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

stood That gun was mounted there to COM
mand the bend. i therefore took one of the
OF and board at that point, II we were hailed.
Our boat succeeded in passing the pickets, and
even the Southfeld within twenty yards, with
the lookouts on the ram. The cutter was then
cast on and ordered below, while we made for
our enemy under full head of steam. The
reoels sprung their rattle, rang the bell, and
commenced firing, at the same time repeating
their haii and seeming much confused.
ironciad made fast to the wharf, with a pen of
logs around her, about thirty feet from her
Passing her closely, we made a complete cir
cie SO as TO strike her fairly, and went into her
oows-on. By this time the enemys fire was
very severe, but dose of canister at short range
served TO moderate their zeal and disturb their
aim Paynlaster Swan, OF the Otsego, was
noa Thr near , me- but how many more know
NOT Ihree bullets struck my clothing, and the
ar seemed full of them. In moment we had
struck the logs just abreast of the quarter port,
ing on them. The torpedo-boom was then low
cred, and by vigorous pull 1 succeeded
IN ia living the torpedo under the overhang
Aloemarle gun was fired. A shot seemed
To go crashing through my boat, and dense
mass OF water rushed IN from the torpedo,
Milling the launch and completely disabling her.
The enemy then continued his nre at fifteen
feet range, and demanded our surrender, which
twice refused, ordering the men to save them
serves, ano, removing my own coat and shoes,
springing into the river, / 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 be-
SIDES myself, and he in an other direction. Act
Ihs-Masters Mate WOodman, of the CommO-
dore Hull, met in the water half a mile below
the town, and assisted him as best could, but
Jailed to get him ashore.
Completely exhausted, managed to reach
the shore, but was too weak to crawl out of the
water until just at daylight, when managed to
N ff,f 1<, ~
hiding few feet from the path two OF the
Aibemarie's officers passed, and judged from
'neir conversation that the ship was destroyed:
10 bring me out well below the town, when l
sent negro in to gain Information, and found
that the ram was truly sunk. Proceeding
through another swamp, came to a creek, and
captured skiH belonging to a picket OF the
enemy, ana with this. by eleven o'clock the
City.
Acting Masters Mate William L. Howarth,
OF the Monticello, showed, as usual. conspicu-
GUS bravery. lie is the same officer who mas
been with me twice in Whining ton harbor l
nust he may be promoted when exchanged, as
well as Acting Third Assistant Engineer Stotes-
bury, who, being for the first time under fire.
handled his engine promptly and with COOL
ness.
"All the officers and men behaved in the most
gallant manner. will furnish their names to
the department as soon as they can be pro-
cured. The cutter Of the Shamrock boarded
the Southneld, but found no gun Four prisOn-
ers were taken there. The ram Is now COM
pleteiy submerged. and the enemy have sunk
three schooners in the river to obstruct the pas
sage OF our ships. / desire to call the attention
of the admiral and department to tine spirit
manifested by the sailors on the ships in these
sounds. But few men were wanted, but all
hands were eager TO go into the action, many
Offering their chosen shipmates months pay
70 resign in their favor.
81 am, sir, very respectfully,
Nv. h. CUSHING,
"REAR ADMIRAL D. D. PORTER,
Commanding n. A. Squadron.
"The name OF the man who escaped liz Will
liam Hoffman, seaman on the Chickapee. He
did his duty well, and deserves a medal of
honor: Respectfully, .
For this act of heroism Cushing was advanced
to the grade of lieutenant commander.
dis entire career was filled with daring,
cleverly planned and admirably executed;
hence his unvarying success what he under.
took; but his character was not one that would
admit of imitation; such men are never mere
imitators, and attempts by those OF inferior
qualities In such respects would end in their
capture or death.
ne perhaps lacked that attention to the practi-
cal and labOriOuS details Of his profession with.
out winch no ofhcer can attain eminence, or
usefulness even in the higher grades. His
ability to comprehend was undoubtedly of a
high order, but possibly a deficient training
when mere youth left him apparently ayerse
to acquiring the practical details OF his pro-
tessiOn.
The fact is, Cushing had such pre-eminent
a
certain chagrin or disappointment that he did
not seem to possess those ordinary Qualities
through which he could acquire the knowledge
necessary to extraordinary success as the leader
OF large forces.
Cushings life in war was active and heroic in
the extreme: in peace he seemed to suffer as il
were, from inanity, or, more properly Speaking.
from the apparent lack or absence of strong
Alter the close of the war he was for some two
years the executive officer of the Lancaster a
position which required close attention and
study TO fulfill its duties in the best manner.
"A year after the close of the war; Cushing was
sent to relieve the commanding officer of the
gunboat Penobscot, who had been ordered TO
ward and found himself in the West Indies.
and with strange Obliquity continued to sail
rom Island to island. apparently with no other
found the PenobscOt and brought the vessel
home, with the former captain under arrest
mand of the gunboat Maumee for the Asiatic
station. He touched at Rio Janeiro, then at
the Cape of Good Hope, and in March, '67, an
chored at ST. Paurs Island, an extirct sub
marine volcano, lying in the Indian ocean
hundreds of miles from its boundaries near
the fortieth parallel of south latitude, and
about the turning point where vessels. out
ward bound, leave the 'brave west winds, of
that latitude and steer for the Straits of sunda,
entering the southeast winds usually at about
thirty degrees OF latitude.
So interesting locality as st. Paul's Cushing
could not pass by without visiting. A channel
way from the sea into the crater permits the
entrance OF boats, and peaks seven hundred
and forty and eight hundred and sixty feet in
height rise above its nearly perpendicular
walls. The extent of this bleak rock is two and
three-quarters by one and One-half miles in
diameter. Sailing directions give the follow
Ing: Ihe remarkable phenomena of the boiling
springs on the tongues OF land and elsewhere
which are covered by the high tides, still exist.
and hsh and cray fish may be caught from the
beach and tossed into these natural pools
cooked" ''
He was promoted In regular order of yacan-
cies TO commander January 81 1872 and
soon after was ordered to the command of the
wyoming, on the home station and was re-
lleved at the end OF the year, the vessel being
put out of commission.
In the spring OF 1874 he was ordered to the
washington navy yard, and the following Au-
gust ne was detached at his request He then
seemed In impaired health, and expressed a
desire to go south; after lapse of a few DAYS he
showed symptoms OF insanity, and was re-
moved 10 the government hospital where he
died December IL, 1874, at the age of thirty-
two years and thirteen days,
nls becoming Insane was q great regret and
surprise To his many friends aud admirers i'm
ana out OF the naval service; 1t was however
q consolation for them TO know that il was not
the result OF bad habits or # causes within his
CONTROL his misfortune, and that of the naval
service 10 winch he belonged, was seemingly a
iaGA VI ri9io early training, necessary to health
IuI thought in ordinary times, and to a con.
tlnued development OF those points in naval
education which are so useful in peace and So
essential TO success in the higher grades what.
ever nature may have done 10 lit the man for
action.
There are few Cushings In the histories of
naSies, tney can nave no successful initators: