The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-05-13
NO. 81

NO. 81
ed, got a supply from the "Curlew'
which had been disabled and sunk, an6
ne fought on until they were all driven
back to Elizabeth City, where the over.
whelming rush of the Federal Fleet
destroyed everything afloat that they
could reach and Capt. Cooke gave or.
ders to blow up his vessel and all hands
save themselves as best they could. In
this engagement he displayed desperate
gallantry, was severely wounded, and
captured, and Capt. Renshaw of the U.
S. Navy told me that Cooke never did
surrender, was simply borne down by
numbers. After he was exchanged he
was selected to superintend the build
ing of one OF the iron clads before men
toned at Edwards Ferry on the farm
of Peter E. Smith.
After overcoming every obstacle, she
was launched, moved down to Halifax,
and later to Hamilton for fear of low
water. In April 1864 General Hoke,
who was determined to recapture Ply
mouth, visited the :'Albemarle" and
though she was far from being finished
her heroic commander promised the
General he would cooperate with him
in the attack on Plymouth. The dis
tinguished part he took in that gallant
affair will now be seen. Naval history
affords no more remarkable evidence OF
patriotic zeal and individual persever-
ance. His ship was one of shreds and
patches and with her he went down
towards Plymouth to keep his tryst
with General Hoke. As soon as he
heard the dull conclusion that, to the
practical ear, lenotes a heavy lombard
ment, he moved down upon the scene
at Plymouth. Capt. Flussed, an old
shipmate of mine from Kentucky, a
man of brilliant promise and full of
grit, commanded the Federal force
a1oat, that guarded the water front
where there was no other defence. It
was after midnight on the 10Th of April,
1864. Immediately grasping the stu
alton, Cooke made for the enemy's
ships that were chained together to
meet the shock, dashed his prov into
the "Southfield" and delivered the fire
of his guns into the MIAMI" killing
and wounding many of her crew.
Among the killed was her commander,
my brave young comrade of former
days. In the meantime the "South-
field" was at the bottom and the
"Bombshell" sunk by Hoke's Artillery,
and the miami" fleeing down the riy-
er. This brilliant success insured the
triumph of General Hoke. The de-
fences of Fort Williams were powerful
on the land side and had repulsed soy
eral assaults of our troops. On the riv-
er side the fortiicatlon was defective,
Its open works depending on guuLoats
for defence. These having been driven
away, Cooke opened upon the valuable
part of the Fort, rendering it unable,
and General Ransom's command en-
tered the town on that flank. The re-
suit was the capture of 1:5OO men and
Fl We pieces of artillery.
Below the town of Plymouth, near
the mouth of the river in the waters OF
the sound were six United States gun
boats. They were fully prepared to
meet the "Albemarle"-they carried 40
guns, ten OF which were 100 per rifles.
Captain Cooke did not heed the odds
against him with the little ship carry
ing two guns and propelled by feeble
engine. His idea and hope was to
clear the sound of the enemy's ships
and tow boats over to Hatteras with
men enough to recapture the Fort and
shut out the United States vessels from
the sound. He steamed slowly down
the Roanoke on the morning of the 9th
of May. The enemy approached in
two columns of attack and then ensued
a melee and storm OF shot and shell,
poured into this little ship that seemed
so unfortunate.
Capt. Cooke handled his ship with
perfect GOODNESS and great skill, feeling
his ship so often strained by the fearful
blows from the gunboats that surround.
ed her. She was the centre of an lr-
regular circle-the periphery of which
was SIX staunch ships trying to destroy
her. At one time the "Sassacus" struck
the "Albemarle" at right angles with
the tremendous force of ten knots speed,
making her reel and stagger and at the
same time she received three solid shots
from 100 per rifles that started her
plates, but the "Albemarle" rlghted
herself and sent shell through the
"Sassacus" which filled her with steam
and drove her out of the fight. At 80
p. M, Commodore Smith, baffled in ev-
cry attack and knowing that his vessels