Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-11-10
Destruction of the Albemarie.-.Fuli
Particulars.

The Hampton Roads correspondent of
the Herald gives the following account
of the destruction of the Albemarle:
Along the dock to which the Abe
marie was tied were large number Of
soldiers, evidently stationed to guard
against landing of our forces. In
front Of their lines blazed up cheerfully
a number of camp fires, which threw a
strong light on the rebel vessel on the
bosom of the river. By the aid of this
glare Lieut.. Cushing discovered the float
ing timbers which surrounded the ram
on its side to guard against the ap-
proach of rams and torpedoeS, and by
the aid of the same light he plainly saw
the large body. of soldiers thronging to
the wharf and blazing away at his boat.
To quiet these fellows, he brought the
bow of his boat around and discharged
a heavy stand of canister into them
from his twelve-pound howitzer, which
was mounted at the bow, and sent them
flying,
Making a complete circle under a
scorching musketry fire at less than
thirty yards, he came around, bow on,
at full steam, and struck the floating
guard of timbers, pressing them in to-
wards the hui Of the ram, His boat
soon lost Roadway and came to stand
still, refusing TO back Off or move for
ward. The moment for decisive action
had now arrived. The enemy fired mus
kets and pistols almost in his face from
the ports of the ram, and from the hun
dreds of small arms on shore. Several
of his men were injured, and Paymaster
Swan had fallen severely wounded The
officers and crew Of the AlbemarIe cried
out, "NOw we have got him; surrender,
or we will blow you to pieces" The
case looked desperate, but Lieut. Cush-
ing was as careful and determined at the
moment as one could be under the most
agreeable circumstances. He knew the
decisive moment had come, and he did
not allow it to glide from his hands He
seized the lanyard of the torpedo and
the line of the spar, until he had
brought the torpedo under the overhang
of the Albemarle. He detached it by
one effort, and the next second he pulled
the lanyard of the torpedo, and exploded
it fairly under the vessel, on her port
side, just below the port hole of the 90
FOUNDER Brooke's rife, which at that
moment was discharged at the boat. An
immense volume of water was thrown
out by the explosion of the torpedo, al
most drowning all in the boat ; and to
add to the peril Of the moment, the heavy
shell from the enemy's gun had gone
crushing through the bottom, knocking
the splinters about in a terrible style
She at once began to sink in the most
rapid manner. Lieut.. Cushing ordered
all hands to save themselves as best
they could. He Invested himself of coat
and shoes; and plunged into the river,
followed by three of his men who were
able to do so. All struck for the mid
die of the river, under hot fire of mus
kerry, the balls perforatlng their clo-
thing and striking all about them, and
in two or three instances they so badly
wounded the swimmers, that they sunk
before boats from the shore could reach
them. Lieut.. Cushing heard the rebels
take to boats and push after the SWIM
mers, demanding their surrender. Many
gave up, but two of his seamen were
drowned near by him. ,a