rebel Captain Walley, in a very dignified, pompous, studied manner,
shouted, 'What boat is that?' The reply was an invitation for him
to go to ----! Thereupon arose a terrible clamor. The rattle was
vigorously sprung, the bells on the ship were sharply rung, and
hands were called to quarters, evidently in great consternation and
some confusion. A musketry fire was immediately opened on the
torpedo-boat, and a charge of canister was fired, injuring some of
the crew. Along the dock to which the Albemarle was tied, were a
large number of soldiers, evidently stationed there to guard
against a landing of our force after a surprise; and in front of
their lines blazed cheerily up a number of their camp fires, which
threw a strong light on the rebel vessel and the bosom of the
river. By the aid of this glare Lieutenant Cushing discovered the
raft of floating timbers which surrounded the ram on the accessible
sides, to guard against the approach of rams and torpedoes; and by
the aid of the same light he plainly saw the large body of soldiers
thronging to the wharf and blazing away at his boat. To quiet these
fellows, he brought the bow of his boat around a little, and
discharged a heavy stand of canister into them from his
twelve-pounder howitzer mounted at the bow, and sent them flying.
Making a complete circle under a scorching musketry fire, at less
than thirty yards, he came around, bow on, at full steam, and
struck the floating guard of timbers, pressing them towards the
hull of the ram. His boat soon lost headway, and came to a
standstill, refusing to back off or move ahead. The moment for
decisive action had now arrived. The enemy fired muskets and
pistols almost in his face, from the ports of the ram, and from the
hundred small arms on shore. Several of his men were injured, and
Paymaster Swann had fallen severely wounded. The officers and crew
of the Albemarle cried out: 'Now we've got him! Surrender!
surrender! or we will blow you to pieces!' The case looked
desperate, indeed; but Lieutenant Cushing was as cool and
determined at that moment as one could be under the most agreeable
circumstances. He knew that the decisive moment had come, and he
did not allow it to glide from his hands. He seized the lanyard to
the torpedo and the line of the spar, and crowding the spar until
he brought the torpedo under the over-hang of the Albemarle, he
detached it by one effort, and the next second he pulled the
lanyard of the torpedo, and exploded it under the vessel on her
port side, just below the port-hole of the two-hundred-pounder
Brooke's rifle, which at that moment was discharged at the boat. An
immense volume of water was thrown out by the explosion of the
torpedo, almost drowning all in the steam-launch; and to add to the
peril of the moment, the heavy shell from the enemy's gun had gone
through the bottom of the boat, knocking the splinters about in a
terrible style. She at once began to sink in the most rapid manner,
and Lieutenant Cushing ordered all hands to save themselves as best
they might. He divested himself of his coat and shoes, and plunged
into the river, followed by those of his men who were able to do
so. All struck for the middle of the river under a hot fire of
musketry, the balls perforating their clothing and striking all
about them, and in two or three instances, it is feared, so badly
wounding the swimmers that they sunk before boats from shore could
reach them. Lieutenant Cushing heard the rebels take to boats and
push after the survivors, demanding their surrender. Many gave up,
but two of his seamen were drowned near by him--whether from wounds
received or exhaustion, he could not state. Paymaster Swann was
wounded and is a prisoner; but how many others fell into the rebel
hands has not as yet been ascertained. Lieutenant Cushing swam down
the river half a mile, until, exhausted and chilled by the cold
water, he was compelled to struggle to the shore, which he reached
about daybreak. After lying in the weeds along the river bank for
some time, he recovered his strength sufficiently to crawl into the
swamp further, till daylight found him lying in the swamp grass,
between two paths, and in speaking distance of the enemy's fort.
While lying there but partially screened by the low sedge, he saw
rebel officers and men walk by, and heard their conversation, which
was entirely devoted to the affair of the morning. From their
remarks he learned that the torpedo had done its work effectively
and thoroughly, and that his great object was accomplished. He did
not learn any of the details of the sinking, but heard it stated
that the ram had gone down by her dock, and was a complete loss. He
also learned of the capture of the paymaster and some others of his
crew from the same source.
