The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-07
NO. "a.
q ne Newark Daily ADVERTISE. !
The Raid Of the Rebel Ram AIber.
marie.
o. S. GgyBoAT ~, 81 lg. %

Inc so much talked OF rebel ram has
come down at last, and 10 some pur-
pose. You remember told you in my
last, the rebels intended an attack on
plymouth. Since then, Captain Flus-
ser, Zone Of the brayest officers in our
navy,) had been busily engaged in ma
king preparations. He had caused
eight schOoners with tOrpedoes on them
70 be sunk across the river, about six
miles above Plymouth, and the iron
! plated steamer Whitehead stationed &c
the distractions, with orders to guard
/ the tOrpedOes and give US timely infor-
nation Of the approach Of the ram. He
also securely moOred the gunboat
J SOuthfeld to the Miami, intending 10
catch the ram between the two vessels
and run il ashore The plan is said %
have been a good one, but events show.
that the best laid schemes are liable to
be frustrated.
On Sunday evening, l7th inst, our
piekets were driven in, and Lieut. Rus
sci and two priyates Of the 18th New
York cavalry were wounded, and short
ly after the rebels opened brisk FIRE
on our forts, which was returned BY the
forts in fine style The rebels display
ed rare skill in artillery practice.
About sunset they made an assault
on Fort Grey, and were repulsed with
heavy loss. The flagstaff on Fort GREY
was shot away, and the 200 pound rifle
in Fort Adams opened on them. The
army gunbOat Bombshell went up the
river to the assistance Of the fort, but
returned in a few hours ia q sinking
condition, and shortly after went down
The g1nboat Ceres was then sent down
with ammunition for the forts, and re-
ceived rakiug fire from artillery and
infantry, killing two and wounding
eight men on board. The sun went
down, and still the Miami and South
field remained moored together, in ex-
pectation Of the ram, but did not FIRE q
shot; the forts kept up brisk cannon
ade until midnight. Hammocks were
piped down, and all remained quiet IN
I'll four o'clock in the morning when
the enemy opened FIRE again, but kept
at respectful distance, and at about
ten, A. NJ, their firing ceased altogether,
and we began 10 entertain hopes that
they had withdrawn At four o'clock,
p NJ, they again opened a most terrif
II AAGf ~ kA4G oAAAAQ AAAA0 sk4AAAAAA kA@
breastworks with their whole force
1900 strong. The garrison did not
number more than two thousand, but
the rebels never met with q more deci-
ded repulse They were driven with
great slaughter back to the woods, but
their artillery threw a storm Of Shot
and shell into the town, and around our
two vessels, with such precision Is 70
make it uncomfortable, 50 we were
compelled 70 cast adrift.
The SOuthfeld steamed above the
town, opened IRE most OPPORTUNITY, for
the rebels having collected their forces,
made another attack upon the town;
but the shells from the SOuth6eld fell
50 thick and fast among them they
were again driven back The Miami,
when she was cut loose from the South
field, foated down the river, and we
took position below the town, and open
ed on the enemy's batteries, and the
canDonade was kept up without cessa-
sation till midnight, when bsmmocks
we're piped down. So ended the second
days work
Shortly after midnight, Captain Flus-
ser received information that tho ram
was coming down the river, AMI was
within six miles of the distractions
He Immediately went ashore TO consult
with General Vessels, and, after re
naming about an hour, he returned on
board, having paid his last visit to the
town Of Plymouth, where be had passed
sOmany years of usefulness and pleas
urs, shortly, within a few hours to re-
ceive his death wound, and by his own
hands
The ram made its appearance oppo-
site the town, about o'clock Tuesday
morning. The moon having set and 90
little Of il being above the water, it had
passed the torpedoes, exploding them
under her without effect, and passed the
batteries without being observed, and
was within 500 or 600 yards Of Us before
the rattle was sprung, and by the time
the bow guns we're manned she was in
to Us, striking the SOuthfeld, tearing
her bow almost OF her and there IL lay
totally unconcerned under our bows,
receiving shot after shot from our nine
inch Dahlgreen gun and the 100 pound.
or rifle, the shot falling Of her without
the least effort All the time her crew
poured in a constant Volley Of mus!Cet-
~ upon US
Captain Flusser exhibited the most
perfect self-pOssession end intrepidity,
aiming the guns and firing them with
his own hand. After he had fred the
l0Qpounder rifle and the bow gun, he
went 70 the port broadside gun, which
was loaded with shell, and the captain
Of the gun told Captain + when be took
hold 81 81. IL - - -
ed with she'll well, It does not mat
ter much, said be. Depress-stand
clear, boys" be cried, and fred The
shell striking the roof Of the ram, re-
bounded and exploded en- board the
Miami, piece about four inches square
passing through Captain rs body, tear
ing away his arm, and hanging him
te sa bigya othss pieces sit5gek ,hiQ AZ
and be fell uttering the desire Of bis
soul, and expressing the great all ruling
ambition Of his life, Boys, sink the
ram" be expired Eight Of the guns
crew we're wounded, bat none seriously.
Fifteen minutes after the Southfeld
was struck she went down, but the
bows remaining above water, she con
tinued 70 pour q heavy Ere into the
iron monster, but AL 70 no purpose.
Other Of their boats filed with troops
10 board our boat making their appear
ance, Captain French, Of the South
field, who assumed command Of the
Miami, deemed il prudent 70 drop down
the river, which We accomplished With
much difficulty, for you know how bad
" she steers. We succeeded M reach
ing the sound, and were joined By the
Whitehead and Ceres, both having run
the gauntlet past the ram, receiving 3
few shots from q l2-pound hoWitzer in
passing
The ram did not come out into the
sound, 50 the three steamers hove %.
the flags were lowered 70 halfmast, and
the body Of Captain Fiusser was placed
IN coffin and carried on board the
Ceres, together With Acting Ensign
Hargis, Third Assistant Engineer HaF-
Fington, and several sailors, AL wound
ed oy the casualty. jerry Lyons .
wounded slightly ia the leg. Altar re-
ceiying the remains q Captain tlusseF
and the wounded, the Ceres started for
Sewberu. The Whitehead went up
the Roanoke river % SEE Il tho ram had
been disabled, and shortly after re-
turned with the information that the
r4m was lying aionsside the soushheid