Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-11-04
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The Destruction OF the AIbemarIe.

NEW YORK, Nov. 3.-Ihe Hampton Roads
correspondent of the Herald gives the fol-
lowing account of the destruction of the
Albemarlc:
Along the dock to where the Aibemarle
was tied were a large number of soldiers,
evidently stationed there to guard against
a landing of our force after Il surprise, and
in front of their lines blazed u number of
camp fires, lighting up the rebel vessel and
the river. BY the aid of this Lieut.. Cush-
ing discovered the pier Of floating timbers
which surrounded the ram on the accessible
sides, to guard against the approach of rams
and torpedoes; and by the aid of the same
light he plainly saw the large body of sol
diers thronging to the wharf and blazing
away Mt his boat. To quiet these fellows he
brought the bow of his boat around little
and discharged a heavy stand of canister
into them from his l2-pouDder howitzer,
mounted at the bow, and sent them flying.
Making complete circle under Il heavy
musketry fire, of less than thirty yards, lie
came around bow at full steam and struck
the floating guard of timbers, pressing them
in toward the. hull of the ram. His boat
soon lost headway and came to stand still,
refusing to back off or move ahead The
moment for action had now arrived. The
enemy fired muskets and pistols almost in
his face from the ports of the ram and from
the hundred small arms on shore. Several
OF his men were wounded, and Paymaster
Swami had fallen severely wounded. The
officers and crew of the Albemarle cried out,
snow we've got him; surrender or we will
blow you to atoms"
The case looked desperate, but Lieut..
Cushing was cool and determined. He
seized the lanyard of the torpedo and the
line of the spar, and crowding the spar un-
til he brought the torpedo under the over
hang of the Albemarle, he detached it by an
effort and then pulled the lanyard of the
torpedo and exploded it fairly under the
vessel on her port side, just below the port
hole of the 200-poundcr Brooks rifle, which
at that moment was discharged at his boat.
An immense volume of water was thrown
out by the explosion of the torpedo, almost
drowning all in the boat, and to add to the
peril of the moment, the heavy shell from
the enemy's gun had gone crashing through
the bottom of the boat, knocking the spln-
tiers about in terrible style. She at once
began to sink in the most rapid manner, and
Lieut.. Cushing ordered all hands to save
themselves rs best they could. lie divested
himself Of coat and shoes, ami plunged into
the river, followed by those of his men as
were able to do so. All struck for the mid
die of the liver, under a hot fire of musket-
ry, the balls striking all about them, and in
two or three instances it is feared so badly
woundng the swimmers that they sunk be-
fore boats from the shore could reach them.
Lieut.. Cushing heard the rebels take to
boats and push after the survivors, demand
ing their surrender. Many gave up, but
two of his seamen were drowned near by
him, whether owing to wounds or eXhaus-
tion he could not state. Paymnster Swami
was wounded and is prisoner, but how
many others fell into the rebel hands Is not
ascertained. Lieutenant Cushing swan
down the river half mile until exhausted,
but he reached the shore about daylight
He crawled through swamp until he
reached position within speaking distance
of the encmy's fort. While lying there,
rebel officers walked by, and from their
conversation he learned that the ram was
destroyed. After while, deeming his sit
uation unsafe, he managed to push himself
along OH his back about sixty yards and
got better position. Before midnight he
secured the services of a negro to go back
and look after the Albemarle. The negro
returned and reported her sunk. Lieuten-
ant Cushing then struck through the swamp
in his stocking feet, over briers, &C., until
he reached point six miles below the
town, when he took boat and with pad
die put off for the squadron, twelve miles
distant, reaching it in safety.