The National tribune., 1895-01-24
heen to crush the rebellion had these

In the latter part of 1861 Commodore
T. NJ. Goldsborough succeeded Commo-
dore Stringham in command of the
North Atlantic Squadron, and further
hoStilities in the Sounds were continued
under his direction, resulting In the capt
ure of Roanoke Island and its defenses
in February, 1862. 1t was victory of
great Importance to the Union cause, for
which great credit is due TO Gen. Burn
side and the troops under him who CO.
operated with the navy.
FORT MACON,
which was captured by a JOINT army ana
navy expedition April %, 1862, gave us
access to one of the finest harbors on the
coast. Capt. Samuel Lockwood, COM
manding the naval part of the expedi-
ton, had the following vessels: Chip
pewa, Ellis, Gemsbok, Daylight, and
State Of Georgia.
Gen. Burnside commanded the land
forces, and to him the fort and garrison
was surrendered after gallant resistance
on the part of the Confederates.
The citizens of the various towns bor-
dering on the Sounds Of North Carolina
were remarkably conspicuous for their
devotion TO the rebel cause, and mani
tested their loyalty by the construction
Of armed steamers and rams for the
Confederacy at Plymouth, White Hall,
Elizabeth City, and other places. The
most troublesome of these crafts was the
famous ram Albemarle, built near
Plymouth, and after being lanched was
taken to Halifax, n. c., where it was
made an ironclad and fitted with a ram.
Capt. James Wallace Cooke, who
superintended Its construction, was as
siged to command her April 19, 1864.
He engaged the blockading squadron
off Plymouth, and succeeded in sinking
the wooden gunboat Southfield, side
wheel steamer Of 751 tons, four guns,
commanded by Capt. Chas. A. French.
For the skill and bravery manifested
on this occasion Capt Cooke was APP
pointed commander Of all the Confeder-
ate forces ahoat in the Sounds He also
received vote of thanks from the Con-
federate Congress. His successor In COM
mand of the ram was Capt j. n.
Moffitt, who held the position only a
short time, and was succeeded by Capt.
w. +. Worley, who continued in COM
mand until the destruction of the ram
by Lieut.. William B. Gushing, U. S.
Navy, October, 1864.
CAPT. COOKE,
who commanded the Albemarle, entered
the United States Navy April /, 1928,
and resigned therefrom May 2, 1861.
He entered the Confederate service June
ii, 1861, and was assigned to the con-
struction Of batteries on the Potomac
River near Aqua Creek.
The attempt to close the river was not
a success, however, and Capt. Cooke was
appointed to command the gunboat
Ellis, on Albemarle Sound. At the
battle Of Roanoke Island he was capt
ured by Commodore Goldsborough, but
on account of being severely wounded
was released on parole, when he retired
10 his home at Portsmouth, Va. Shortly
afterward he removed to Warrenton,
N. G.
On Sept 10, 1862, be was ordered to
superintend the construction of the Albe-
marie, which he afterward commanded.
After the destruction of the Confederate
fiotilla on the Sounds, Capt Cooke was
assigned to torpedo service, at which he
continued until the close Of the war,
when he settled down TO civil life at
Portsmouth, Va, where he died in the
wear 1869. Fearless in action, ready for
any service, he was a brave and dis
tinguished officer.
To refer in detail to the various en-
gagements, victories and defeats Of our
forces in the Sounds of North Carolina
would he an absolute impossibility in a
brief newspaper article, hence many
items Of interest are necessarily omit
ted.
There was at all times large army
force cooperating with the navy in these
waters under brave and energetic off
GERS, but it is no disparagement Of them
TO say that without the presence and
service Of the navy they would not have
achieved half the success they did be-
cause our vessels carried heavy guns
which could not have been handled adj
yantageously by an army. 1t must not
be understood, however, that our vic
tories in the Sounds were easily won, be-
cause the Confederates fought with a
zeal and determination worthy of a
better cause, often under adverse cir
cumstances when the odds were against
them.
Capt Stephen c. Rowan, United
States Navy, commanded an expedition
which in February, 1862, captured some
Confederate vessels and battery erect
ed by them on Cobb's Point, Albemarlc
Sound. A combined army and navy
expedition was organized in October
1862, for the capture Of Franklin
small town on the Blackwater River
y. c. Gen. Dix commanded the troop
and Capt. Flusser commanded the gun
boats, consisting Of the Hunchback
Whitehead, and Perry.
Gen. Foster and Cant. Alex. Murray