Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-09-16

OF the yellow golden hue; Cushing also had
long golden hair, but II clung 10 thu scalp
and neck. Cushing whs not picturesque
IN figure like Custer. although he pos
scsscd strong individual poc,iliaritles ~
person Hin height was feet 10 inches,
his form slender aud hs face grave and
thoughtful. His step aud actions wcrv
springy aud quick, and with his prominent
high cheek bones, his piercing oye aud
rcstless habits be seemed TO his associates
like some spirited Indian In palciaee guisc.
Gushing was three years younger than
Custer and entered upon his dnshing career
like meteor coming out OF ohscurliy, He
spent four years at the Naval academy and
resigned on the eve Of the war lie yolun.
tccrtd In May, isGi. and served "a petty
officer in the north Atlantic blocknding
squadron until July, 1862, when lieutcn-
ants straps were given him for acts Of
bravery In his routine duties. -Four months
later aud Just IA lac scored twenty years
he led his first expedition, gunboat raid
into New River inlet, North Carolina. His
vessel was the little wooden steamer Ellis,
fltted out as a gunhont. With that he
crossed the bar at high tide aud entered n
narrow river wholly In possession ~ active
enemies. Ten miles from the har the Ellis
made handbag, plckets and guards were
thrown out. the town 81 Jacksonville seized,
with an important mail from Whining
ton-n port virtually open 10 the world by
reason Of skllliul blockade runners con
stantly passing Ia aud out-and two schoon.
ers with u quantlty Of small arms were
made prizes. The COnfederates speedily
learned Of the raid aud attempted TO cutoff
all escape by closing the river between
Jacksonville and the bar
The Ellis dropped down stream with IT,
prize schooners, but night came on before
the bar was reached aud the pilots refused
10 go on. Cushing anchored the Ellis and
prepared TO fight. In the morning the
enemy was Hightcd Ia position In the most
dangerous pass Of the river, and two can
non began 20 lombard the little fleet.
Gushing hoisted his battlcnag, ran In
shore, and ia an hours sharp action drove
tho Confederate from the bluffs and
passed within 100 yards Of them. The cN.
petition was barely out OF that danger
wien the Ella ran aground and couldn't
he llghtoned. Gushing sent the achooners
down the river laden with the ammuni-
tion and stores Of the gunboat and accom-
panied by all but six Of his followers, and
with crew OF Only half dozen pre-
pared TO defend his stranded ship Tho
following morning the enemy placed three
guns on the bun and speedily disabled
the Ellis. Gushing then trained her guns
upon the Confederate battery, ret her ON
fire, aud with his men pulled In nm open
boat 10 the schooners, q mile and n ha,t
away, with Confederate marksmen plying
shots from the bluffs ut the tempting tar
get
A few weeks after the affair In New
river Cushing crossed the bar Of Little
river with n force of twenty-five men Ia
three cutters. The purpose was 10 capture
the pilots who served the blockade runner
entering Wilmington. II was nighttime
but the raid had been discovered, and afte
passing mile or two up the river the flo
tilla was fired upon from BLUFF. Beach
ing the boats, the crews were formed II
column, aud az Cushing's command
"Forward-doublo quick-charguW tue
rushed up the banks through u strip q
wood TO u clearing lighted by campfire
and occupied by small carthen for
with three cheers and u will tho sailor
dashed upon the works, and the enemy ra
oil into the darkness. The raiders mnrche
up the river bank, encountering mor
Confederatcs and expanding all their an
munition fighting them OH. They the
returned 10 the boats and escaped with III
loss OF but one man In the nights cxploi