The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-07


boat Southnefi went 20 the bottom under
= blow from the rams powerful beak, and
ber consort, the Miami, steamed away to
sscape like treatment. On the 9th OF May
following the ram suddenly appeared In
Albemarlc sound and accepted battle with
scven Union steamers. Tho gunboat Sas
sncus tried Co ram her down, but exploded
her boiler I'm the engagement, and the Al
bcmarle returned up the Roanoke. Three
weeks later partyof Union volunteers
tried 70 blow her ont OF water with torpe
does as she lay at moorings, but wer
driven oil sy. riflemen on her decks.
For five months after this attempt the
gam lay of Plymouth, where she was
found at the wharf on the 27th Of October
by Lieutenant WEB. Gushing OF the navy
And effcctually destroyeds Pho deed is un.
Darallclcd in the annals OF war.
After the luckless battles Of the neei
with the ram, Admiral St T. lee, com
lnandor OF tho north Atlantic squadron,
mentioned tho ease 20 Cushing, and he
proposed two plnns FOR her destruction.
Ihe first plan was 10 steal upon the vessel
with a boarding party at night; tho sec
ond, 60 destroy her with spar torpedocs at.
cached 10 small swift boats. These plans
aid not appear 20 please the navy depart.
ment at Washington, but Cushing was sc
heartily indorscd hy his immediate supe.
rlors that he was provided with means S
e. ahoad.
/ Cushing found two launches in New
York harb0r, which be fitted out and pro
vidcd with torpedoes and all Che rigging
for placing and exploding .hem. The
boats, which were open launches with
steam propcllers. were taken through ca
mails To Chesapeake hay, and one was lost
IN the bay, so that the project was carried
out with half tho force originally intend
ed. From tire Chesapeake into the sound.
the route was by canal, and at times the
boat had 10 be bolpo ON scow, owing &c
the shallow water The crew Of the boat
were volunteers, and Cushing enjoyed
their absolute confidence, without which
be must have failed. They were now In
the cnoniy's country, without protection
lend only handful In themselves. The
men who took part nc this time numbered
'soven In all. Great secrecy was necessary
20 prevent the inhabitants who saw tho
strange expedition moving southwark
from informing the enemy and several
Susos were employed TO this end e
Toward Tho. latter part Of October Cush-
ling reached the sound near the mouth oi
ithe Roanoke, and here he laid his plans
before his companions and gave them the
lchoico Of going on or abandoning the prof
.ect. Tho seven who were with him re-
,mained true, and eight more were added
from The crews OF the vessels In the sound.
From the mouth of the river TO tho
lwharves OF Plymouth Is eight miles, and
lof cnnrse pickets were To be encountered,
and the town and surrounding earthworks
Ewere known TO contain some. Confederate
lsoldiers
The party set out on the evening Of the
le7th, having along small cutter TO use
ss an ADVANCE boat and surprise any slight
lforce that should be encountered. A mile
below Plymouth the wreck of the South
field, sunk by the Albemarle in April, was
babove water and was used as n Confedcr-
late picket station for the river. This watch
twas passed successfully. Cushing intend
bd, II he reached the wharyes in safety, 60
gmake land and cut the rams fastenings
land get her into deep water. but he passed
so near her that he received a hail and
fconcluded TO lose no time.
The men on the Albemarle sprung tho
sattles, rang the bell and opened fire, re-
peating the hail. Now bright light
from fire on the bluffs disclosed to the
Sdventurers the monstrous black form of
their enemy moored at the wharf, with