"Finding that there was great danger of his detection if he
remained in his exposed position all day, lying within a few yards
of two frequented paths, and so near the river, he began to move
slowly away towards the swamp. He was obliged to move cautiously,
so he lay on his back, and by pushing his heels into the ground, he
slowly pushed himself along, and after a long and exhausting
effort, passed over the sixty yards of ground that lay between him
and better cover. Once concealed, he laid up for the day and rested
himself. He was fortunate enough before midnight to get hold of a
negro, whom he sent into town to learn the extent of his success.
The negro obeyed his instructions, and reported that the Albemarle
was out of sight--'clar gone sunk.'
"At night, Lieutenant Cushing struck through the swamp, and after
the greatest and most exhausting toil and pain--as he was in his
stocking-feet, and continually plunging over roots, briers, logs,
oyster-shells, and lacerating his flesh severely--he reached a
point four miles below the town, where he discovered a skiff used
by a picket. Watching his chance, he seized this, and, with a
single paddle, paddled off to the squadron, four miles distant,
which he reached in safety. Only one besides himself--William
Holton, a sailor on the Chicopee, who had volunteered on the
occasion--returned to the squadron. He was picked up by the Valley
City, the following day, nearly exhausted.
"Lieutenant Cushing immediately came here on the special
despatch-boat Valley City, and reported to Admiral D. D. Porter.
To-night he will go to Washington and report to the Department. He
is worn out and in need of rest, which we hope he will be permitted
to enjoy.
"This last brave and gallant action of his is likely to gain him an
advance of one grade in his rank, and it will also, if the law is
rightly construed, be a great financial success, which is somewhat
more substantial. His share of the prize-money from the Albemarle,
if she is fairly placed at a valuation, would be in the
neighborhood of fifty thousand dollars, an acceptable sum to any
one. Lieutenant Cushing has been ordered to the command of the
gun-boat Monticello, which will await him until his return from a
short leave.
"The destruction of the Albemarle will release the large squadron
of powerful light-draught vessels which have, since her _debut_
last May, been maintained in the Sound. They can go elsewhere now.
"On a reconnoissance by the Valley City, to within a mile of
Plymouth, it was discovered that the enemy had sunk the schooners
which were engaged in attempting to raise the Southfield, directly
across the channel, thus temporarily blockading the river. Although
the town was in sight, not a trace could be seen of the rebel ram;
and it is proved in other ways, beyond a doubt, that she lies in
thirty feet of water, from which it will be impossible to raise her
again.
"Captain Walley, who had assumed command of the ship only three
weeks ago--relieving Captain Cook, who commanded her in the action
of May last--began his duties in a very bombastic style. He
mustered his officers and men, and assured them that in three weeks
he could again attack the enemy and sink and scatter his fleet, and
then he would re-take Newbern and drive the Yankees from every foot
of North Carolina soil. With the Albemarle and their aid, with the
co-operation of the gallant army, he would, before the new year,
regenerate the state, and leave not a trace of a Yankee within its
borders.
"It is not improbable that he might have effected a good deal of
damage, and perhaps have endangered for the time being our tenure
of Newbern and Roanoke Island, as he was nearly ready for his raid.
Thanks, however, to the gallant Cushing and his brave comrades,
through whose coolness, courage, and skill the _coup de main_ was
so admirably administered to the mailed monster, all danger has
passed, and another destructive blow has been given to the
declining rebel navy.
"A meed of credit and praise should be awarded to Chief Engineer
William W. W. Wood, of the navy, to whose inventive abilities and
experience in submarine warfare we owe the contrivance of the
torpedo and the successful arrangement by which it is handled and
exploded. The one fired by Lieutenant Cushing contained but fifty
pounds of powder; but it did its work to a charm. There was no
chance of its failing in his hands. The entire arrangement is
exceedingly ingenious, and it would be manifestly improper to
describe at this time.
