Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-05

The IestruetIOu of the Rebel Ram AZ.
bomarIe---FuIi aud Authent1e Par.
ticulars.--Tbe Most Daring and RO-
mantle Episode of the War.
The New York Times correspondents,
writing from Fortress Monroe, thus tells
the romantic story of the destruction of the
rebel rsm AIbemsrle in the Roanoke
river:
1t wss on the night of the 27th inst that
Lieutenant Cushing, acting under orders
from Rear Admiral Porter, sailed forth
with twelve other men in q little boat no
longer than an ordinary ships launch,
and With no Other armament than one IL
FOUNDER, TO destroy the AbemRrle. On
going up the canal he found the lock bro
ken, but discovered creek, leading he
hardly knew where, but which was the
only route open to him. Fortunately this
creek after some difficult windings, led
back into the canal, by which he managed
to find his way to the Roanoke river. He
here discovered that the Southfeld, which
was sunk by the Albemsrle last spring, had
been converted into a defense, and rebel
picket stationed on her. He, of course, ex-
pected 10 be hailed by them, and had made
every preparation for attack, but owing to
the darkness of the night he passed them
unperceiyed. He then went unnolested
up the river until he arrived at the City of
Plymouth, about 23O A.. NJ.
Here he came plump upon The object of
his search, securely fastened to the wharf,
u 1t surrounded by number Of logs, about
thirty feet from her, and denying all ap-
proach for the purpose of blowing her up
Tns rebels not knowing what to make Of
their strange visitor, called out frequently:
What boat is that 2" but the only reply
was rattling discharge Of grape from the
little howiGzer, as the dauntless boats crew
went feeling round the logs, to see if there
was any means Ofingress 10 the ram, amid
a shower Of bullets from the now aroused
enemy. Finding no possible ingress, and
determined not to bs baulked in his object,
Lieut. Gushing resolved to put his boat at
and over the logs to get into the enclosure.
In tais almest insanely daring effort he very
nearly suece1ed, but not quite, the stern of
the boat caught and was held fast by the
logs in her miraculous leap. Conceive the
cOolness aud determination of men, in
such position, deliberately going to work
to plant torpedo uuder the AlbermArle.
They did it as it struck the bottom and by
Lieutenant Cushing exactly when to pull
the string, bali struck the wrist of his
right hand which held the string, fortu-
nstely only grazing the skin, for had his
hand been disabled the Albemarle would
be now in existence. The string was pull
led--a dead sub-aqueous report report
took place, knocking hole clean through
the bottom of of the enemy, which at the
same instant of time, and as she went
down, sent terrific discharge from large
gun and howitzer into the launch, knocking
it to pieces and sending It's inmates Woun-
ded and foundering in the water
1t was now question Of sauce qlfi pe7st.
All that Lieutenant Cushing rem smbers
is taking off his coat and boots, and being
an expert swimmer, striking as best he
could for the opposite shore in the darkness
| of the night, and under cover of the in
tense prevailing excitement. Out of the
whole thirty, emily one other man, = Hoff-
man, d seaman of the Chicokee, escaped,
but how, did not learn. The others are
supposed to have been killed, wounded OF
taken prisoners All this occurred about
! A. r., of the 2stb. aa
Once fairly away from the immediate
sceneof danger, Lieutenant Cushing swan
down the river about q half q mile, got on
shore on. the opposite side, and hid himself
among the bushes till daylight Once while
there with pathway on each side Of him,
he heard officers passing and talking about
the Albemarle. He laid fat on mis- back,
and, endeavoring to compress himself into
as small surface as possible, pushed him
self along by means Of his elbows and heels
,,,F1r J, yuas ont 81 roaalT h.,
was out of their reach, when he ventured
upon his feet and hurried along. but eau
tiously. After while he came to a picket
station, where he deserted a skiff standing
alone. The owners we're doubtless nT
breakfast, comparing notes about the eK-
traocdinary events of the night, when our
hsrOlquietly took possession of the very ac-
ccm1lodating craft and, after eight hours
pulling, joined the feet in Albsm&rle
Sound, amid the rejOicings and congratula-
tions Of his comrades.
The most astounding part of this mar
rative is that the hero of it is youth only
% years Of age, with record already
summed up of which many grey heads
would be proud. When introduced to him
could scarcely reconcile the fact that the
unassummg young man before me, with
his frank, open countsnance, and his long
hair thrown wildly back behind his ears
looking like some student just escaped from
college for a little frolic, was the man
whose HAme is already and so justly
prominent before the public. Apart from
the glory which such episodes as these
threw around the character of our navy,
this destruction oTthe ram Alabama Is q
really important affair. 1t has, for months
past kept employed in watching and at
bay, at least five of our double-enders and
some five or six other vessels, which
will now be released for any other kind