed to the fleet in his torpedo launch, having
received from the crews of the fleet twelve volunteer men to
accompany him. On the evening of October 27th he proceeded with his
small torpedo launch, with a torpedo rigged on her bow, up the
Roanoke river. At 3:15 a.m., October 28th, exploded torpedo under
the ram Albemarle and sunk her. He (Captain Cushing) and another
man were the only ones saved from drowning or capture. Captain
Cushing, after blowing up the ram, jumped into the river, swam
ashore, lay in the swamps near Plymouth till night, then proceeded
through the swamps till he came to a creek, where he captured a
skiff belonging to a Confederate picket, and paddled himself to the
Valley City. The torpedo boat was sunk, and about a dozen men were
either drowned or captured. In the meantime, the fleet had moved up
to the mouth of Roanoke river. Upon learning that Captain Cushing
was on board the Valley City, Commodore Macomb ordered the riggings
of the fleet to be manned, and at the general signal to give
Captain Cushing three hearty good cheers; and such cheering--it
made those swamps, forests and waters resound with the voices of
glad-hearted men.
"On the following day, October 29th, at 11 o'clock a.m., the fleet
weighed anchor with every man at his post, and proceeded up Roanoke
river, the Valley City leading, for the purpose of confirming the
report of Captain Cushing that the Albemarle ram was sunk; and, if
true, capturing Plymouth. This is a small town situated on the
right bank of the Roanoke river, eight miles from its mouth,
surrounded by swamps and large cypress trees as far as the eye can
reach. One mile above Plymouth the waters of the Roanoke river
divide, one forming the Cashie river, the other the Roanoke river.
At about two thirds of the distance from the mouth of the Roanoke
river to Plymouth, the Cashie river and the Roanoke river are
connected by what is called Middle river, so that these rivers in
their course at these points formed a figure resembling the capital
letter A, the left line the Roanoke river, the right line the
Cashie river, and the horizontal line the Middle river.
"The fleet steamed up Roanoke river. The day was beautiful, the
birds were singing in the branches of the trees, the leaves of
which were gently rustling, and the water could be heard dripping
from the wheels of the fleet as they made their slow revolutions.
All else was quiet. No man said a word. This was not strange, for
we believed the river to be full of torpedoes and its banks lined
with sharpshooters. We ascended further and further up the river
till we came to Middle river, when the Valley City steamed through
Middle and up the Cashie river. The remainder of the fleet steamed
on up Roanoke river.
"After arriving at a point in the Cashie river opposite Plymouth,
we heard heavy firing by the fleet, which continued an hour, and
then suddenly ceased. We thought, of course, that Plymouth had been
captured. At this point we picked up the other man who was with the
expedition, and who escaped. The Valley City continued to ascend
the Cashie river, and after encountering much difficulty on account
of the narrowness and crookedness of the river, we arrived at the
Roanoke river above Plymouth, where we could see the town, but we
could see no fleet nor American flag. We concluded then that the
Albemarle had not been sunk, but had driven the fleet back into the
Sound. Of course, it was not a very happy feeling to fear the ram
might prevent our retreat.
"After some delay, and an exchange of shot with the enemy at
Plymouth, we descended the Cashie river to Albemarle Sound, where
we arrived at 8 p.m., and found the fleet at the mouth of Roanoke
river. They had ascended the Roanoke river till they came to some
obstruction which placed them at a disadvantage to the enemy; they
then descended the river.
"Commodore Macomb was now convinced that the ram Albemarle was
sunk. The Valley City was now detached to convey Captain Cushing to
Fortress Monroe. We weighed anchor at 12:30 a.m., October 30th, and
proceeded through Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, and into the
Atlantic Ocean, and arrived at Fortress Monroe at 7 a.m., November
1. A fleet of about one hundred vessels was stationed there,
preparatory to making an onslaught on Wilmington. Captain Wm. B.
Cushing was received on board the flagship with a salute of
twenty-one guns, and, of course, was almost worshiped for his
heroic achievement. It was at Fortress Monroe I first saw the
United States steamer Kearsarge, of Commodore Winslow and Alabama
fame. My attention was directed to her by hearing an old sailor
say, 'Does she not sit like a duck on water?' And truly she did.
"Captain Cushing is now dead. He certainly was one of the bravest
men that ever trod the decks of a man-of-war. Peace to his ashes!
Commodore Macomb is also dead; he died in your city of Brotherly
Love, while taking a bath. We all loved him. God bless him."