"The cutters of the Shamrock, we omitted to mention, captured four
rebel soldiers on picket on the Southfield, and brought them along
safely to the squadron.
"THE ALBEMARLE.
"The Albemarle was an iron-clad vessel, similar in general features
to the Merrimac and Tennessee, but much stronger. It is said her
iron mail was twelve inches in thickness, and backed by several
feet of solid timber. She was armed with two two-hundred pound
Brooke's rifles, and was perfectly shot-proof. Her weak point
proved to be below. She could have been captured only by ramming,
and for that purpose much heavier vessels were needed than any that
could be got into the Sound. The torpedo was the only means of
destroying her, and that proved successful when tried.
"The Albemarle is probably the last formidable vessel that the
rebels have in the inland waters of North Carolina, and they will
hardly have an opportunity of building more."
"THE HERO OF THE ALBEMARLE IN WASHINGTON.
"WASHINGTON, NOV. 2, 1864.
"Lieutenant Cushing arrived here to-day, bringing with him the
official report of the particulars attending his destruction of the
rebel ram Albemarle. This act relieves all the sounds of North
Carolina from floating enemies, and thus leaves them free to the
operations of our fleet. Lieutenant Cushing is a citizen of, and
was appointed from, the State of New York. He is satisfied that a
large number of lives must have been lost by the blowing up, as the
Albemarle's guns were all manned. The Secretary of the Navy will
recommend to Congress a vote of thanks, and he will be promoted to
a Lieutenant Commander."
After landing Captain Wm. B. Cushing aboard the flag-ship of the fleet,
the Valley City the same day, at 2-1/4 p.m., weighed anchor, and
proceeded to Norfolk, Va., and from thence to the United States Navy
Yard at Gosport, Va., and was put there on the dry dock for repairs.
After the repairs of the Valley City were finished, on Sunday, November
27, at 4-1/2 p.m., we got under weigh, and arrived at Hampton Roads,
Va., at 6-1/2 o'clock p.m. On Monday, November 28th, at 11-1/2 o'clock,
a.m., we weighed anchor, and arrived at Hatteras Inlet at 9-1/2 o'clock
a.m., Tuesday, November 29. At 2 o'clock a.m., on Wednesday, November
30, the Valley City arrived at Plymouth, and at 3-1/2 o'clock of the
same morning the Valley City was ordered to Newbern: we weighed anchor
and proceeded towards Newbern. We arrived at Roanoke Island at 11-1/2
o'clock a.m. Our orders were then countermanded, and at 2 p.m. the
Valley City steamed towards Plymouth, where we arrived at 10. p.m.
During the month of November, 1864, whilst the Valley City was absent
at Norfolk, the remainder of the fleet, commanded by Commander Wm. H.
Macomb, steamed up the Roanoke river, then across through Middle river,
and then up the Cashie river to Roanoke river, down which it steamed
and made an attack on Plymouth, which, after a hot action, fell into
the hands of the Federals. The ram Albemarle was soon afterwards raised
by the United States government.
On Thursday, December 1, I went ashore at Plymouth, and observed the
ram Albemarle as she lay at the bottom of the river. At 12:15 p.m., we
left Plymouth, and arrived at off Edenton at 2 p.m., and at 4 p.m., the
Valley City weighed anchor for Roanoke Island, where we arrived at 8
o'clock, a.m., December 2, and at 9-1/2 o'clock p.m. the Valley City
left Roanoke Island, arrived at Newbern at 1 o'clock p.m., Saturday,
December 3d; Sunday, December 4, I attended church at Newbern.
Monday, December 5, I visited the graves of Captain Charles W. Flusser
and Acting Assistant-Surgeon George W. Wilson. The latter died after
two hours' sickness, of yellow fever. He was stationed, at the time, on
the United States steamer Hetzel, off Newbern, and was the surgeon of
that vessel when he contracted the disease. He was a young man, and was
expecting soon to return North and visit his aged parents, and also a
betrothed young lady. They waited, but he never came.
