Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-03
DESTRUCTION OF THE ALBEmARLE.

Il
Lieut.. w. CUSHING who in command Of pickle
Launch No. l. destroyed tho formidable iron Glad ram AL
Demare lying atPymouh, North Carolina arrived yester
aud reported to tho Secretary Of tho Navy He was cor
da received by tho Secretary of the Navy and
secretary Fox, and congratulated the success of h,l
exploit The Secretary will, it is SAID recommend to
Congress vote of thanks to this young officer and that
no be promoted one grade The following official report
giving tho particulars Of the desperate enterprise has been
forwarded to the Department by Rear Admiral Porter:
ALBEMAaLE SOUND, IN c. OCTOBER 80 1864.
Rear Admiral ID. ID. PORTER, Cong N A. SQUADRON
SR have the honor to report that tue rebel IRON clad
Albemarle is at the bottom of the Roanoke river
On the night o. the 9th, having prepared my steam
launch proceeded up toward Plymouth with thirteen
officers and men, partly volunteers from the squadron
The distance from the mouth Of the river to the was
about eight miles, the stream averaging in width two
hundred yards and lined with the enomy's pockets
mile below the town the wreck of the 6ouhfed,
rounded BY some schOOners and it understood Ihat
gun was mounted there to command the bend. there
fore took Of the Shamrocs Gu ters in tow with orders
to cast OF and board at that point If hailed
Our boat succeeded IN passing the picket aud the
S0uthhed within twenty yards without discovery aud
were not hailed until by the oOkouts the ram The
Gutter then cast off and ordered below while we made
for our enemy under full head Of steam.
The rebels sprung their rstles rang the BELL and com.
menoed firing at the same time repeating their hail. and
seeming much confused
The light OF fire ashore showed me the ron-clad made
last 70 the wharf, with pen Of logs around her about
thirty fe from her side.
Passing her closely we made complete circle so as to
strike her fairly, and went into her bows BY this
time the enemys fire was very but dose of can
lister at short range served to moderate their zeal and dis
turo their aim Paymaster Swan, Of the Obsego, was
wounded near me- but how many more know NOT Three
bullets struck my clothing and The air seemed full them
In moment we had struck the logs just abreast Of the
quarter port breaking them in feet, and bows
resting on them. The torpedo-b0om then lowered,
and by vigorous pull succeeded driving the torpedo
under the overhang and exploded at the time that
lhoun arIu GraA .hnk.o
ing through my boat and dense of water rushed 10
abiDg her.
The enemy then continued his fire at fifteen feet range
and demanded our surrender which twice refused
deriDg the to themselves and removing my own
coat and shoes Sprnging into the water, swami with
Others INTO the middle of the stream the rebels failing
hit us.
The most of party we're captured, some were
drowned and only one escaped besides myself and he
different dit ction. Acti Masters Mate Woodman of
the Commodore Hull mot In the water half mile below
the town. and assisted him best could but failed to
get him ashore.
Completely exhausted, managed to reach the shore,
but was too weak to aw of the water until just
daylight when managed to creep into the swamp. close
to the fort While hiding few feet from the path of
the Abemare's officers passed and judged from their
conversation that the ship was destroyed
Some hours travelling in the swamp served bring me
out well below the town, when negro in TO gain
Information, and found that the ram truly sunk
Proceeding through another swamp, came to creek
ADD captured sk belonging to picket of the enemy
and With this BY IL O'Clock the next light had made my
way out T., the Valley City.
Acting Masters Mate William L How0rth, of the Mon
tcelo, showed, usual Conspicuous bravery He the
same officer who has been with twice in WiImingt
harbor trust ne may be promoted when exchanged,
we'll as Acting Third Assistant Eng Stoesbury, who
being for the first time under fire, handled bis engine
promptly and with cooue.s. All the officers and N
behaved in the most gallant will furnish their
names to the Department they can be pro
cured
The cutter Of the Shamrock boarded the Sou,hfe but
found no gun -Four prisoners were taken there
The ram is now completely submerged and the enemy
have sunk tn schooners in tho river to oosrruct the
passage OF our ships
desire TO CAL the attention of the Admiral and Depart
met to the spirit manifested the sailors the ships in
these sounds But few men Wore wanted but all hanas
were eager to go into the action Offering their chosen
shipmates months pay to resign in their favor.
am air very respectfully, your obedient servant,
w. B. CUSHING, Lieut., u. s. Navy r
The name of the man who escaped is William Hoffman
seaman, on the Chckopee He did his duty well, and
deserves a medal of honor. Respectfully,
W. B. CUSHING u g. Navy.