New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-19
OBITU
LIEUT. COMMANDER WILLIAM H. CUSHING


mcnt Insane Hospital, near Washington. to which no
had been removed few days ago for treatment. This
gallant officer renowned during the for his daring
exploits. born in W,cOnsn IN 1874 1s45, and
appointed IN 1857 from this State acting midshipman
at the Naval Academy, where he remained until
the wear following, when he resigned. At tho
general call to 1851 he reGntcred the
naval service us acting officer and in july, 1852,
received his commission lieutenant. He performed
many brilliant exploits and deservedly promoted
70 the rank OF Lieutenant Commanfcr Oct o. 1864.
Since the close OF the he had served with The Pacific
and Aslatic squadrnns. being command OF the
steamer Lancaster in 1861 and in 1862
excellent article HarperS MaCa-ine for July last
gives many interesting details Of tho gallant seamans
career rcarduG hs first services during the war it
siys:
MdShpman Cushing sailed from Boston In the frtgate
Minnesota. ana reached Hampton Roads IN ~, 1871!
ldd tdcn scarcely II yeats Old hut fully determined
upOu playing part the great events to come.
@ m St nop n a' tbc ",tcr "f ITEM
winch honor OF having been tho first ship under
fire ~ the Ocl"n, young Cushing subsequently com
mand u. TIE ct hal not been anchor single day
when tive schOonerF, loaded with tobacco were chir
tuned and tat uIgnt the Young mdShpmaD TOOK Into
port the Delaware Farmer, the HIST pil2o VI tho war;
His ealantry during the operations against Fort
Fisher is thus described:
Directly upon promotion the young hero took COM
mand OF the nagSnp Malvern, bealug the broad pen
hah OF tbe ledilllrdi' ahu ~ D,SVnuer Ne pa. VI
the force operating against Fort Fisher Her" Com
the Albeuare III r. reality the most dangerous
exploit III all his term OF service and ono requiring
Ing OF n chanucl Opcl skii-d SIKH rivalng the
famous httle boat Of tue battle OF Like Ene-n tho
midst Of shower OF rOHni shot. she!, ana
shrapnel, the work continuing for SIX hodre, tue
skin frequently half nlcd with water by tAe
piunging shot, and It's comp!nion nrinS SUM. 49,.
DGnng the brief cessation OF more active operations
against the Wilmington forts, Commander Cusilng
of red battle ChcklmauGia R'ne prlVateer car
ryIg ccrw; but the challenge being decinedhe
drove large blpckade-ruuuer ashore uh'ef Ler h9se
| moi
resumed the attack upon forts the ships being 60 IN
pumber, comprising lroDclads, frc ,es, slooPso"dr
t"n frra 81 sunir and marines
ABOUT to storm the sea-irout OF Fort fisher:
Marching to within few hu1ured yards OF
tne em3rasures me entire Dolly 'pTe rev , amc!n
waiting for the signal OF attack. the whole IRE OF tue
navy passuc deafening noise jdst over their
heads. SprIugius their eetat the word OF command
they moved forward steadily over the sou WHlte Sa
which tic sunshine maze dazzling. aud the relief OF
which rendered every officer Ia ms nnOrm OF b!ue ana
sold lacc-and, indeed, every m1n-i conspicuous
target tue rebels m.auN ho pouring forth an unc AS
Ia, Dire down their Ices III WludrONs hdhS
himself last, jIst after reaching the palisades,
Commander CnsHilg turned to rally Is men, and Was
OBLIGED TO cross Il hundred yards Oi the bare .ni
with the bullets patteriuS about hun IN snch Wise
that II seems il lac must nave borne charmed ne.