Published in the New York _Herald_, Thursday, November 3, 1864.
THE RAM ALBEMARLE.
DESTRUCTION OF THE FAMOUS REBEL IRON-CLAD--THE RAM
SUNK BY A TORPEDO--DESTRUCTION OF THE TORPEDO
BOAT--TERRIBLE MUSKETRY FIRE--ESCAPE OF LIEUTENANT
CUSHING--HIS ADVENTURES IN THE
SWAMP--FULL AND INTERESTING DETAILS
OF HIS BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENT--THE
CASUALTIES--ETC.,
ETC., ETC.
LIEUTENANT CUSHING'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
WASHINGTON, November 2, 1864.
Admiral Porter has communicated to the Secretary of the Navy the
following interesting particulars from Lieutenant Cushing, in
regard to the sinking of the rebel ram Albemarle:
"ALBEMARLE SOUND, October 30, 1864.
"Sir: I have the honor to report that the rebel ram Albemarle is at
the bottom of Roanoke river.
"On the night of the 27th, having prepared my steam launch, I
proceeded towards Plymouth with thirteen officers and men, partly
volunteers from the squadron.
"The distance from the mouth of the river to the ram was about
eight miles, the stream averaging in width some two hundred yards,
and lined with the enemy's pickets.
"A mile below the town was the wreck of the Southfield, surrounded
by some schooners, and it was understood that a gun was mounted
there to command the bend. I therefore took one of the Shamrock's
cutters in tow, with orders to cast off and board at that point in
case we were hailed.
"Our boat succeeded in passing the pickets, and even the Southfield
within twenty yards, without discovery, and we were not hailed
until by the lookouts on the ram.
"The cutter was then cut off and ordered below, while we made for
our enemy under a full head of steam. The rebels sprang their
rattle, rang the bell and commenced firing, at the same time
repeating their hail, and seeming much confused.
"The light of the fire ashore showed me the iron-clad made fast to
the wharf, with logs around her, about thirty feet from her side.
Passing her closely, we made a complete circle, so as to strike her
fairly, and went into her bows on.
"By this time the enemy's fire was very severe, but a dose of
canister at short range seemed to moderate their zeal and disturb
their aim.
"Paymaster Swann, of the Otsego, was wounded near me, but how many
more I know not. Three bullets struck my clothing, and the air
seemed full of them.
"In a moment we had struck the logs just abreast of the quarter
post, breaking them in some feet, our bows resting on them. The
torpedo boom was then lowered, and by a vigorous pull I succeeded
in diving the torpedo under the over-hang and exploding it.
"At the same time the Albemarle's guns were fired. A shot seemed to
go crashing through my boat, and a dense mass of water rolled in
from the torpedo, filling the launch, and completely disabling her.
"The enemy then continued their fire at fifteen feet range, and
demanded our surrender, which I twice refused, ordering the men to
save themselves, and removing my overcoat and shoes. Springing into
the river, I swam with others into the middle of the stream, the
rebels failing to hit us.
"The most of our party were captured; some were drowned, and only
one escaped besides myself, and he in another direction.
"Acting Master's mate, Woodman, of the Commodore Hull, met me in
the water half a mile below the town, and I assisted him as best I
could, but failed to get him ashore. Completely exhausted, I
managed to reach the shore, but was too weak to crawl out of the
water until just at daylight, when I managed to creep into the
swamp close to the fort.
"While hiding close to the path, the Albemarle's officers passed,
and I judged from their conversation that the ram was destroyed.
Some hours traveling in the swamp served to bring me out well below
the town, when I sent a negro in to gain information, and found
that the ram was truly sunk. Proceeding through another swamp, I
came to a creek, and captured a skiff belonging to a picket of the
enemy, and with this, by eleven o'clock the next night, I made my
way out to the Valley City.
"Acting Master's mate, William L. Howorth, of the Monticello,
showed as usual conspicuous bravery. He is the same officer who has
been with me twice in Wilmington Harbor. I trust he may be promoted
when exchanged, as well as Acting Third Assistant Engineer
Stolsbury, who, being for the first time under fire, handled his
engine promptly and with coolness. All the officers and men behaved
in the most gallant manner.
"The cutter of the Shamrock boarded the Southfield, but found no
guns there. Four prisoners were taken there. The ram is now
completely submerged, and the enemy have sunk three schooners in
the river to obstruct the passage of our ships.
