The National tribune., 1891-10-22

and sound, and when half mile inside Cush-
ing's boat and little below the Mound battery,
q COlumbiad suddenly opened fire on Us. The
first shot split my fag the second went under
our boat, the third struck my flagstaff two feet
over my head, making me see stars. Recover
ing my flag, got il on the boat-hook, and had
just replaced it, when once more IL was torn
by passing shot
One or two more went over us, and then we
received one crashing through our boat, which
took both legs of one of my men. leaving us
in the water clingng 20 the fragments Of our
boat. We were az that time plainly in sight
OF Cushings boat, but
NO ASSISTANCE WAS SENT Us
The tide had turned aud we were drifting In
toward the river, when Capt. J. l. Davis, Of
the double-ender Sassacus, seeing our situation,
sent boat 20 our rescue. After being picked
M, the Confederates who had ceased firing
while we were in the water, now began again,
but we succeeded in getting out Of their range.
Alter the capture Of Fort Fisher, Jan. 10,
1865, found that exactly at the time and i'm
tho line where my boat had been sunk was
lying heavy torpedo, and the gun had our
exact range. The torpedo was intended Tor
one Of our heavy ships in passing over, and
presume the Confederates only wanted me to
pick up my grappling-iron and let the torpedo
alone.
AfiNAAs AuHuiNE tbulu not ftfntilhtI udhiN
when asked by the New York Herald reporter,
Cook and no account is given in the report by
my commanding officer. But the iolloNlhs
was taken from that paper:
About the same time an officer and crew. with
boat from the Tacony, boldly ran into the channel
from another direction. aud dragged the water Tor
t"p'dues under IRE OF the Tort The rebels were
more successful la their aim NJ this boat, ~ one OF
their shots carried nway portion OF the stern aud
cut OF the legs Of one of her crew. ] have been
H. Of
rivalled Lieut. Gushing in daring courage.
Later, the following account, signed W. S. H.,
was in the Herald:
ANOTHER GALLANT NAVAL OFFICER.
BRooKLYN Feb. g. 1865.
EDITOR OF THE HERALD: Shortly Rfter tile irst
bomhardmcni al Fort Fisher read in your vAua-
hle paper a communication from one oi your cor
respondents, describing reconnaissance la boats
into New lnlet, under command Of the brave Cush-
ing, Ia which officer, in charge of one al the
lacony's boats, is mentioned exceeding in
daring on this OccnsiOn even Gushing himself; hat
your correspondent was unable TO give the name
OF this brave officer.
II gives the pleasure 10 be able TO furnish his
name. Acting Master Rudolph Sommcrs. Of the u.
: = Iacony on the occasion referred to succeeded
Ia sounding the channels while dragging Tor tor
pedoes through New Inlet, To point beyond tho
famous Mound battery, all the time under "A very
heavy fire from tho rebel batteries,
BIS FLAG BEING SHOT AWAY THREE TIMES,
aud each time recovered aud waved la the face Of
the enemy. On his return past these batteries his
boat was cut into fragments 10y shot which touk
of both the legs Of one OF his brave crew. While
~ the wHter and clinEing tn the shattered boat,
Mr Sommers sustained this poor fellow aud bound
up the Fiumps az his legs TO check the flow uf
blood saved his flag, and continued TO cheer his
men, still under fire, until rescued 10y boat he
longing TO the Sassncus. This i but one of the
very many brave nets OF Acting Master SOmmers,
officer OF very modest bearing, full Of generous
impulses aud enthusiastic in his love for the noble
old dag under which IL has been our blessed prtyi-
lege TO eight for the integrity Of our beloved cOun-
Ty.-W. :. II.
This article was given me by Hon. Thaddeus
Welles, brother Of the Secretary of the Navy.
Ia 1868.
The Tacony was tho first TO enter Cape Fear
River after the capture of Fort Fisher Jan.
Is. Two boats wero sent 10 Fort Lamb to de-
strov the battery. had charge Of one from the
Tacony, and while Acting Ensign 4. Golding
performed this work. discovered a galvanic
battery, the wires leading down 10 the river.
j cut and secured the wires, and was aiterwaTd
ordered 10 under run same. OF course we first
thought the wire was connected with tOrpe-
does aud
DUE PREcAUTIoS WAS TAKEN;
but we soon found that the heavy weight con-
sisted Of anchors and graphing irons. which
were made fast to a cotton line, 10 which the
wire was attached. and thereby kept at the
bottom Of the river.
Nearly two and a half miles was uuder run
and leading into Fort Fisher. IL was first
thought that the mysterious explosion which
took place ia n bOmbpr00f tho night after the
capture, Jan IG, by which 200 Of our soldiers
lost their lives, was caused by that battery from
| Fort Lamb, but later il was ascertained that
/ this was not correct.
We remained in the Cape Fear River about
two weeks and were then ordered back 10 the
Sounds Of North Carolina, stationed most Of
the time of New Berne.
April 20 we entertained quite n number Of
army officers and their wives, and il being the
regular day for mail, we gave them a sail down
] the Aeuse River 10 meet the transport. Our
vessel was gaily decorated with flars and bunt-
| ing. and JOY reigned supreme. The mail trans
/ port hove in sight We noticed her flag at
| half mast. When within haiiing distance we
stopped our steamer.
abraham Lincoln has been assassinated." :"
came through her Captains speaking trumpet.
il rebel shells had exploded in our midst no
more CONSERVATION could have been displayed.
! Joy was turned i.tO sadness. We returned 10
New Berne with a gloomy party; no display Of
bunting. but Gags at half mast.
After the surrender Of Lees army, the war
being ended, the TSrony proceeded to Boston,
and went ont Of commission.
! The following Is an abstract from letter Of
Commander w. ID. Macomb:
Us. 8 SHAMROCK. NoRFoLE, Va, July q, 1865.
| Acting Master r. SOMNEFs.
/ SIE am happy To bs able 10 comply with your
! request, and hereby testify that during the time
/ you were Ia the District of the Sounds under my
command. always found you 10 be efficient
and gallant Officer aud that rendered poriant
4 services ia rseonnoissEnces hesT Plymouth ~. C..
before the capture of that place la October, 1861
Very respectfully. your ob'd't serv't.
tslgnedl W. ID. MAoOMB, Commander.
The end.