The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-11-16
sinking Of the Alhemnrlc.

The rebel ram Albemarle, was suak In
the Roanoke river on the night Of the 9th
Of October, by Lieut.. Cushing Of the navy
and detachment Of men from our heet.---
A correspondent OF the New York Herald
gives the following account of the affair:
Along the dock where the Albematle was
tied. were large number of soldiers. evi.
dontly stationed there to guard against a
landing OF onr forces. After n surprise in
front OF their lucs blazcd number of camp.
tires, lighting up the rebel vessel and the
river, BY the aid of this Lieut.. Cushing
discovered the pier OF floating tmbers
which surrounded the ram o. the accessible
sides, to guard against the approach of
rams and torpedocs, and by the aid of the
same light, he plainly saw the large body
OF soldiers on az d around the wharf, and
blazing away at his boat 10 uniot these
fellows, he brought tho bow OF his boat
around little and discharged n heavy
stand OF canister into them from his ~.
pound howitzer mounted at the bow, and
sent them flying. Making complete cir.
Gle undor sc0rching musketry fire at less
Than thirty yards, he camo around the bow
at full steam and strdck the floating guard
OF tmbers pressing them in towards the
hull OF the ram. His boat soon lost head
way and camh to stand still, refusing to
back of or move ahead The moment for
decisive action had arrived. The enemy
lred muskets and pistols almost in his face
from the ports OF tho ram aud from the
hundred small arms on shore. Several of
his men were wounded, aud PaymIster
swan had fallen, severely wounded. The
officers and crew OF the AIbemarle criel
| a N.,NN Na..i, - l.. 40
we VIII blow yon 10 pieces"
| The case looked desperate, but Lieut.
| Gushing was cool aud determined. lie
seized the lanyard to the torpe 10 and the
| line OF the spar, and crowding the spar un.
til ho brought the torpedo nnder the over.
hang OF tho Albermarc, he detached il by
an effort aud then pulled the lanyard of the
| torpedo, and exploded it fairly under the
! vessel on her port side, Just below the port
! hole 0F the 200pOunder Brooks rife.
which ut th7t moment waa discharged at
the boat. An immense volume of wafer
was thrown out by the explosion of the
| torpedo, almost drowning all in the boat.
amt to add to the peril Of the moment. the
heavy shell from the opomy's gun had
| gone crushing through tho bottom of the
BOAT Knocking the spliutcrs about in terri.
! hlc style. She at once began to sink in
lhe most rapid manner, and Lieutenant
cushing ordered all hands to save them.
selves uS best they could. lie divested
himself OF coat and shoes aud plunged into
the river followed by most Of his men who
wero able 70 do So All struck for the
mlddle of the river under hot fire of mus.
Retry, the balls striking all around them
and IN two or three instances, il il feared
30 badly wounded the swimmers that they
sunk before the boats from the shore could
reach them. Lieut., Cushing heard the reb-
els take to boats and push after the surviv,
ers, demanding their surrender. Ma, '
gave up, but two of his seamen were
drowned near him, whether owing ia
wounds received or exhaustion he could
not state. PaymaSt Swan was wounded
and is y prisoner, but how many others fell
into rebel hands was not asccrtainel.
Lieutenant Gushing swan down the river
hall mile until exhausted, but he reached
shore about daylight. lie crawlel through
a swamp until lie reached position within
speaking distance of the enemy's fort
While lying thero rebel officers wa ked by
aud from their conversation he 10 lrned the
ram was dcstroyel, After a while, deem
ing his situation unsafe, he managed {,
push himself along on his back about Ct
yards and got better position. b fore
midnight he secured the services of a ne
gro to 60 back and look after The Abe
marie. The negro returned and reporteo
her sunk. Lieutenant Cushing then strucl
through the swamp, being in his stocking
feet, over hriars, &C., until he reached /
point 6 miles below the town, when no tool
a boat and with paddle put off for til,
squadron, II miles distant, reaching il il
safety.