On Tuesday, December 6th, at 4 o'clock p.m., we left Newbern, with
Commander W. H. Macomb and his son on board, and on Wednesday, December
7, at 8-1/2 o'clock a.m., we arrived off Roanoke Island. The Valley
City left Roanoke Island at 12 o'clock m., and arrived at Plymouth at
10 p.m. On Thursday, December 8, at 12-1/2 o'clock p.m., we left
Plymouth and arrived at Edenton at 2-1/2 o'clock p.m. We left Edenton
at 8 o'clock p.m., and anchored at 10 o'clock p.m., at the mouth of the
Roanoke river, where the U.S. steamer Ceres and a schooner were
anchored. On Friday, December 9, at 9 o'clock a.m., the Valley City
weighed anchor and proceeded to Plymouth, where she arrived at 10
o'clock a.m.
RAINBOW BLUFF.
HOW A FLEET WENT UP THE ROANOKE AND CAME DOWN AGAIN.
In the fall of 1864, when General U.S. Grant was shortening his lines
around Petersburg, it was his policy to have every man, both in the
army and navy, employed, in order to draw off as many as possible from
General Lee's forces at Petersburg. Accordingly, for the purpose of
capturing Rainbow Bluff, the fleet composed of the United States
steamers Wyalusing, Otsego, General Berry, Bazeley, Valley City,
Chicopee, tug Belle, and the picket launch No. 5, weighed anchor at 5
p.m., December 9, 1864, and proceeded up the Roanoke river, with
Commander W. H. Macomb on board the Wyalusing leading, the Valley City
second, and the Otsego third, followed by the Chicopee, Bazeley,
General Berry, tug Belle, and the steam launch No. 5.
Commander Macomb was informed by what he supposed was reliable
authority that there were no torpedoes in the river from Plymouth to
above Jamesville, twelve miles up the river. A fortunate occurrence for
the Valley City took place on our passage to Jamesville. The engine of
the Valley City gave out, and the engineer slowed up and repaired the
damage, the Otsego in the meantime passing on ahead. By this
circumstance the Valley City became third, and the Otsego second. We
arrived off Jamesville about 9 p.m. The Wyalusing signaled the fleet to
come to anchor, and just as the fleet was slowing up previously to
anchoring, we heard a loud report, the concussion of which shook the
Valley City, which was a short distance off, as if there were an
earthquake in the locality. Presently it was reported that the Otsego
was lost, two torpedoes, one before and the other aft, striking her
simultaneously, and sinking her to the bottom of the river. From some
fortunate occurrence, the Wyalusing had passed safely over the place
where the Otsego was blown up.
On the following day, December 10, there was found to be a perfect nest
of torpedoes in the river off Jamesville, and while passing near by the
wreck of the Otsego, the Bazeley was blown literally to pieces, Captain
Aimes, in command of her, and the pilot and also paymaster, Louis
Sands, of the Shamrock, were in the pilot-house at the time the
explosion took place, and were blown with the pilot-house about thirty
feet into the air, and alighted in the river unhurt. William C.
Rossell, a lad, and John Gerrard, first-class boy, were killed. Captain
Aimes then immediately reported to Commander Macomb that "the Bazeley
is gone up," but by that time she had gone down.
The Roanoke river, from Jamesville to Poplar point, a distance of
thirty miles, was dredged for torpedoes. In all, in the river between
these two points, the dredging party took up and exploded eighty
torpedoes. From Jamesville on, the Valley City took the lead, having
previously rigged a torpedo-fender on her bow. The river was dredged by
means of six boats' crews, each two of which were paired, rowing about
twenty feet apart, with a chain suspended between them, dragging along
the bottom of the river. Each torpedo was anchored at the bottom of the
river by means of a rope, one end of which was tied to the torpedo, the
other end to a staple fastened in the centre of the surface of a
hemisphere of iron six inches in diameter, resting at the bottom of the
river. The rope was sufficiently long to float the torpedo just beneath
the surface of the water. The torpedoes were made of tin, each about
eighteen inches long and ten inches in diameter, and divided into two
separate apartments, one for air, the other for powder. Through the
centre of each torpedo, running longitudinally, there was an iron bar
placed, extending beyond each end. On the upper end there was a spring
trigger, which was held by a light iron cross bar, ingeniously attached
to the longitudinal bar, so arranged that from the lightest touch it
would fall off, letting the trigger fall on the upper part of the
torpedo, striking a percussion cap immediately underneath it in the
powder chamber, thus exploding the torpedo.
