Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-07-06
The right with the AIber-
To the Editor Of tie Army and Nary Ga
zetfe

| Slr-l ven ture TO submit the IOIlOWlng
account of one of the most unusual and
remarkable naval conflicts of this or any
other war, in which the contending for
ces were so remarkably disproportionate e,
and the result so contrary to the pre-con-
ceived ideas of ''ironclad" inVincibility,
that it may justly claim to take histor-
ical position on the same page that re-
cords the brilliant exploits of Decatur
| and John Paul Jones.
On the afternoon of May 9Th, the Mat
tabesett, Saccacus, and Wyalusing, side
wheel gunboats, were lying at anchor in
Albermarle Sound, twenty miles below
the mouth of the Roanoke River, having
been assigned the arduous duty OF encoun-
tering, and if possible, destroying, the
rebel iron-clad Albermarle, whose recent
raid, in conjunction with the attack and
capture of Plymouth when she succeed
ed in sinking two of our gunboats and
sustained unharI1ed the repeated broad
sides of the Miami directed by the brave
and Lamented Flusser, rendered the pro-
longed occupation of the Sound, at least
a problem to be solved, and invested the
expected contest with unusual impor-
tance.
An advance guard of picket boats,
comprising four or five of the smaller
vessels of our force, with the Miami, had
been sent forward to the mouth of the
Roanoke River, to decoy the ''ram" from
under the protective batteries of Ply
mouth, into the open waters of heSound
and falling back before them, directly
drew them into a favorable position for
our attack. At 3:15 p. NJ, the Mattabe-
sett signalled to get under way, and
forming the line ahead, the three vessels,
in the order in which their names have
been written, proceeded at ordinary
speed up the Sound, when at4 P. NJ, the
Matabesett communicated with the army
transport Massasoit, coming down imme-
diately after Emade-signal Ram is out"
and we now discovered our retreating
pickets, as they slowly retired before
the advancing foe. A moment later,
and we discovered a glistening speck
upon the water beyond our retiring
vessels, with two other dark hulls how
ering near which we knew to be the ram
with her consorts. Our ship was
cleared for action, and every prepara-
ton made for determined and desPer-
ate struggle with our formidable antago-
mist: and now we were driving along un-
der full steam, and closing rapidly with
the enemy. The weather was perfectly
charming, not ripple disturbed the
CLASSY sheet of water flom shore to shore,
and the dazzling sunshine cleaned upon
the inclined sides of the iron-clad like
mass of silver, as she lay defiantly bear
ing a magnifcently grand and gaudy en-
sign of the Confederacy. AS we ap-
preached, the rebels were communica-
ting hurridly with boats, and soon the
white stern-wheel steamer turned short
round, and put back hastily toward
Plymouth, being, as we afterwards learn
ed, the Cotton Plant river steamer, cotton
clad, and manned by two hundred sharp
shooters and boarders. As she left, the
other steamer, which proved to be the
Jona5sHeN, captured from the army by the
rebels at Plymouth, and now used
against us, closed up on the rams quar-
ter, in position for the impending action.
The whole scene was impressive and
beautiful Our vessels under a power
full head of steam, came sweeping grace
| fully along, and as the Mattabesett ap-
preached nearer, she hauled up for the
rom, followed by the others in line, when
the Miami, some distance astern fired
over us, making very good but useless
shot, which was answered by the Alber-
marie, whose guns, it was easy to see,
were of the heaviest calibre. When
abreast, and about 800 yards distant
/ from the ram, the Mattabesett deliver
| ed her broadside, and passing round her
stern, ran by the Bombshell close aboard
as the latter lay on the post quarter of
/ the ram. Our attention was now absorb
ed in the movements of our own ship,
and as we came up, the ram, having
failed to get near the Mattabesett, as she
sweptby, turned her bow fairly for the Sas-
sacus, but measuring the distance, we
gave our vessel only slight sheer with
a starboard helm, then jumping it hard q
port, passed about $50 yards fiom her,
delivered with precision our whole broad
side of solid shot, which bounded from
her armor like rubber balls.
Sweeping round her stern, we now
stood towards the Bombshell-which had
annoyed Us exceedingly with small rifle
shot, directed at our pilothouse, and
which came flying over our hurricane
deck-snd tlaining on her, poured
into her hull a full broadside which
brought the rebel ensign down and the
white flag up, when ceasing our fire we
ranged close aboard, and hailed to know
if they had surrendered, which was an
swered by shouts of "Yes" "Yes" "Yes''
from dozen throats. Ordered her to
drop out of fire and anchor, which was
executed in good faith, and pushing on,
to regain the time we had consumed in
this capture, we noticed that the Malta
besett had again passed by the ram, de.
livering her fire, and the Wyslusing had
came up astern of the Sassacus attracting
the attention of the Albermarle from us,
to whom she now exposed her whole.
side.
1 She was about 800 yards distant, and
we were in just the position we most de
sired. The ram appeared to be steaming
slowly, as if waiting for events, but using
her guns rapidly all the time, throwing
100 FOUNDER Brooke's rife shot and shell
with spirit and energy. Fortune seemed
most favorable, and our intrepid com
mander determined to close with our an
tagonist, seized the opportunity without
hesitation, and ordering flour bells
again, and again repeated, as previously
arranged with the chief engineer, who
was acquainted with our design, the shiI
was headed for what was supposed TO bt
the weakest part of the ram where he
casemate or house Joined the hull
Our fires were clean, we had 80 lbs o
steam, and with throttle wide open, the
Sassacus dashed at her grim adversary
We seemed to move frightfully slow, bu
! each moment increased our speed, a
the int ervening space grew less, till We
attained the rate of 9 and 10 knots
when we struck our iron foe fair, per
feet right-angled blow, without glanct
of slide. The blow to our ship was no
nearly so heavy, as we had expected
Something gave way. Was it our ship