The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-12-20


Gushing was the anxious and response
BILE commander of all on board and had
reserved to himself the task of explod-
ing the terrible weapon. At the very
moment the exploding cord was pulled
the big gun of the Albemarle, the muz-
zle of which was not more than ten feet
from Cushing's head, blazed out and
sent shot through the launch. Tho
swell of the water that was lifted by
the explosion OF the torpedo swept a
wave over the bulwarks of the launch,
and the little craft was disabled and
sinking. The fire from the ram contin-
ued with small arms. and the hail was
given from her deck to the brave crew
in the launch to surrender Cushing
spurned the summons and ordered his
men to save themselves. He then re
moved his own coat and shoes and jump
ed into the water, with others, and
swan out into the stream, followed by
scattering rife balls from the ram.
The situation on the Albemarle mean
time was. one of absolute astonishment
and terror. The launch reached the
ram about 3 o'clock in the morning
when the officers and crew We're asleep
The watch espied the launch and gave
the alarm, the men rushing to quarters
for action in bare feet and in shirt
sleeves. Before anything could be done
to arrest her the adventurous boat was
SO close on the ram that the guns of
the latter could not be depressed to
rake her. When the torpedo exploded
and water began to rush in through the
six foot aperture made in the hull of
the Albemarle, pumps were set to work
But it was useless. She went down in
a few minutes, carrying everything but
her crew. She rested on the bottom
with her iron plated shield and smoke
stack above water Eleven of Cush-
ing's followers We're picked up alive by
boats from the Albemarle and two
were taken out of the water dead
Cushing and seaman named Hough-
ton swan beyond reach of the Confed-
crates.
After numerous adventures and hair
breadth escapes from capture Gushing
appropriated an old slxiff from under tho
eyes of the enemy's pickets and made
his way alone down the river to the
fleet, which Immediately steamed up to
Plymouth and captured it.
For this exploit Cushing received The
thanks of congress. His brother, Lieu
tenant A. II. Gushing, fell at Gettys-
burg, and another brother, Lieutenans
Howard B., was killed by Arizona
Apaches in 1872. Still another brother
served in the navy during the war. The
hero died in 1872 of brain fever, super
induced by wounds and exposure III
service. GEORGE L. KILMER.
''ALBEMARLE'' CUSHING.
JOY in rebel Plymouth town in the spring of
sixty-four,
When the A1bemarle down on the Yankee
frigates bore,
With the saucy stars and bars at her main,
When she smote the Southfield dead, and the
stout Miami quailed,
And the feet in terror fed when their mighty
cannon hailed
Shot and shell on her iron back in vain,
Till she slowly steamed away to her berth at
Plymouth pier,
And their quick eyes saw her sway with her
great beak out of gear
And the color of their courage rose again.
Gushing, scarce a man in years,
But a sailor thoroughbred,
"With u dozen volunteers
I Will sink the ram. he said.
cat the worst It's only dying And the old
commander, signing,
" tbs to save the fleet and flag. Go ahead"
Bright the rebel beacons blazed
On the river left and right.
Wide awake their sentries gazed
Through the watches Of the night.
Sharp their challenge rang, and fiery cama
the rifles quick inquiry
As the little launch swung into the light.
Listening ears afar had heard.
Ready hands to quarters sprung.
The AIpemarle ayvolze and stirred,
And her howitzers gave tongue,
Till the river and the shore echoed back tho
mighty roar
When the portals of her hundred Founders
swung.
Will the swordfsh brave the hale
Doubly girt with boom and chain2
Face the shrapnel's iron haiIE
Dare the livid leaden rain?
All, that shell has done its duty; it has spoiled
the Yankees beauty
See her turn and fly with half her maLmen
slaini
High the victors' haunting yell
Rings above the battle roar,
And they bid her mock farewell
AS she seeks the farther shore,
Till they see her sudden swinging, crouching
for the leap and springing
Back to boom and chain and bloody fray
once more.
Now the southern captain, stirred
By the spirit of his race,
Stops the firing with a word,
Bids them yield and offers grace.
Cushing laughing, answers mo are here
to fghti" and
Swings the dread torpedo spar to its place.
Then the great ship shook and reeled
With wounded, gaping side,
But her steady cannon pealed
Ere she settled in the tide,
And the Roanoke's dull flood ran full red with
Yankee blood,
When the fighting Albemarle sunk and died
James jeffrey Roche in Century. September,