Great Falls tribune., 1886-01-02

I'll do it."
Hurridly a boat was got ready at
Norfolk, Va. A launch boat convert
ed into a steamer, from which nc
steam, smoke or sound escaped-al]
repressed by some shillful contriyance.
The armament of this boat consisted
Of a hoWitzer, torpedo and few small
arms Anyother supplies or assistance
needed We're to be supplyed by Capt.
McComb Of the Shamrock, then flag
ship in the wat8rs Of North Carolina.
70 reach Capt McComb under the
chen c5rc7lnsf fanGes seemed impossi-
bic To pass from Virginia part
OF which was Ill our posse5slon-into
North Carolina, and evade meeting
the enemy was no easy matter To
this day it is unaccountable to many.
as it is to the writer, how every move
ment on land and water of ours, reach
ed the Confederate authorities. To
get over this barrier even with the few
who from necessity had any knowl-
edge of the enterprise, seemed i'm
probable.
When al was ready, a report
was given out when the craft would
start, but start was made 4S hours
before the time named, and in the
hazy gray Of morning rounded the
small town of Edenton, n. G. Some
nondescript, as the lookout from the
vessels reported, was seen moving
along the shore. This nondescript
was Gushing and his little party,
who, when the mist cleared away.
hoisted the flag, and made for the flag
ship to report to the flag officer, Com
McComb. Having met this gallant
officer on previous occasions, a most
warm and cordial reception was ex-
tended. McComb was then in the
hey day Of his life His son accom-
panied him everywhere as his secre-
tary and clerk so you'll be Just in
time for Lannigan's ball. he said to
to Cushing.
There were in his command some
four or five double enders, so called
by being built to head in any direction
| without turning as other steamers do.
These vessels We're built to do service
on inland waters and proved most
servicable. Their armament was
heavy, consisting Of SIX, eight and
nine-inch shot and shell guns, and
two swivel OF piyet eleven-inch grape
and canister guns. These guns can
be worked with extraordinary rapid
ty and are most effective.
From some of the officers we learn
ed that the Albemarle had come out
from her moorings at Plymouth, ac-
companied by regiment Of soldiers
on other boats to witness the destruc-
ton or surrender Of the Yankee fleet
The feet, such as it was, was all
double enders, and under command
Of Comodore AIelancthon Smith
Capt Francis A. Roe. whom I had
known in Washington in 81, was in
command of one of the double-enders
He was native OF Virginia, but stood
true to the flag, and had no peer in
his branch Of the service. He was
executive officer Of the Pensacola, off
Alexandria, Va, when Mcclellan was
organizing the army Of the Potomac,
in 81, and went down to the gulf with
Admiral Farragut to capture New
Orleans. More attention, probably,
was given to him on account of his
being a Southern man, just the same
as there was to Farragut and General
Thomas Capt Roe was a tall, dark,
swarthy man; a countenance and eye
like Gen. Malone Of the Confederacy
Somehow or another with all his fine
abilities, promotion came very slow to
him, like the the irascible Gen. Bragg
Twas said he was all all the time in
hot water. It appeared that when
the ram came down the Albemarle
Sounds to destroy the Yankees, Capt
Roe rushed for him at full speed,
striking him a terrible blow, but in
doing so broke all the fore part of his
own vessel, added to which he made
an effort to grapple with the
enemy and board her. Failing in
this, he had sacks of powder on deck
to throw into the smoke stacks of the
Albemarle and blow him up. After a
terrific combat the enemy was forced
to retire, and the regiment that came
down to help capture the Yankees,
were taken prisoners, aud just as they
We're captured, sent to Norfolk to be
disposed of as prisoners Of war.
Capt. Roe did not fight his vessel
according to regulations, consequent
ly trouble sprung up between him and
the flag officer, now Admiral. and both
were removed from the scene of the
conflict, and that was how McComb
of the Shamrock, arrived to be just in