"I desire to call the attention of the Admiral and department to
the spirit manifested by the sailors on the ships in these sounds.
But few hands were wanted, but all hands were eager to go into the
action, offering their chosen shipmates a month's pay to resign in
their favor.
"I am sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
"W. B. CUSHING, U.S.N.
"Rear Admiral D. D. Porter, Commanding the North Atlantic
Squadron."
"The name of the man who escaped was William Hoffman, seaman on the
Chicopee. He did his duty well, and deserves a medal of honor.
"Respectfully,
"WM. B. CUSHING, U.S.N."
THE HERALD DESPATCHES.
[Mr. Galen H. Osborn's Despatch]
"FORTRESS MONROE, VA., November 1, 1864.
"The United States steamer Valley City arrived at Hampton Roads
from the blockading squadron of the Sounds of North Carolina, this
morning. She brings the glorious tidings of the destruction of the
rebel iron-clad ram Albemarle. The terror of the Sounds is at the
bottom of Roanoke river. She was blown up by a torpedo early on the
morning of the 28th ultimo; and her destruction is due to the
personal heroism and reckless daring of Lieut. W. B. Cushing, of
the Navy. All the particulars I have been able to collect
concerning this feat, which stands prominently forth as one of the
most gallant of the war, I hasten to forward for the information of
the _Herald's_ readers.
"On the night of Thursday, October 27, Lieutenant Cushing, who has
on several previous occasions especially distinguished himself,
manned a steam-launch with a party of thirteen officers and men,
mostly volunteers, and proceeded, under cover of the darkness, up
the river towards Plymouth. Eight miles from the mouth of the
stream the Albemarle lay, surrounded by a pen of logs and timber,
established to prevent her destruction by torpedoes.
"As he approached this framework, Lieut. Cushing was discovered by
the officers of the ram, who hailed him. He gave no answer, the
enemy meantime maintaining against him a severe and galling fire,
to which he replied effectively with frequent doses of canister.
Finding that he could not approach the ram as he desired, a
complete circle was made by the Lieutenant, and the launch was
again brought fairly against the "crib," bows on, pushing back a
portion of it, and leaving the bows of the launch resting on the
broken timbers.
"At this moment, by a most vigorous effort, Lieut. Cushing
succeeded in driving a torpedo under the over-hang of the ram, and
exploded it. Simultaneously with the explosion, one of the
Albemarle's guns was fired, and the shot went crashing through the
launch. At the same instant a dense volume of water from the
torpedo came rushing into the launch, utterly disabling her.
"Lieut. Cushing then ordered his men to save themselves. He himself
threw off his coat and shoes and sprang into the water. Several of
his men were captured and some were drowned, but I have not been
able to ascertain his exact loss. Lieut. Cushing, taking to the
swamp, managed to secrete himself from the enemy's pickets, and
brought up alongside of the steamer Valley City at about 11 o'clock
the next night, in a small skiff which he discovered and
appropriated on his way.
"The steamer Valley City brought Lieutenant Cushing as a passenger,
and he reported in person to the Admiral the accomplishment of the
daring mission he was specially selected to perform. Though much
fatigued by the severities of his recent task, he is yet in good
health and spirits, and is at this moment the hero of the squadron.
He is the same officer that went to Smithville and captured General
Whiting's chief of staff, while a regiment of troops was quartered
in the buildings on the opposite side of the way. It was he who
took a small boat up the Wilmington river, past the forts and
batteries, landed and captured a rebel mail, staid three days in
the enemy's country, and finally came away in safety with his
trophies. But this last act of his stamps him as one of the most
daring men in the service. To attack an iron-clad like the
Albemarle, with a launch and a baker's dozen of men, would seem the
height of reckless folly; but to have succeeded in such an
enterprise, is to have earned a life lease of glory.
"In the affair, paymaster Swann, of the Otsego, is known to have
been wounded, and master's mate Howarth, of the Monticello,
captured. Lieut. Cushing speaks very highly of the conduct of all
who were with him.
"The destruction of the ram was not definitely known until the
following day, the 29th, when negroes sent to gain information
returned with the glorious news. Reports from other quarters
corroborated this intelligence, and finally a reconnoissance by the
Valley City revealed the Albemarle resting on the bottom, with only
her smoke-stack visible above the water.
"The yellow fever is said not to have entirely disappeared from
Newbern, although the succession of sharp frosts in that vicinity
has somewhat dispelled it. The steamer John Farron left for that
port yesterday, taking an immense mail, and a number of officers
who have been congregating here for some time, waiting for the
sickly season to terminate."