The boats were protected as much as possible by the Valley City
following close after, watching the banks of the river on either side.
There were dykes on each side of the river, behind which in the
undergrowth the rebels often lurked. To obviate this, Commander W. H.
Macomb ordered the marines to march a short distance ahead of the
dredge-boats on either side of the river; but notwithstanding this
precaution, the men in the dredge-boats were fired into, and several
were either wounded or killed by the sharpshooters. Sometimes the
marines ashore would be driven back. The farther up the river we
proceeded, the more numerous the rebels became, and the more our
difficulties increased. The men in the dredge-boats did not consider
the place a very safe one by any means, and often went into the boats
with many forebodings. It was not a desirable place either on the
Valley City, for there was a constant dread of torpedoes below and
sharpshooters above.
UP AND DOWN THE RIVER.
The Valley City left Jamesville at 8 a.m., December 12, and dredged the
river, as I have described. In the evening we had proceeded a few miles
above Jamesville. I will now quote as I have it in my diary, which was
written at that time.
Tuesday, December 13, at 5:30 p.m., we were ordered back to Jamesville
to cover the army. (I will state by way of parenthesis that the army
forces at Plymouth, commanded by Colonel Frankle, had promised the
fleet their co-operation, but in this the fleet was disappointed.) We
proceeded down the river as far as the fleet, when our orders were
countermanded and we returned to dredge the river. The remainder of the
fleet would lay at anchor, whilst the dredging party, with the Valley
City, would proceed four or five miles up the river; then the balance
of the fleet would get under weigh and steam up to the Valley City, and
then come to an anchor again; but when the rebels commenced to thicken
in the woods along the river, the fleet kept together behind the
dredging party.
Friday, December 16.--We have been dredging the river, and have
advanced to within a short distance of Williamston. At 12 m. we arrived
at Williamston. I went ashore at this place. It is a small place on the
right bank of the Roanoke river--the ground rising gently from the
river to the rear of the town. The houses are built of frame, and very
much scattered. A family I visited there showed me a hole in their
house made by a Federal shell passing through it. One of the inmates of
the house had been sitting in a chair in a room in the line of the
shell, and just a moment before the shell came crashing through the
house the lady went into an adjoining room, thus escaping. The chair in
which she had been sitting was knocked to atoms. At 1 p.m. we left
Williamston, and at 5 p.m. we anchored.
Saturday, December 17.--We lay at anchor all day. In the morning I was
astonished to see a hog swim across the Roanoke river immediately in
front of us, because I have always heard it said that swine will not
swim. This was the first and only hog I ever saw swim. At 11 a.m. I
went ashore to where an old man lived; he was covered with rags, and
lived in a secluded spot close by the water's edge. He had no family
but a little boy about eleven years of age. There was not even a cow or
horse to be seen--everything around him betokened distress and misery.
I asked him how long he had been living here. He replied, "I have been
living here six years." I then asked him if he enjoyed this sort of
life. He answered, "No." I asked him if he had an education. He said,
"I can neither read nor write." I then asked if he intended to give his
son an education. He replied that before the war he had intended to
give his son an education, but now times were so hard that it was
barely possible for him to get sufficient to eat. After bidding him
farewell, I returned aboard.
Sunday, December 18.--At 2 p.m. we got under weigh to dredge the river.
At 5 p.m. we anchored for the night. The nights are dark and foggy, and
the rebel musketeers and sharpshooters frequently come up under cover
of the darkness behind the dykes, and give us a wholesome dose from
their rifles; but they are soon hurled back again by a dose of grape
from our guns. During the nights, to prevent floating torpedoes coming
down the river, small boats or skiffs that we had captured from the
enemy were tied in line across the river above the fleet.
