New-York tribune., 1890-04-13
CAREER OF TIE RAM ALBENARLE.
CONGRESSMAN BOUTELLE, AS AN OFFICER OF
THE GUNBOAT sAsSACU6-THE FIRST AND
LAsT APPEARANCES OF THE con-
FEDERATE WAR-SHIP.

At the recent dinner OF the Board os Trade and
Transportation, when Charles A. Bouelle, one Of tho
members OF Congress from Malnc arose u SPEAK.
there were only two three, and they were naval
officers, who recognized in the chairman Of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, q hero Of one of the most
remarkable battles Of the Civil Wa. Mr. Boutelle IS
one of the most unassumlng and modest men on the
floor Of Congress, and he never refers to his own
bravo experiences unless one draws him out, and
then he treats II in the most simple way. lie was
always on deck7 when there was chance to get at
the rebels but the time that he showed the full forco
Of his metle in the engagement Of his vessel
with the Confederate Albemarlc and her consort,
tie eunboat Bombshe, in Abcmarlc Sound, Oh May D.
1854. He the executive officer Of the warEcsSel
sassacus Of which i. a. Roc, now Rear Admiral, was
the commander.
The Albcmarc was one of the iron monsters which
the Confederates had avaed themselves Of during the
last days Of President Bucanan'5 administration, one
CT which, the Mcrrimac had sunk two Of the largest
and most powerful frlsates OF the Federal Navy In
single fight and with the greatest ease at that.
The AlDemarle moved down upon the Federal fleet
with the naughty challenge that II battle was given
she would sink the vessels comprising 1t In detail
The Union fleet composed OF the Matabessett the
Wyalusing, the Whitehead and the sassacus The lat
ter vessel moved forward, and advancing to within
close hang distance OF tho Bombshell, engaged her
with all the power OF her heavy and perfectly served
batteries, and almost Immediately the Confederate
colors we're lowered and white flag hoisted. Inc
received the surrender and then ordered the
captured vessel to bc anchored beyond the scope OF
battle, and at turned her attention to the iron
ram. The Sassacus wooden vessel, but OF high
speed and her batteries served with precision and
skill.
Tho ram had moved into the midst Of the feet but
her commander was equal TO the crisis lie shouted
To- the engineer officer Crowd waste and oil in the
fires and back slowly. Give her all the steam she
carry Then. turning TO Executive officer
BoutcIlc he said Lay her course for the Junction
Of the casematc and hull Then the signal to
steam at fun speed ahead. and in another moment the
stem of into the iron hull OF the ram,
following the order Of Mr. Boutelle 10 the men: All
hand, lie down. II was moment Of great anxiety, 7,
but the guns OF the ceased firing and the Rebel
vessel went over TO one side as II se were about 10
The ram and the sassacus kept their engines going
at full speed and both vessels simply turned around
other ships. She able 10 release herself from
che iron grasp Of the saSsacgs for some time Finally
the officers OF the ram got one Of the starboard ports
open and fired shot into one Of tho boilers OF the
sa,sacus. The boiling water ran ost OF the boil,r
scldn- several Of the and when the great weight
u water expended from that side, the ship ca
gccucd over as If she would sink ana then she was
backed OF. In tie midst Of all this. Chief Engineer
Hobby stood brayelv at his post In the engine roon
and dd not leave 1t until after the action when ne
brought mp blinded and almost helpless to the
deck, being ATTENDED by Mr. Eoueiie and ne SURGEON
\, soon as the Mb"marlc was released. Ike the Mcr
rimac after her engagement with the MONITOR she re
treated last AS she was able to her fortress up the
North Carolina sHnndI she made H., apgesnSde
ssain a, to hiot "i 'r rvcr & ' IT, y, h - ,pc
Whitehead The next day bold attempt was made by
five volunteers from the Wyalusing 10 destroy her
with a torpedo. but the attempt was unsuccessful and
the gunbolis remained throughout the summer awaiting
her movements.
Finally it was decided 70 attempt her destruction
and Lieutenant ". B. Cushing selected 20 do H.
He arranged A torpedo of extraordinary power In a
h.ht picker boat and accompanied oy fourteen bravo
officers and mon who had volunteered Tor the service
went mp the Roanoke T. Plymouth on the night
u october -. approached the ram under heavy ire
from tho forces on shorc. exploded the torpedo and
slrk the ram. 4 shot from tho ram az the next
instant sank the tOrpcohoat, but Lieutenant Gushing
rni four of nj, party escaped by swimming down the
river The Others Of tic party were killed by the fire
u the Rebels