[Mr. Oscar G. Sawyer's Despatch]
"HAMPTON ROADS, VA., NOVEMBER 1, 1864.
"The most audacious, brilliant and successful affair of the war,
occurred in the waters of North Carolina last week, in which, after
the briefest contest, but one as it will prove of the best results,
the rebel iron-clad ram Albemarle was effectually destroyed and
sent to the bottom by a torpedo discharged by Lieutenant William B.
Cushing, of the Navy. The great mailed monster that has so long
excited the apprehensions of the Navy Department, and held in the
Sound a force greatly in excess of that which was usually stationed
there, now lies quietly at the bottom of the Roanoke river, a
subject of curious contemplation and dread to the fish that
frequent these waters. In the squadron every one feels a sense of
relief in realizing the fact that the Albemarle is no longer
afloat, or capable of doing further damage; for it is no secret
that she was one of the toughest customers for wooden vessels to
confront that has yet floated. Her raid on the flotilla, on the 5th
of last May, proved that fact beyond a shadow of a doubt. She then
encountered and fought to great advantage three heavily armed
double-enders--the Sassacus, Mattabessett and Wyalusing--and
retired, after a long contest, but slightly damaged. While she
floated, no post held by us and accessible to her was safe. She
could go her way as she chose, in spite of the efforts of our
wooden vessels, unless some accident occurred to her which should
prevent her steaming. None of the light-draft monitors were ready
to confront her, and she threatened to clear our forces out of the
State of North Carolina.
"Such was the state of affairs subsequent to the 5th of May. Our
squadron in Albemarle Sound had been largely increased by the
addition of several light draught, heavily-armed vessels; but, even
with these, it was somewhat doubtful whether the possession of the
Sound was insured us; so it was determined to get rid of the
monster in some more expeditious and certain way.
"Lieutenant William B. Cushing, a young officer of great bravery,
coolness and resource, submitted a project to Admiral Lee, in June
last, by which he hoped, if successfully carried out, to rid the
Sound of the Albemarle, and insure us its possession. Admiral Lee
entered warmly into the scheme, as did the Navy Department, which
immediately detached Lieutenant Cushing from the Monticello, and
placed him on special duty, at the same time giving him every
facility to carry out the object in view.
"Lieutenant Cushing at once proceeded to New York, and in
conjunction with Admiral Gregory, Captain Boggs, and Chief Engineer
Wm. W. W. Wood, fitted one of the new steam picket boats, which is
about the size of a frigate launch, with a torpedo arrangement, and
then took her down into the Sound for duty. Having made several
reconnoissances up the Roanoke river, which gave him some valuable
information, and having perfected his arrangements, on the night of
the 27th ultimo he got under way from the squadron off the mouth of
the river, and steamed boldly up stream. In the steam launch were
Lieutenant Cushing, Paymaster T. H. Swann, a volunteer from the
Otsego, Master's Mate W. L. Howorth, of the gunboat Monticello, and
Third Assistant Engineer Stolsbury, in charge of the engine, with a
crew of ten men, nearly all of whom volunteered for the service. An
armed cutter of the Shamrock, with an officer and ten men, was
towed along for the purpose of attending to some of the minor
details of the work. It was known that the enemy had pickets along
the river banks, and on the wreck of the gunboat Southfield sunk by
the Albemarle last spring, and which lay about a mile below the
town of Plymouth. The pickets, who were in the habit of stationing
themselves on the hurricane deck of the Southfield--the only
portion of the wreck above water--were to be turned over to the
care of the Shamrock's cutter when the proper time came, whilst
those along the river were to be passed in silence, and without
giving alarm, if possible.
"At about midnight the little picket-boat entered the narrow river,
and steamed silently and cautiously up without giving the least
alarm. The Southfield and three schooners alongside of her, engaged
in raising her up, were passed at a short distance--almost within
biscuit-toss--without challenge or hail. It was not till Lieutenant
Cushing reached within pistol-shot of the Albemarle, which lay
alongside of the dock at Plymouth, that he was hailed, and then in
an uncertain sort of way, as though the lookouts doubted the
accuracy of their vision. He made no reply, but continued to press
towards the rebel monster, and was for the second time hailed. He
paid no attention to the challenge, but kept straight on his way,
first detaching the Shamrock's cutter, to go below and secure the
rebel pickets on the Southfield.