Monday, December 20.--The launches that have been dredging the river
have been fired into, and Acting Master Wells and two men of the
Chicopee were wounded. This event caused the rowers to become so much
panic-stricken that they dropped their oars, lay down in the bottom of
the launches, and allowed their boats to float down with the current.
It was with much difficulty that Captain J. A. J. Brooks, by calling to
them from the Valley City, could get them aroused; but finally they
came alongside. We, however, kept on dredging the river till we came to
a point in the Roanoke river, where we anchored. The river at this
point where the fleet is anchored makes a bend like that of a
horseshoe. The ground on the inside of the bend, on the right bank of
the river, is low and level, and covered with young saplings or
undergrowth. At the heels of this horseshoe bend ran a high ridge,
covered partly with poplar trees and partly with white-oak trees. The
fleet lay on the Plymouth stretch of the river, or near stretch, and at
the end of the far stretch where the river runs under the high bluff,
the rebels, as we ascertained afterwards, had fortified with artillery,
and an army said to be ten thousand strong. We did not then suspect we
would find the rebels in force, till we got to Rainbow Bluff. This
place was known by the name of Poplar Point.
All the fleet was at anchor, and had been since 3 o'clock p.m. The day
was beautiful. The fish were nibbling at pieces of hard tack which had
been thrown overboard by the sailors. The current of the river rushed
swiftly past, making the rudder flap in the water. The men were
lounging about on the berth deck, resting. The cook was preparing
supper, the messenger boys were carrying victuals from the galley to
the ward-room, and placing them on the table. The officer of the deck
was pacing to and fro on the starboard side of the vessel. Captain
Brooks was in his cabin. Many of the officers were in the ward-room.
All else was quiet. I was pacing the port side of the Valley City.
Pilot John A. Lewis was standing on the after hatchway, a little above
the gun-deck amidships. As I approached him in walking from the bow of
the vessel towards him, I said to him, "Pilot, what do you think of the
prospect of getting to Rainbow Bluff?" He replied, "I think we will get
there by and by, if we have patience and the rebels don't blow us up."
Just as I was turning to pace to the bow of the Valley City, I heard a
report ashore like that of a number of barrels of fire-crackers
exploding. Simultaneously with this explosion, I heard the zipping of
bullets in the air close to my head, and striking the bulwarks of the
vessel close by me. Then artillery fire commenced.
In the meantime three loud and prolonged rattles were sprung by the
officer of the deck, calling all hands to quarters. I ran down the
forward hatchway and through the berth-deck to the dispensary, which
was my station, and which was just in front of the boiler on the
berth-deck, and at the foot of the steps of the hatchway on which John
A. Lewis was standing when the firing commenced. He was passed down to
me, killed by a bullet from a sharp-shooter, passing through his head
from ear to ear. John A. Lewis was pilot of the ill-fated Otsego, and
had been ordered aboard the Valley City for general duty after the
sinking of that vessel. At the time that pilot John A. Lewis was
killed, I had my full officer's uniform on, but he had on a blouse and
soft felt hat. I felt certain at the time that the ball that killed
John A. Lewis was intended for me, as I was nearly in line of the shot.
The rebels made it pretty warm for us from 5 to 9 o'clock p.m. The
Valley City was struck three times with shell, and fired one hundred
and thirty-six shots. One of the shells that struck the Valley City
came into a lamp-closet just over my head and near the end of the
boiler, but did not explode. An old sailor sitting near by where I was
standing, upon seeing the ceiling broken above my head, said, "Don't be
alarmed; lightning nor shells never strike twice in the same place."
Another shell went crashing through the ward-room, down through an old
family Bible (which Acting Ensign Milton Webster had captured ashore),
and then out of the ward-room through a passage-way in which some
negroes off the Otsego were lying concealed, killing them, and then
exploding in the river. In the meantime, the remainder of the fleet
kept up a constant fire.