Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-04
Yesterdays Evening edition
DESTRUCTION OF THE ALBEaAELE.
--- go New YoRK, Nov. 3. g..

-- NEW YORK, NOV 8. ~
The Hampton Roads correspondent of
the Herald gives the following account Of /
the destruction Of the Albemarle
Along the dock to which the Albernarle |
was tied were o large number Of soldiers,
evidently stationed there to guard against |
a landing of our force. In front Of their |
lines blszed number Of camp fires light |
inc m the rebel vessels and the river. By |
the aid of this, Lieut. Cushing discovered
the pier of floating timbers which surround
| ed the ram on the accessible sides 10 guard
against tie approach OF rams and torpe-
does, and by the aid of the same light, ne
| nIsinlv saw the large body of soldiers
thronging to the wharf and blazing away
| at his boat.
To quiet these fellows he brought the
how OF his boat around little and dis
charged heavy stand of csnisterinto them
| from his twelve FOUNDER howitzer, mount
ed at the bow, and sent them flying, max
inc a complete circle under searching
fre of nusketry. At less than thirty yards
ne came around bow at full steam and
struck the floating guard Of timber, press
inc them on toward the hull Of the ram
His boat soon lost headway and came to
a stand still, refusing to back off or move
ahead. The moment for decisive action
: had now arrived.
The enemy fired musketry and pistols
almost in his face, from the ports of the
: ram and from the hundred small arms on
shore.
Several of our men were wounded and
) paymaster Quinn fellmortally wounded.
: The officers and crew of the Albemarle
cried out, eNow we've got you, surrender
or we will blow you to pieces" The case
S looked desperate, but Lieutenant Gushing
d WAS cool and determined. he seized the
n LANYARD to the torpedo and the line of the
o spar, and crowding the spar until ht
's brou1ht the torpedo under the overhang
of the AIbemarle he detached it by an et
a fort. and then pulled the lanyard Of tht
n torpedo and exploded it fairly under thi
st vessel on her port side, just below the poT
n hole of the 2OO-pounder Brooks rifle, whici
sr at that moment was discharged at the boat
it An immense volume of water was thrown
s. out by tie explosion of the torpedo, almos
drowning all in the boat, and to add to tn
IT DeriI of the moment the heavy shell iro1
ne The enemyls gun had gone crushing throug
g, tbe bottom Of the boat, knocking the splin
y ters about in terrible style. She at ono
be bepsn TO sink in the most rapid mannel
he and Lieutenant Cushing ordered all hand
to save themselves as best they could. ID
D. divested himself of coat and shoes an
IN plunged into the river followed bYthose {
tn his men who were able to do SO. a
be struck for the middle of the river, under
il hot fire of musketry, the balls striking q
We about them, and in two or three cases. 1t
feared, so badly wounding the swimmel
ly that they sunk before the boats from shol
IL could reach them Lieutenant Cushln
On heard the rebels take 70 their boats sndpus
or after the survivors, demanding their su
ITS sender. Many gave up, and TWO Of h
by sesmen were drowned near by him-whetl
ID, er from wounds received or exhaustion,
ch could not state.
in Pavmsster Swan was wounded and IS
prisoner, but how many others fell In
ars their hands has not yet been ascertsined.
Lieutenant Cushing swan down the Tly
Of half q mile, until exhausted, but he ma
nm AGED to reach the shore about day light. !
me cTawled through swamp until he reach
oh a position within speaking distance OF I
5st eneny's fort. While lying there the rel
ept officers walked by, and from their eonvl
we sation he Learned that the ram was Z
ess stroyed. After while, deeming his SIT
an. alton unsafe he managed TO push hims