Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-11-03
The Ram Albemarle.

The Confederate iron. clad ran, A Albeunarls
reported to have been destroyed on the 2Sth
nit, by the United States picket boat No I, WAS
bull. in the Roanoke river for the purpose OF
clearing the waters of North Carolina of our
naval vessels, and driving off the United States
troops who were located at various posts. On
several occasions she has spread terror through.
out that department, and has caused serious
annoyance 10 our forces, both naval and mill
taIy. On the 5th of May last the United States
naval forces, consisting of the wooden gum
boats Mattabesett, Sassacus, Wyalusing, Miami,
Whitehead, Ceres, and Commodore Hull, en-
gagged the Albemarle and her consorts, Cotton
Plant and Bonn bshell, and sfter terrible con-
Met the albemarle was forced TO retreat, having
been seriously damaged by the fire of our gun
boats, but principally by the Sassacus.
he Cotton Plant escaped, but the Bomb
sEeil, which had been captured short time
pLenops, was recaptured. From that time
unll lew weeks since, the ram has been
sra6 IeSeiNlng repairs, and las been strength
80 wIh view of accomplishing her object
Win IataI certainty Lieut. VIM Cushing,
OF our navy was anxious 70 have her come
OHI 80 .n" ne nght 'est the merits of the tor
ptdo arIal cement devised by Chief Engineer
W. W. W. Wood, u. = N Ifisperhaps nroD
er 10 state here that the hloemarIa was con-
structed upon the general PRINCIPLES of the
NrrrImaC and Tennessee class of vessels and
was perhaps much stronger than either OF those
vessels since she was repaired of late She had
tie ordinary easemate, IN which were placed
1our heavy guns. She was probably shot
proof against any projectiles thrown by our
vessels, and the only hope OF destroying her,
before the advent Of the torpedo affair, was by
IammIns her death; hut with the torpedo boat
the matter could be easily accomplished, pro-
vlutG she could always get close enough 10 do
the work without being observed before the
guns could be trained and fired upon her. In
This case the little torTedo boat did Its duty,
and hut for shot from shore battery, she
Woulu new he Ieacy 70 perform a similar feat.
The ltttls vessel which has performed the
decd Of destroy ing this noted ram Is a boat not
unlike a ships launch, and about the same di-
mensons. Six Of them i've been built under
the superlntsnuenCe OF Capt. &. =. BOggs, u.
:. Navy. Their engines, boilers, &c, were put
III them At Schenectady, New York, and were
brought down here via canal.
They were designed AT first tor OCket boats
exclusively, and fer the purpose OF relic wing
the seamen from the huTtiUI and unhealthy
work Of pulling boats on picket in all kinds of
" Gather Before they Were completed, how
ever, the idea OF placing the torpedo attach
ment on them was suggested and immediately
adopted and 1t is proven already The isdom
of the suggestion
10 officer has labCred more faithfully 10 de-
stTCy this A AlhemarIe than has Lieutenant
Gushing. a Few weeks since lie visited New
York and seie ted some Of the ri ket boats for
ser vice IL the Alhemarle Sound, aad we now
have the first results OF his daring aud good
Judgment in using this new engine Of naval
warfare, which IN a short time Will re vol lntton-
ize naval fights. The true plan is being adopted.
The bottom OF vessel is Its most vulnerable
part, and ty ,hIs arrangement It l. reached,
broken through, and the vessel must sink or
be utter Y destroyed.