The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-02-17
A WAR STORY.

| San Francisco Chronicle: William b.
Gushing in many respects can justly be
classed as one of the most extraordinary
| officers who ever saw service in the Unit
ed States navy. The writer was Cush-
irg's ship-mate in the closing scenes Of
the Rebellion. At the close of the war
| Gushing was barely twenty-five and q
half years of age, rather slight Of figure,
about five feet ten inches in height, boy
ish-looking, with large gray eyes, well
shaped, prominent, aquiline nose, yel-
lowish hair, worn long, and withal q
| rather grave expression of countenance.
Cushing was in command of the gun
| boat Monticello, off Wilmington, n. c.,
| when he conceived the daring idea of
| entering the river, penetrating to Smith
| vile, and picking up whatever he could
| find or the fortunes of war might throw
in his power. On the % of February he
left his vessel with twenty men, passed
the forts at the entrance of the harbor,
| and proceeded up the river without ex-
| periencing the slightest trouble or mol
estation from the enemy. A bright look
out was kept for steamers, especially
blockade-runners anchored in the stream,
| which it was his intention to surprise and
| take out of the river. But Smithville
hove in sight without even boat being
sighted. Cushing effected landing
| almost opposite the hotel. Tha men were
| hid under the overhanging bank of the
| river, finding secure place Of conceal
ment among the grass, weeds, and thick
| underbrush. Hearing voices a short
| distance off, Gushing, with couple Of
his men, crept cautiously forward and
discovered some negroes at work making
salt. Their capture was quietly affected
inside of fifty yards of an armed sentinel,
who in the bright moonlight was plainly
visible,as he slowly paced up and down
| on his beat. From the negroes Gushing
succeeded in cleaning considerable infor-
nation, on which he formed his plans
accordingly. Leaving most of his men
to guard the boats, Cushing, accompan
led by Acting Ensign J. e. Jones and
Acting Masters Mate Howorth ana one
seaman, boldly left their cover, and walk
ed rapidly across the green to General
Rerbert's house, large, imposing man
sion surrounded by piazza. The bar
racks were nearly opposite, containing
| 1000 men.
1t was close upon II o'clock. All was
quiet and tranquil throughout the little
town, Major Hardman and Captain KeI-
| ", of the Generals staff, were down
stairs, on the eve of retiring, when a
heavy step was heard on the piazza. -
The Major, supposing it was his servant,
threw up the window, when the muzzle
of heavy navy revolver was thrust in
bis face, followed by demand to surren-
der. The Major pushed the revolver
aside and escaped through back door,
calling upon Captain Kelly to follow him.
The Major was then the Adiutant- Gener-
al, and laboring under the idea that the
troops had mutinied, took to the woods
with great scarcity of clothing, neglecting
in his haste TO turn out the garrison
| Unfortunately the commanding General
had gone to Wilmington, and Cushing
was forced to content himself with Cap
tain Kelly, who was the Chief Engineer
Of the defensees, and the negroes cap
tured in the salt works. The boats We're
| now regained and the word given to sail
| down the river with all speed, as an alarm
could not long be delayed. The moon
was high in the heavens yet the boats
effected their retreat without receiving a
shot. They passed within thirty yards
of the Smithville forts and were abreast
of Fort Goswell before the signal light
announcing the fact that the enemy had
been among them was fred. The steam
er Scotia passed down the river and
steamed by the boats, but Gushing had
no opportunity to board the vessel, much
to his disgust. He turned the Confeder-
ate captain over to the Admiral and re-
sumed his duty on the Monticello.