Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-19

Written FOR TIE EVENING STAR
TaE HEROIC CAREER OF CONMAN.
Ben ". =. CUSHINQ, U. 3. n.
[coPyrighs 1851
William B. Cushing was born In Deianeld,
Wisconsin, November 4, 1912; entered the
Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, Sep
TENDER %. 1857; resigned March %, 1861; and
IA soon as possible thereafter entered the naval
service adoat rs an acting masters mate. His
dtsposition and temperament would not permit
him to remain at a naval school in time of war;
he would not have been able to give q single
thought to theoretical study.
We dnd that on the following October he was
restored TO his rank as midshipman. March ~
de was detached from the Cambridge sick,
and granted one months leave. The following
May he was ordered TO the Minnesota, an
was promoted to the rank of lieutenant from
the 18th of July, with q large number of young
Officers, made necessary to supply the demands
of the service growing out of the civil war.
Henceforth, for period of nearly three years,
his career was singularly conspicuous in deeds
of daring In q service where a lack of gallantry
would have brought disgrace. 1t is plain, there
fore, that it was the sasacity of his plans and
his holiness in carrying them out that distin-
guished him.
On the 7th Of April, 1864, found myself at
the Norfolk Navy Yard. presiding over a Court
of Inquiry in relation TO the sinking OF a block
by Cushing, Oh the northern entrance to Cape
Fear river. i had never before met him, and
s ~ ia uny os OF So @
distinguished him, OF which had previous
doubts. He was then a little over twenty-one
Years OF age, nearly six feet in height, rather
slight, wiry in appearance, bOyish looking, with
prominent aquiline and weilformed nose, fine
large gray eyes, and light hair, tending to
yellow. He had ordinarily grave expression
of countenance. which would light up when he
spoke with bright and somewhat playful
smile. The first impression OF a stranger who
heard him speak, either Oh what he had done
hoped TO do, would be that he was Il boaster;
with those who knew him best there was no
such idea His form OF speech was a mere ex-
preston frankly, uttered, of what he had done or
what might be done in the future. The features
OF Cushing reminded me of a steel engraving OF
the poet Schiller when he was young. A brother
officer likened his springy, elastic step, high
cheek ZONES, and general physiognomy to that
of an Indian.
When in command of q small steamer block
aiding, he delighted in visiting the inland
preferred bright moonlight nights, as the enemy
would then be less watchful. When within
he would seek sheltered place up some creek,
haul up his boat, conceal IL and himself and
men during the day. When night came on he
would resume his Intended object. In the win
ter OF "a, when biOckading the Cape Fear river,
he determined TO pay a visit to Smithville,
with two boats manned by twenty men and
two officers. In entering be passed Fort Cas-
well, mounting heavy guns; he knew that at
Sm1thvilie, two M les above, his point OF desti-
nation, there were five more in battery, and a
r..
the moon shOne brightly. He landed at eleven
O'Clock, one hundred yards above the battery
he passed into the village and across the
building with piazza. Major Hardeman and
Captain Kelly, Of the generals staff. were
down stairs and about retiring, when the for
mer, hearing footsteps on the piazza supposed
his servant was there and opened the window:
. navy revolver was thrust in his face with
demand to surrender. With great dexterity
he threw the pistol aside and escaped through
back door, calling upon Kelly, his companion,
Jailed To comprehend at the instant, and was
captured and carried OF by Cushing, who en-
barked at once, knowing that an Immediate
alarm would be given. Gushing says he cap
tured the chief engineer of this defense, but
found the general had gone to Wilmington tine
same day. The adjutant general escaped
through q door, after severely wounding his
hand. Believing that mutiny was in progress
he took TO the woods, as Cushing states in his
report, with q great scarcity of clothing, and
neglected to turn out the garrison. The boats
place of landing was within fifty yards OF the
fort and within the same distance of a sentinel.
