Great Falls tribune., 1886-01-02
anicable manner. -

Confederate forces at Plymouth were
informed Of the attempt about to bs
made, and had the Albemarle en-
trenched alongside the batteries Of tht
town, and had q number of logs secur
ed around to prevent the full force o.
the anticipated blow striking her
Above the town, the same precautions
were adopted. although attack was not
expected from that quarter. A mar
of the country showed that an attack
was feasible from the upper side il
force could be got there The Ro-
anoke and Chowan rivers run on a
parallel line for some distance. Be
tween the two is considerable stream
called the Middle river, which, in
places, was SO torturous and narrow
that seldom, if ever, had it been
utilized previous to the time Of which
| write. The stream is an arm or spur
of the Roanoke, branching offat point
short distance above the town of
Plymouth and empties into the
Sounds between the mouth of the
Roanoke and the town of Edenton.
The intermediate space between the
Roanoke and the Middle rivers is an
impossible swamp This rather
lengthy description is necessary on
account of the positions of the con
tending forces and consequent results.
An attempt was made in the forenoon
to ascend the Roanoke, but was
found to be impracticable. The heavy
guns Of the enemy commanded the
approaches, and no vessel Of wooden
build could breast the storm of iron
hail that fell on all sides. McComb
backed out, falling back to his old an
chorage. There was. however. some
thing learned of great Importance
About mile this side Of the approach
to the town of Plymouth. the old New
York ferry boat referred to in the fore
part Of this article, was found to be
moored across the passage way, hav-
ing on board a strong picket guard.
From each end Of the craft, number
OF logs secured by chains, extended
from bank to bank.
To insure the destruction Of the
AIbemarle It was necessary to capture
this craft and all on board, without
any alarm being given. That after
noon volunteers was called for to per-
form the task, and so many respond
ed, that selection had to be made.
Soon everything was in readiness, and
only waiting for the moon to retire
behind the hills. At last the small
party got on their way: the sailors
pulling with muf1ied oars, the soldiers
cool and steady. The torpedo boat
bringing up the rear. Silence and
darkness shook hands together. In
short time the hull of the old South
field became visible Nearer and
nearer, and no picket boat in sight.
A few moments more and the old fer
ry boat was IN posseisson of its orig
inal owners. After the capture Of the
Confederate guard, they were placed
in the hold and the matches put down
to prevent any alarm being given 1t
was complete surprise, and augured
well for the success of the expedition.
In a few moments, the logs secured
to the Southfeld We're removed. and
on went Gushing and his few men to
glory or a grave. Hedging close to
the right bank of the river he careful
ly approached the Albemare. It was
then about 2 o'clock a. m.; the lights
were burning brightly in the town
and soldiers quarters. Sentinels pac-
ed up and down the wharf with
measured step, and close by lay the
doomed vessel Now OF never was
the work to be done. Down came the
avenging messenger: the middle of
the stream was reached, when the re-
Election of the lights on the shore fall
ing the water, brought into view the
steam launch. The challenge came
hurriedly: 'sWhat boat is that ap-
proaehing?' No answer Again and
again came the challenge. you'll
know damned soon," muttered Cush-
ing, and SO they did.
The howitzer on the steam launch
replied to the volley Of musketry; the
few guns and revolvers. ditto. But
the final answer came in the rush for
the ran; everything On board of her
became alive with motion Itswas no
use, however; Gushing. lanyard in
hand, lowered the torpedo and force
ed his little craft over the logs. The
torpedo made its way under the ram,
and there exploded with terrific re-
port.
Cushing diyed under the water and
escaped to the swamp: two of his men
were killed and two taken prisoners.
Among the latter was Major Swan,
now livingin New Hampshire. A few