The New York herald., 1874-12-19
OBITUARY.
COMMANDER WILLIAM B. GUSHING.


Cushing. United States Navy. While the intelli-
gence is not altogether une xpected, il win give
rise 10 feelings OF universal sorrow and regret
More than q week ago 1t was reported that he was
suffering from an acute attack Of brain disorder,
and the melancholy sequel which now reaches us
all who knew hts weak bodily condition feared
could not be long deferred. brilliant naval
career Of seventeen years Is untlmely ended. In
the death OF Commander Cushing the personnel OF
the navy loses popular and cherished member
and the public service sustains most grievous
loss The knight errant OF the United States Navy
is gone.
William B. Cushing was oorn IN Wisconsin
In ls43, and was only thirty-one years OF age at
the time OF his death. While mere lad he came
to New York State, and on September %, 1867.
received his appointment to Annapolis. After
year in the Academy he resigned. The war for the
Union burst upon the nation In 1851. Cushing 1T
once secured An appointment as an acting ofncer.
He was at once assigned TO DUTY on . vessel be-
longing to the North Atlantic squadron. The
young ensign, then behind all his old companions
for the number Of daring and merrtor,ous acts OF
valor, has few rivals among the long list OF
heroes 70 be found within me covers OF the
Navy Register. For gallant conduct be was raised
TO the iull rank OF lieutenant In the United states
Navy on July 10, 1852. Having on several occa-
den ., ne was in November OF the same year ap-
pointed 70 command the gunboa. Ellis. One CIR;
tins appointment Was his conduct at FrankIin
Va on the Blackwatsr River, where he swan
wor AZ T1S o. sSe ey s fs
year OLD commander. He was ordered to ascend
New River inlet, on the North Caroline coast, cap
mail, to take possession OF all vessels on the river
and to destroy any salt works which might
Der Ss issa the little steamer Started on
her perilous mission the Town was reached in the
ana al pes gn n tSe eas
mail and two schooners. The Ellis started on
her return voyage, running one battery aIser an.
outer bar, it being impossible, owing TO the state
OF the tide and the absence or all lights, to take
lowing morning battery OF artillery opened on
the Ellis from olun, but was soon sIenced by the
the & and y s"e
guns OF the battery rom their carriages. No ac-
curats charts chart o. the ne river n had been ootainape
for, about ave hundred yards below this battery,
the Es grounded Every effort was made
csss Everything was removed on board
OF q prize schooner except the pivot gun
and told that they could leave the ship and 60 TO
the prize. Lieutenant Gushing then called for SIX
70 remain a., ana nEnt the mai gun
was ordered to drop down the river and await the
result OF the impending engagement On tne
opened on the Ellis from four p0ints The vessel
was soon disabled, that there nothing 10 90
but surrender or row under fire In an open boat
nearly two miles to the schooner. The latser was
young Cusning's alternative. The Ellis was fred,
Sanra ns IN s or
courage which characterized the commander OF
this expedition was orncially commended in re-
port OF the Admiral OF the North Atlantic station
to the War Department.
The most famous achievement Of Lieutenant
decaed ys oy the Navy Ma Depsrtment to ask Leuten
ant Gushing TO ascend the Roanoke River IN
1oFpedo Goat ior the 0 blowing ,! up the
bic vessel had during the, entire summer OF 1854
kept the Roanoke clear OF federal vessels It had
engagement IN May the Albemare had shown
herself more than match for the gunboats Mata-
bessett, Wyalusing, sassacus and Whitehead. Tne
Sound. considerable force was required to be
constantly onst on guard and the movements Of the
sSereS young Gushing
without moments hesitation. The trip was
undertaken, ike the expedition OF Somers IN
| hope. Having made all arrangements Is Ior expected
| death the Lieutenant. with picked crew or four
hands, on the night Of October 81. 1864, made their
way 10 small boat, under cover Or the darkness,
way M
which an expectat'on Of the attack could sug
Ing, IN the dead OF night, made his way; pene-
trated and crowded away the logs sufficiently to
plode 1t, sinking her IN . lew moments. A shot
from the ram sunk the torpedo boat lust as its
work was completed, ana Lieutenant Cushing,
being killed or wounded. The Lieutenant and his
unharmed companions reached land by swimming,
and nnaly rej0lned the neet. where his death had
been already mourned. In recognition OF this
service to the country Secretary Welles addressed
''Tne judgment as well as the daring courage dis.
played would do honor to any oilcer. and rebounds
age e On our se
ment has had the qualification OF express
Ing Its appreciation Of your conduct In the face
ma infested 0y you the same heroic daring and
innate love OF perilous adventure; mind deter
apprehensions OF defeat The department has
presented your name to the President for vote
'ssnks snas you may be RromOea one
under date OF october ~, 1884. To sum up the
history Of this oficers life during this era It may
be said tnat there was not year OF the war IN
which ne did not perform some signal act OF peril
ous adventure.
during which he served IN the Pacific and Asiatic
squadr0ns we come to the last public act Of his
s winch IN ;nd1 must e ever be gratefully NIB
for the Union. In the fall OF last year the Wyo-
ming was at anchor in the harbor or Aspinwall.
Comma ander Cushing raised to that grade in jan
uary, 1877 was her commanding onicer. Learn
ing when on shore one afternoon that steamer
Santiago de- Cuba and her oficers brutally
murdered. he at once went on board raised
an ,hOr, ana, without orders from anybody, pro-
ceeded to the rescue OF such OF the virgnlus prs-
oners as were still living. He It was who, with
only two other officers. proceeded ashore at San
tiago, in person visited the butcher BurreL and
to his face dared him to take the life OF another
American citizen. The guns OF the Wyoming we're
manned, and Cushing declared that ne would burn
the town II another prisoner died. These facts
are, however, OF too recent occurrence to demand
further notice.
was TALL slender aud b0ytsh. His nervous constl-
tuition had been ssdy undermined BY fevers con
tracted IN the tropics. In manner he was unas-
sumthg, almost awkward, but wholly without out
ward show or conceit When the writer last saw
Commander Cushing on board his own ship at
Key West his health seemed to be seriously
shaken, and, although there were no indiosnQps
Of . brain attack, yet the whole system .of the
gallant young man seemed wrecked and there
were many indications Of early dIssoln tion.
The 6ecre tary OF the Navy 0nicially announced
the death OF Commander Gushing yesterday. The