The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-11-14
A WAR STORY.
An Interesting account Of Lieut.. cushings
Famous attack on the Rebel Battle Ship.


National Tribune OF Washington ID. G..
will prove interesting reading TO many
Of our patrons not only because Of the
interest which attaches 10 any OF the
deeds Of daring Of the late rebellion, but
a so because Of the local interest we will
all find in the story Of one Of our neigh
bors who took part in the thrilling az
fair
Enron NATIONAL TRmuNE: was one
who. together with one Conner. both Of
the Chicopee, Capt. Herold. volunteered
to accompany Cushing 10 his adyentur-
Gus trip to Plymouth, Oct. 20, 1854. In
Donneley's report, published in the Ma
tional Tribune, | noted several errors.
notably THAT he and the Lieutenant
were the only two survivors Of the cx-
pedilion, and now I see an account in
the Chicago record OF March O, by John
McDermaid, and also note errors IN his
account.
| am 50 years old, resident Of En-
nett. Canyon Co, Idaho; a member of
Fremont Post %. Of Idaho. enlisted
at Brooklyn Maynard, April Is, 1864
| went on board the receiving ship Yer
mont, and was transferred to Chcopee.
We arrived In Albemarle Sound the
last Of April 1864. The day before our
arrival the Shamrock. Miami, Withheld.
Valley City, aud the sister ship to the
Southheld were attacked by the rebel
ram Albemarle. The contest was virtu-
ally draw, Those named were the
only Government vessels In the sound at
the time. The Chicopee arrived next
day. The Otsego, ! am certain, never
joined MS until June following.
think may iruthfully state that the
only two engagements ever had with the
Albemare was the first at Plymouth
with the Miami and Southheld; the lat
ter was sunk and the Miami's Captain
killed. The second was that above
noted. ! cannot remember the circum-
stances Of four young men trying to
wade across from the mouth OF the
Roanoke River TO Plymouth | am quite
sure Cushing did not attempt the de-
struction OF the Albemarle previous to
the successful trial.
At about o'clock p M. Oct 20. 1861.
Cushing visited the several vessels at an
chor in the sound and took on board his
volunteers. The squadron consisted OF
the flagship Shamrock Chicopee, Otsego,
Mattabasset. Valley City, Whitehead,
aud the former companion vessel t.
the Southneld. and two steam tugs, all
lying at anchor la Abemarle Sound
seven miles below Plymouth. where the
rebel ram was stationed. The crew tnal
volunteered numbered seven men, be,
sides the Lieutenant and Engineer An
other lanch pnlled after us with crew
Of 20 men.
We steamed up to the mouth Of IN,
river, aud, the night being very cleal
and light, we disembarked and lay IL
the swamp all next day At about s:s,
on the evening of Oct. %. 1854. we pull
ed for the sunkcn hull of the Southheld
where a rebel picket was stationed. After
capturing this picket Lieut.. Cushin,
> left the second lanch and crew there, ant
with his original crew of seven startet
about o p. m. up the river for Plymouth
This was over two miles below Ply
mouth The only persons OF the crew
whom | can now recall were Lieut.
Cushing; Wood, Acting Masters Mate
and Conner, who was from my ship
We Rugged the shore Of the middle
island. opposite side from Plymouth.
We steamed up the Roanoke to poin
opposite the town. then changed on
course for the town and an object w
took for the Albcmarle 1t being yer,
dark and rainy we made mistake
After ascertslning this fact we backe'
Off to ,he middle Of Of the stream, an,
finally located the ram.
When within so feet Of the vessel. W
discovered the log distractions place.
around her, and Gushing ordered back
ward movement 300 feet away. then ha
, all the steam turned on and secon
, time approached the monster, remark
ing without excitement:
I'VE are here, and there Is no use r,
treating"
y Cushing stood erect in the bow wit
Z lanyard Of torpedo in one hand aud Tn
o trip line in the other was at the Ill
n Ter; the rest, except the Engineer wer
e near to Cushing. This time the lane
t. jumped the obstruction and approache
o the enemy's hull. The torpedo explo,
\ ed and the work was done. We wer
G disco' cred when approaching the secon
e time, hailed. and. making no answer
r were furiously fred upon with small
e arms
1 Gushing made reply by turning loos
e his l2-pound howitzer. Our lauch bein
g powerless. the Lieutenant told us to tai
e care Of ourselves. During the confusio
e IL was hard b. form plan Of action. an
u | think the men acted only by instinc
n found myself i've minutes later stru.
IS ling N the river. bearing away from n