Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-02

Lieut.. Cushing.
Ihsvs the honor to be, as., -
| DAVID d. PORTER,
Rear Admiral oomd'g N. A. squadron,
Hon. GIrEoE WtLLEs, seoy OF the Navy.
.F1.l-7'af US. 8. sHAmRocK,l
ALnENARLE SOUSB, N. c., Oct, %, 1854.
ADMIRAL; have tie honor to report that OF
the night Of the a7th instant, Lieutw. b. Cushing
assembled the Rosnoke river in his torpedo boat
having the second cutter Of this vessel In tow fol
| the purpose Of blowing up thi ram Albcmarle, al
| plymouth. He passed the southheld without being
noticed and arrived within short distance OF the
ram before he was discovered when he cast loose
the CUTTER ordering Il to board the southHeld and
capture the picket stationed there, " hile he At
lacked the ram with his torpsdo.
Although the enemy kept up . severe fire Of
mu,ketry, and with howitzers mounted on the
wharf, Lieut.. Gushing succeeded In exploding hi,
| torpedo under the Albemsrle, at the same instan,
that the gun Of that vessel ito which they were
directly opposite) was fred on the torpedo boat,
which i'm Uedisteiy filled, and the Lieutenant or.
der,d his officers and men to save themselves, and
jumped overheard He was picked up by the Val.
iey city on the night OF the 2sth.
From circumstances which have since occurred,
and which will explain In a detailed report by
the hrst opportunity, AN able to iaiorm you that
the ram was sunk. Very respectfully,
W. II. MACoMB,
Commander, SO.
Rear Admiral d. D. Porter, Com. N. A. sQuad'n.
ALbEMARLE SOUND, N. C., Oct. 30, 1861.
SIR I have the honor TO report that tho rebel
iron-Clod Albemarle 10 at the bottom of the Roa.
noke river.
On the night OF the 27th, having prepared my
steam lauuch, proceeded up toward Plymouth,
with thirteen officers and men, partly volunteer
from the iquaaron. The distance from the mouth
OF the river to the ram was about eight lies, the
stream averaging in width some two hundred
yards and lined with the enemy's pickets. A
mile below the town was the wreck OF the
southheld, surrounded by some schooners, and It
was understood that gun was mounted there to
command the bend. ! therefore took one OF the
shamroek's cutters In tow, with orders to cait of
and board at that point II we were hailed.
Our boat succeeded in passing the picket, and
even the southheld, within twenty yards, without
discovery, and we were not hailed until by the
lookoutS on the ram The cutter was then cast
oil and ordered below, while We made for our enemy
under full head Of steam.
The rebels sprung their rsttlts, rang the bell,
aud commenced firing, st the same time repeating
their hail. and seeming much confused.
The light OF fire ashore showed me the iron
clad, made fast to the wharf, with pen OF logs
ground her about thirty feet from her side.
Passing her clotely, we made a complete circle,
so M to strike her fairly, and went into her bows
on. by this time the enemy's fire WAS very severe,
but dose OF canister, at abort range, served to
moderate their zeal and disturb their aim. Pay.
master Swan, OF the obsego, was wounded near
me, but how many more know not. Three bullets
struck my clothing, and the air seemed full of
them.
In q moment we had struck the logs lust ABR. .,t
OF the quarter-port, bressting them in some feet,
and our bows resting on them. The torpedo.
boom was then lowered, and, by q vigorous pull,
succeeded in diving the torpedo under the over
hang, and exploded It AZ the sane time that the
Albemsrle's gun was fired. A shot seemed to 20
crashing through my boat, and a dense mass OF
water rushed In from the torpedo, nIling the
launch and completely disabling her.
Tho enemy then continued his fire at fifteen feet
range, and demanded our surrender, which twice
refused, ordering the men to save themselves, and
my own coat and shoes. Sprlnging into
the water, swan, with Others, into the middle
Of the stream, the rebels failing to hit us.
The most OF our party were captured, some were
drowned, and only one escaped besides DylelL,
and he in a different direction. Acting Masters
Mate Woodman, OF the Commodore Hull, met in
the water half mile below the town, and assisted
him as best could, but failed to get him ashore.
Completely exhausted, I managed to reach the
shore, but was too weak to crawl out OF the water
until Just at daylight, when / managed to creep
into the swamp, close to the fort. While hiding
lew feet from the path, two of the Albemarle's
otiicers passed, and judged from their eonversa-
lion that the ship was destroyed.
Some hours travelling in the swamp served to
BRING me out well below the town, when sent q |
,egro in to gain information, and found that the
ram was truly sunk.
Proceeding through another swamp, / came to |
, creek and captured a skif belonging to picket
'f the enemy, and with this, by II O'Clock the
next night, had made my way out to the Valley |
City.
Acting Masters Mate William L. Howorth, Of
The Montieelo, showed, rs usual, conspicuous
bravery. He 10 the same officer who has been |
With me twice In Wilmington harbor. trust he |
may be promoted when exchanged, as well as Act.
ng Third Assistant Engineer Stolesbury, who, be- |
ng for the frat time under fire, handled his en-
zine promptly and with GOODNESS. AL the officers |
Ind men behaved In the most gallant manner.
VII furnish their names to the Department az |
loon ss they can be procured.
The cutter OF the shamrock boarded the South
ieiu' put found no gun -Four prisoners were taken
here.
The ram Is now completely submerged, and tho
'nemy have sunk three schooners In the river TO
'bstruct the passage of our ships.
desire to call the attention of the Admiral and
department to the spirit manifested by the sailors
IN the ships IL these sounds. But few men were
yAnted but all hands were eager to 60 into this
'etion, many Offering their chosen shipmAtes a
months pay to reSisn in their favor.
lam, sir, very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
W. D. CUSHING, Lieutenant, U. s. Navy.
Rear Admiral d. D. Porter, Cong N. 4. Squadron;
The name Of the man who escaped is william
Hoffman, seaman, on the ChIekopee. He did his
luty well, and deserves medal of honor.
Respectfully, W. d. CUSHING, U. S.N.
PERSONAL.
COMMODORE JOSEPH B. HULL has been Or