The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-06-09
Fight Between Wooden Steamer and q
faa ." Rebel IrOn-Clad.'
A Grapple For Life.
Correspondence OF the United States Army and Navy
Journal. ..... 1850.

count of one ofthe most unusual and remark
able naval conflicts of this or any other war,
in which the contending forces were so
markedly disproportionate, and the result SO
contrary to preconceived ideas of iron clad
invincibiIity, that it may justly claim to take
an historical position on the same page that
records the brilliant exploits of Decatur and
John Paul Jones. t.a1 esd
On the afternoon of May 5, in the Malta
besett, Sassacus Wyalusing, side-wheel gun
boat were lying at anchor in Albemarl Sound
twenty miles below the mouth of the Roam
oke River, having been assigned the arduous
duty of encountering, and, if possible de
stroying the rebel iron-clad ram Albemarle
whose recent raid, in conjunction with the
attack and capture Of Plymouth, when sht
succeeded in capturing two of our gunboats
and sustained unframed the repeated broad
sides of the Miami, directed by the brave
and lamented Flusser, rendered our prolonged
occupation of the Sound at least problem
to be solved, and invested the expected con
test with unusual Importance.
An advanced guard of picket boats, com
prising four of five Of the smaller vessels O
our force, with the Miami, had been sent for
ward to the mouth of the river, to decoy
the ram from under the protective batteries
of Plymouth, into the open waters of the
sound, and falling back before her into ia
vorable position for our attack. At BIZ
p. M, the Mattabesett signaled Ito get unde
way, and forming in line ahead, the three
vessels in the order which their names have
been written, proceeded with ordinary speed
up the sound when, at 4 p. m. the Mattabes
EFT communicated with the army transport
Massasoit, coming down and Immediately
after made sign tram is out" and we now
discovered our retreating picl1ets, as they
slowly retired before the advancing foe
A moment later and we discerned glisten
ing speck upon the water beyond our retir
ing vessels, with two other dark hulls hover.
ingnear which we knew to be the ram accom-
panied by her two consorts. Our ship wal
cleared for action, and every preparation
made for determined and desperate strug
gle with our formidable antagonist; anC
now we were driving along under full steam
and the dazzling sunshine cleaned upor
the inclined sides Of her iron-clad like a mass
of silver, as she lay defiantly bearing a mag
niicently and gaudy ensign of the Confed-
eracy. AS we approached, the rebels were
communicating hurriedly with boats, and
soon the white stern-wheel steamer turned
short round, and put back hastily toward
Plymouth, being as we atterward learned
the Cotton Plant river steamer, cotton clad
and manned by two hundred sharpshooters
and boarders AS she left the other steamer
which proved to be the Bombshell, captured
from the enemy by the rebels at Plymouth
and now used against us, closed up on the
the rams quarter, in position for this impen-
ding action.
The whole scene wasimpressive and beau
tifuI Our vessels, under powerful head
Of steam, came sweeping gracefully along,
and as the Mattabesett approached nearer,
she hauled up for the ram, followed by the
others in line, when the Miami, some dis
lance astern, fired over us, making a very
good but useless shot, which was answered
by the AIbemarle whose guns, it was easy tc
see, were of the heaviest calibre. When
abreast, and about three hundred yards dis
tant from the ram, the Mattabesett delivered
her broadside, and passing around her stern,
ran by the Bombshell close aboard, as the
latter lay on the post quarter Of the ram.
Our attention was now absorbed In the
movement Of our own ship, and as we came
up, the ram, having failed to get near the
Matabesett, as we swept by, turned her bow
fairly for the Sassacus, but measuring the
distance, we gave our vessel only slight
sheer with the starboard helm, then jam
ming it hard port, passed about one hun
bred and fifty yards from her, delivering
with precision our whole broadside Of solid
shot, which bounded from her armor like
rubber balls.
Sweeping round her stern we now stood
toward the BomshelI--which had annoyed
us exceedingly with small rifle shot directed
at our pilot houses, and which came flying
back in quick succession over our hurricane
deck-and training on her, poured into bel
hull a full broadside, which brought the
rebel ensign down, and sent the white flag
up, when ceasing our fire, we ranged close
aboard, and hailed to know if they had sur
rendered, which was answered by shouts Of
Eyes" Eyes, {" EYES," from a dozen threats
Ordered her to drop out of fire and anchor,
which was executed in good faith, and,
pushing on to regain the time we had con
sumed in this capture, we noticed that the
Mattabesett had again passed by the ram,
delivering her fire, and the Wyalsing had
COME uD dSltIu VI biic hOdSodCuS,
the attention of the Albemarle from us, to
whom she now exposed her whole side
She was about 800 yards distant, and we
were in just the position we most desired
the ram appeared to be steaming slowly, as
if waiting for events, but using her guns all
the time, throwing 100 FOUNDER Brooks
rifle shot and shell, with spirit and energy.
Fortune seemed most favorable, and our in
trepid Commander determined to close with
our antagonist, seized the opportunity with
out hesitation, and ordering -four bells
again and again repeated, as previously ar
ranged with the chief engineer, who was
acquainted with our design, the ship was
keaded straight for what was supposed to
be the weakest part of the ram, where her
easement or house joined the hull. Our fires
were clean, we had thirty pounds Of steam,
and with the throttle wide open the Sassa-
Gus dashed at her grim adversary. We
seemed to move frightlully slow, but each
moment increased our speed, as the inter
vening space grew less, till we attained the
rate Of nine or ten knots, when we struck
our iron foe a fair, perfect, right-angled
blow, without glance or slide. The shock
to our ship was not nearly so heavy as we
expected. Something gave way. Was II
our ship? Were we cut down? No thank
Heaven! 1t was the iron-clad, and as hel
black hull was forced under by our bow, til
the water flowed over it from side to side
we thought our foe was going down, anC
could hardly repress shout of exultation
in answer to the ringing cheer with which
our comrads on the Wyalusing greeted on
bold grapple with the mopster. ~
AS we struck her, the ram drove 10l
FOUNDER Brooks shot through and through
her, from starboard bow to port side. Gu
stem was forced into her side, and keepin
up our Roadway, we careened her down be
meath our weight, and pushed her like a
inert mass before us, while, in profound s.
silence our gunners weretRaining theirheav
ordinance to bear on our astonished enemy
Now black muzzIe protrudes from the ram
open port and the leaders Of Parrot rife
standing on the side, serve the gun With
fifteen feet of that ydwning cannon moutt
J II NF old 1ax1