Gushing with his prisoner was abreast OF Fort
Casweli before signal was made that boats
were In the harbOr. This descent seems un-
warranted for It's expressed purpose, alleged to
be the intended capture OF The commander of the
forces and the capture of any vessel lying there.
such raids doubtless enabled the enemy to-
establish better discipline and greater vigilance
without bringing compromising result to us.
The sword OF General Herbert was brought of,
and returned by Cushing to that officer or his
family some eight years thereafter.
One of our army officers who was at the CAP
suES OF NewDurne, SAID that Cushing, in COM
mand OF navy hOwtzers, passed him with his
sailors, aided by soldiers, dragging the pieces
In landing in the marsh he had lost his shoes,
and in the bushes his hat Pressing on bare.
headed and shoeleSs, he overlook the servant
Of Captain johnson OF the army. With pair of
boots siung over his shoulder. Cushing de-
manded the name of the owner OF the boots
and said, Tell the captain that Lieutenant
Gushing Of the navy vas barefootted, and bor-
monstrances of the servant. he hastily put on
the boots and proceeded on mis- way.
AZ an carrier period, November, 80 when in
New Rieer Inlet, and assembled to Jacksonville
thirty -nve miles from the sea, where he cap
tured two schOoners aid twenty-five stand of
arms. Returning, and when about seven miles
from the inlet, where the enemy had burned a
Vessel on nis ascent, the Ellis was opened ON
There was difficult reach, below which his
pilot thought he could not pass with the wan
Ing light. Gushing anchored, and the two prize
schooners were brought alongside. At dayIight
the Ellis Mas again under way, and in a ,'fffi-
cult part OF the channel the enemy opened tire
on the vessels with two neld-pieces. After an
engagement Of an hour the enemy was driven
from the bluff, and the Ellis passed it at a
distance Of one hundred ards without molesta-
ton; Ave hundred yards further down. through
2 mistake OF the pilot, the Ellis was hope
. sss grounded sane sr,p party was at once
ed neld-pieces, but the enemy had car
ried them or That whole day attempts were
MAKE 70 get tne vessei OF, and these efforts
were hopeless At dusk Cushing had every-
thing movable taken out of the steamer and nut
On board OF one OF the schooners, and she was
dropped down mile and half, so as to be our
OF range OF the guns. Six volunteers were asked
and remained with Gushing to- fight the pivot.
gun OF the Ellis. At daylight the enemy
opened nre, as Xpected 1t came from four poi Is
with fine0 guns; OF course the contest was hope
less, yet he fought the gun until it was disabled
Inc Ellis was then set fire by Cushing
who with his men took To their boat and pulled
down the river 10 the schooner. He then made
sail, favored oy good breeze, and forced her
over the bar, upon which she thumped from a
lack OF water, and at the same time received
the nre Ci the enemy, and was struck several
times before she got beyond the reach of shells
Soon after the loss of the Ellis Gushing was
given command of the Shokoken and indefaf.
tSaole as ever, having seen a schooner within
New IopSail Inlet, went in boat to DESTROY
her, but being fired upon by three or four
pieces OF neld-artillery, Withdrew TO carry out
his object otherwise. The following evening
The I'd OF August. he anchored the vessel close
In shore, i've miles south aud west OF the inlet
and sent two Eoats To the beach. About dusk
the men shouldered the "dingy," the smallest
boat belonging to vessels of war, and carried il
through the thicket, a distance OF half q mile
across the neck OF land, and launched 1t I'm the
which he mad determined to destroy Quite
unlike Cushing, he did not 60 himself but dele
gated Ensign Coney ITO capture or destroy any
thing that might be OF use TO the enemy" The
ooniederates had astwelye-pounder near by and
Capt. Adams, who had charge of ii, having seen
the smOkestack OF the Shokoken over the
sh1cket, came To the schooner for its defense
The lookout at the masthead was peeripg to-
wards tine entrance from the sea, and COney