The New York herald., 1864-11-03

,ovards Plymouth Eight miles rsm the mouth sf the
stream the AbemarIe lay. surrounded by pen Of logs
and timber, established 70 prevent her destrueson BY
tospsdoss.
Az he approached this framework Lieut.. Cushing was
discovered BY ths ocsrs a. The ram, who hailed him 10
gave answer tho enemy meantime maintaining against
him and Ceiling nre. 70 which hs replied effect
vsy With frequent doses Of canister. Finding that hs
cosld not approash ths ram 10 desired, complete
circle was made by the Lieutenant and the launch was
again brought fairly against the "orb" bows on, push
ing book portion Of IT, and leaving ths bows of The
launch resting on the broken timbsra
A this moment BY most vigorous snost Lieutenant
Cushng succeeded In driving torpedo under the over
hang Of the ram. and exploding it simultaneously with
the explosion Of the Absmarlss guns nred snd
the shot went crashing shroueh the launch AZ the
instant dense volume Of water from The torpedo came
rushing into The launch completely and utterly disabling
her.
Lieutenant Gushing then ordered his men tosave then
selves. He himself threw Oh hk coat and Shoes and
sprang into the Several Of his captured
and some drowned, but have NOS been able 10
certain exsc. loss Lieutenant Gushing. taking the
swamp managed secrete himself from the enemy's
pickets, and brought up alongside the steamer Valley
City At abous eleven O'Clock the next night, 10 small
skir which he discovered and appropriated" his
way.
The steamer Valley City brought Lieutenant Gushing
passenger aud he reported in person the Admiral
the accomplishment OF daring mission he specially
selected 10 perform. Though much fatgued by The
ssvertes Of his recent task he 10 yet good heah and
spirits and is at this the hero OF tho squadron.
He is the Same officer who went to Smithvo and Gap.
.ured General whng's chief Of sta while regiment Of
troops quarsered In the buildings the opposite
side OF tho way. II was he who took small boat up
she Wilmington river, past the forts and bat
teres, landed and captured . rebel mail, sts4d
three days In the enemy's country, and finally
In safety with his trophies But this last act
Of his stamps him OF tho daring In the
service To attack ironclad like the Abemare with
launch and BAKERS dozen OF would seem tho
height Of reckless folly bat to have succeeded in such
enterprise is TO have earned life lease glory.
In the affair plymaster Swan, OF the Osego Is known
70 have been wounded and Masters Mate Howarth Of
the Monticello. captured. Licut Cushing speaks very
highly Of the conduct Of all who with him.
The destruction Of the ram not definitely known
until the following day the 29sh negroes sent TO
gain information returned with the glorious news Re-
ports quarters coroborated this intelligence
and inaly reconnaissance by the Valley City re-
vsaled the Abemare resting the bottom with only her
smokestack visible above the water.
The yellow fever Is said not TO entirely disap
frosts in that vicinity has somewhat dispeled il.
The steamer John Fsrron left for that port yesterday
taking immense mail and number OF officers who
have been copgregang here for tims waiting for
the sickiy season to terminate.
Mr. Oscar @. Sawyer's Dsspatch.
HAnProS RoAps, Va, Nov. I, 1854
The most audacous, brilliant and successful affair Of
the war; occurred In the waters OF North Caroins last
week. in which, after the brisiest contest bat one,
win prove Of the results the rebel ironclad
Abemerle enectually destroyed aud sent to the
bottom by torpedo discharged by Lieutenant William
B. Cushing, OF the navy. The great mailed monster
that has % long excited the apprehensons OF the
Navy Department, and held In the Sound force greatly
in OF that which usually stationed there,
lies quietly At the bottom OF the Roanoke river. sub
ect Of curious contemplation and dread to the sh that
frequent those waters In tho squadron every one feels
Of relief in realizing the fact that the Albemao
longer anoat capable OF doing further damage;
for Il secret that she OF the toughest GUS
toners for confront that has noated
Her raid Aotla the 5,h OF May proved that
fact beyond Q shadow OF doubt. She then
and fought groas advantage three heavily
armed double enderF-the Sassacus, Mattabcsett and
wyaiusug-and retired only after prolonged contest,
slightly damaged. While noated post held by
accessible TO her sae She could 80 her way as
she chose spite OF the Efforts Of wooden vessels,
unless accident occurred TO her which should pre-
vent her s.eamiDg. None OF the light draft Monitors
wore ready confront her. and she threatened clear
our forces out OF the state OF North Carolina.
Such was the Of Affairs subsequent TO the 5th OF
May. Our squadron In Albemare Sound had been
largely increased by the addition OF several light draught
heavily armed vessels: but, even with these, II was
somewhat doubtful whether the possession OF the Sound
insured SO II was determined 70 get rid OF the
monster in some more expeditions and certain way.
Lieutenant william B. Cushing, young o,csr Of great
bravery. and resources submitted project TO
Admiral Lee, In June last, BY which he hoped, II
successfully carried out, to rid tho Sound or the
Albemarle, ana insure us It's possession. Admiral
Leo entered warmly into the scheme, AZ did the
Navy Department, which Immediately detached Lieu.
tenant Cushing from the Monticello and placed him on
this special duty, at the time giving bim every
facility 10 carry out the object In view.
Lieutenant Cushing at once proceeded to New York,
and, in conjunction with Admiral Gregory, Captain
Boggs and Chief Engineer VIM. w. W. Wood, arranged
one OF the picket boats, which is about the
the size OF afrgae's Nnach, with torpedo arrange
meut, and then took her down In tho Sound for duty.
Having made several reconnossances up the Roanoke
river, which gave him some valuable Information
and having perfected his arrsngsments, the
night OF the 9Th ult. hs got under way
from the squadron or the mouth Of the river
aud steamed boldly up the river. In the steam launch
we're Lieutenant Gushing, Psymaster 7. n. Swami, .
volunteer from the 0tsego, and Masters Mate w. L.
Howorth tho gunboat Monticello, and Third Assistant
Ensioeer Salisbury, in charge OF the engine, with
OF ten men, nearly all OF whom volunteered for the
vice. armed cutter Of the Shamrock, with ocer
and men, towed along for tho purpose OF attend
ng TO some or the minor details OF the work. II was
known that the enemy had plctets along the river
banks and on the OF the gunboat soubhed sunk
by tho Albemario last spring, and which laid about
mile below the town Of Plymouth. The picksts,
who were 10 the habit OF stationing themselves the
hurricane dock Of The souhneldhe only portion Of the
wreck above waerwero 10 be turned tho caro- OF
the shamrocx's cutter when The proper time came while
shose along the river TO be psssedn silence, and