The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-09

Of the service growing out OF the civil
war Henceforth for a period OF nearly
three years. his service was eninently
conspicuous in deeds OF daring. While
In command OF a small steamer upon the
blockade, he often visited the inland
waters OF the enemy at the risk or MIS-
life. He usually went at night lying con-
cealed during the following day. and
always having in view some object that
was as desperate as 1t was definite. he
had, in narrow waters, frequent battieS
with opposing field batteries and history
tells of scores OF his thrilling adventures
and narrow escapes.
once, while blockading off New Top-
sail inlet, he. reconnoitered schooner
lying inside. but was soon under the me-
OF a considerable force with field piece
and small arms. He retired, but late
that evening he anchored his vessel close
10 the beach, abreast of the schooner and
several miles distant TO the entrance 10
the inlet Then no sent two boats on
shore the larger one to act as support.
They hauled the smaller boat across the
sand beach and launched her In the inlet
beyond. Ensign Soney, with SIX men,
then reconnoitered and found that about
twenty men and a small peice OF arui-
lery were guarding the vessel. In spite
OF this an attack was made. the enemy
eighteen small arms captured. me
schooner and adjacent salt works Were
destroyed and the expedition rejoined the
vessel without loss. AT another time,
while blockading of Cape Fear river.
Cushing went In his gig with six men
up the river past Fort Caswel TO smith
VILE two miles above, and secured I'M
portant information. Once he entered
the river in the same way. captured the
f.r nOSSeSSed
himself OF his bag
His most remarkable feat however,
and the one which will i've as long as
history lives was the destruction of the
Confederate iron-plated ram Albemarle.
the most formidable vessel OF her class,
and II was this heroic act TO which Lieu
tenant Hobson's sinking OF the Merrimac
is now being compared. The Albemarle
was secured to wharf at Plymouth.
n. c., with a guard of logs placed around
her at distance of thirty feet, with her
crew on board 10 use her guns and
company OF soldiers on the wharf with
small arms and howitzers- Unfortunate
ly for Cushing the correspondents OF
Northern newspapers had found out that
a torpedo boat under Cushing was being
fitted out for service at Plymouth, ana
OF course the information was trans
mitted 10 those on board the big ironclad.
40 that they had ample time for prepara-
ton. The torpedo that Cushing had
when he made his assault was OF the
early boom" kind and was carried In
steam launch.
The Cmfederates we're vigilant and
Cushing's approach was discovered after
he had assembled the river and before ne
came very near to his victim. But, no
thing daunted by a merciless fire OF ar
tillery and musketry, he put on steam.
Jumped his launch bodily over the outer
guard OF logs. lowered his torpedo In
most deliberate way and blew the Abe
marie up at the very moment when
shell from one of her heavy guns and
column of water from the explosion OF
the torpedo sent the launch to the bot
DOM Cushing, Paymaster Swan and
others escaped, after much exposure IN
swimming down the ice cold water ana
hiding In the swamps. But the so-called
terror of the sounds" was safely as
posed Of For this act he was made
lieutenant-commander being then only
about twenty-five years of age.
His entire career thereafter was dar-
ing one but he tlvays succeeded IN his
perious undertagings, because they were
carefully planned and carried out with
wonderful nerve. When peace came
Gushing seemed TO suffer from a lack OF
purpose. and he could not reconcile him
self to the perfunctory naval life. After
the war he was executive officer or the
Lancaster. He commanded the Maumee
on the Asiatic station for three years.
He was promoted TO commanded in the
regular order in January. 1872, when he
was about thirty years old. He then
commanded the Wyoming. In the spring
of 1873 he was ordered to the Washington
navy yard. but was soon detached at his
own request. and after brief Illness
died at the Government hospital In
Washington on December II. 1874, at the
age of thirty-two years.
And now you know what sort Of man
Young HobsOn Is.