No, tue ranking Officers were Cthcr dead or IDLY
wounded by time. else remaining uoder shelter
OF tnt pIIsadc, til ughtiJ-nOra fortunate NAN ltt
comrades, VINO. dropping the heacn, were swept Out
to 10y the RISING and iaing ne--ha therefore ~
suIned tuc cUbu.dEd himsc T. and gathering sohe hah
REDS Of meI vita great cEorH he was aft1 proceeding
to The assault when requested 10 relltE1 WIN nc d
regiment winch to the aSsanc; OF the army on
the other side. wnicn operating To Such eB1ct inner
the gallant Gen. A4ies tAat before midnight tho "oIhs
Inc Al5enare 1t has been mentioned, was an IRON
clad 81 tfeiIenoYis siee, w,i't 1n nig arraiy de-
pOded boiler the SSSlcus. engaged toes at
once without danger TO herself forced Inc surrender OF
gade aud me Abandonment of tue Whole region of
the Roanoke by the Federal forces. The Government
having 40 non ctdS cdlaDe ol crossing Hdterds bar
and ecounterne her All its operations IN tnat section
were rendered praCuc'y useless Dy tue Aibenar!cs
here aud Inc pchse ui me squadron neccS
keep waten uloA her movements was somclhing
enormous. Ia this emergency Lieut. Cushing submit cd
two plans TO iGnra Les for the rams destruction. TIe
Admiral approved OF one o. thcu' and sent Its pro-
i.ctor to Washington 10 lay 1t before the of
the Navy and tae latter though at rst little DOUBT
means to carry 1t mo executions ana he meiatcy
90 Ioea ,ou' cnrTyin "a hcSI1zrr a1I proyd'd Win
long boom that swdng by Il binSe. winch could be
t" grove AZ It's farther txtremity TIese boats were
taken iowa through cana. 20 the CIe, ptake,
Them being the way ana tao reaching hc
sounds at asi through cuts ana creeks and inaI-
=, ma of tolls ildeI.ces 4Ad USE. JOAiu. Inc Art.
VIII rh iay al mOdtn Oi tue river, the lieutenant dis
close h, object nen assuring them they
ouy must not expect bat tnev must nope rctJrn,
death was inevitable, ana thcn called Tor
Ter. Tiny all stOou by INN, aHi STA ot presently
0,rI tlcii-A ss'stant Peym>ier Frank swan aud Mr..
UUworth. WHO had often accompanied MIN on his
nrle lay mo red the Plymouth wharf eight mics up
tue rlyer nauEs Of wHlcn were lined Win batteries
and heid Oy several thousand sO1dtis Whie az some
distance up that portion OF the wreck Of the SOuthhod
winch stli a wafer was occupied picket
guard, whose du'y IL was 10 thro" up roiK l. on
Inc nrst alarm, for, unkHown to tao aIacAnS
party rumor Of Tao n'e n ent eSId mao
Plymouth authorities. and every provision hat been |
mede ior '1e to gro ceire sdo me o
oke River. her engine at low pressure, to make tue
lra.t pos be loft behind all ODstrucIpns, passed
within thirty feet OF the nsuSpicons lcket on the
SouIhdeld and approached the wharf where the ram
h0ldcned uy success. the Lieutenant for moment
resolved to cnange his plan. and, Knowing tac town |
uight surprise, with winch he was 81 wei acquainted.
oyerpower those on board get her INTO the stream !
tpIies her on h'r way down. Bat Jist as nc
about TO carry his sudden y an ini0 execution, cry
from the ram rang out sharply on The night repeated |
on every size. followed ny the instantaneous booming
OF the great guns from snip and shOre ana returning no
answer. the Lieutenant pat on all steam aud made
her Al tho moment an Immense DORiire OF pine
knots and turpenno bMAed up on tGe oanh most for
w. III dTec 70 goard he from torpcdoes w1Ich for
one second seemed insurmOlntable. obstacle. |
Only for second, though with tie next |
me lieutenant had gwen orders to off across
the srean 50 to get room ior acquiring neaIWay !
amt carrying launch by the force OF its impetus
straight the BOOM thongn never cOud get out
again lie knew. AS they turned, volley or buck hot
tore away whole back oi coat ami the sole Of his
shoe. and Inc man by ms sde teIl ll.iess Before tue
volley could DC repeated the LAUNCH had struck the
boom, was over, aud was forging up under the Abc
mare's quarter, directly beneath me mouth OF rifle
gun, close thai the merest whisper board
bear could be distinctly heard.
That mus, have terrically exciting moment to
IRON towering ABOVE them, tho re-lt or foes upon
the Shore aud triumph ana eternity In the next moment
Liant Gushing STOOD at the bows OF tie launch, with i
sryeral lines before him one Of these lines at
attached the howitzer ono 20 the ankle OF the
oineer one officer VINO was TO lower the boom
CARVING the torpedo one was that by means Of which
the torpedo was 10 be Slid under the RAM another
was the expOdDg-lne, which should pull away u
min and lot u grape-snot drop on the percussion |
can beneath. the hOwitzer had already been dis 4
chfrged The line attached to the engineer pulled
the engine stopped. The boom was lowered the tor
nedo sind slowly off aud under. the sircnamDer at top
m
line was pulled the grape-shOt FELL Just AS the rifle gun
went on-and the rebel ram and the launch blew up
~ Iilr