Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-12-29

Several creditable incursiors have been made at va
rous tim within the limits of this command, result.
ing in tn discontinue of tie rebels Details of these
as Of these OF tie other equadrons appended to this
report. Occasional assaults have been made upon our
vessels of Charles on by torpedo boats and in one
instance with success by sinking the steam soopof-
war Housasonjc, but fortunately with little loss of
life
Carolina, the report says:
The operations the sounds # North Carolina hav
been interesting and important Il has been cherished
idea OF the reb leaders to repossss themselves of the
SQUADS, and 70 regain the principal paces on them,
which bed been wrcsted from rebel authority early in
the war by the united Efforts of the army and navy
Preparations were long 10 progress for the S1ction
of arsaore1 vessels, sn0 others Of light draft, the
Roanoke and Neuse rivers with inten. descend and
i've ont from the sounds our feet Of slightly built
woodon boats ecapture Plymouth, Newbern aud 9TH
poin' held by aud sablish rebel power
in that quarter. ttese schemee, though partially sue
cessf at tbe mnencsment, soon closed in dis ser.
o. the III nf April the rebels besiaged Plymouth
aid t=sc Gays afr she rebel ram Alo IN are descended
TIE anoke I7, and attack d the wooden gunboats
lying off thai tnTn On lhe 90 q the offences we're
carried tie garrison became prisoners and the rebels
OBJ anId Of The upper sound. Ii consequence
Of army reverses, vigorous Immediately
taken ny this depa: to prevent further Disaster
Certait heanc' on Smith, officer Of much naval
pereDce sent to The sounds With vesss of heavier
armament 8n1 ms ed TO take command attack the
ar0lUred al ali h3zsrds and uss ali means to de-
sroycd har. Ol The 5 of NJ tue ram came oat of
Roanoke rivcr and Captain Smith engaged her with
bis gunb0ats TIL action continued from 44O to 7:30
2. when darkness INTERVIEWED, ard the A bemarle
retreaed up the river. Shot fell upon her armor ap-
par.nty w h0ut effect aud th3 tfrts run her down
unsuccessful. Her consoTi, small army steamer
which had been CAP ured aud converted into naval
vessel, was recaptuCed.
On bat one subsequent occasion did the Albemarle
make her appear nce, and then she quick retired
being fred at. AS there known cau9e to pre-
vent her making aDolalr demonstration, competent
naval force always in readiness TO meet her, But
the inactivity of awaiting Ter movements rksome
and para zng and her destruction by other be-
me Object
Lieutenant W. B Cushing,a young nfite who had
previous occasions gained the sdmiration OF the de-
partment by his daring and vnturous heroism Sc
lectei TO destroy the Abemafle by torptdo properly
arranged light picket boat, to De placed bis dis
posa The torpedo is the invention of Chief Engineer
W. w. WOOD and possesses extraordinary power. It
arranged and applied to the picket boat at the sug
gestOa and under the direction OF Rear Admiral F. FL.
Gregory aud his sble assistants Lieutenant Gushing
was directed to have the for carrying out the
views of the department prepared, and when these
completed it quickly and brilliantly executed
With fourteen brave officers and men, who volunteered
for the service he, the night OF October 2 ascend
ed the Roanoke to Plymouth, assaied tas at her
whatf though guarded by military force on shore,
we'll as by her crew. and suDk her. Oay himself and
one OF his party escaped death or capture.