The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-05-12

the close of the war.
Then diver went down to explore
the wreck of the Housatonlc. He
found the David, with all on board
jammed in the hole which the torpe
do had torn In the side of the steamer
The suction of the inrushing water
had drawn the boat into the wound it
had inflicted, and there it stuck, hav-
ing destroyed its crew for the fourth
time.
Thus ended the tragic career of the
little David.
1t is difficult to find a parallel to
this deed of Lieutenant Dixon and his
crew for pure devotion, heroic deter
mination, and fortitude But a young
lieutenant in the Federal navy per,
formed feat of arms in which, al
though the chances of escape with
life were better, the pluck, daring and
GOODNESS required were as great.
Early in the year 1864 the Union
government was very much worried
by the doings of a Confederate iron
called the Albemarle. She was for
midable vessel of tremendous strength
and had defeated the whole Federal
fleet of nine powerful vessels which
was guarding the mouth of the Roa-
noke river. sinking the Southtield and
exploding the boiler of the Sassacus.
She had also forced the surrender of
brigade and the abandonment of
the whole region Of the Roanoke by
the Federal forces.
1t was positively necessary that the
Albemarle be destroyed. Lieutenant
W. B. Gushing, a daring young Off
Ger of the United States navy, barely
twenty one years of age, volunteered
to make the attempt.
His offer was accepted and at his
request he was provided with a small
steam launch, spar torpedo and a
crew of thirteen men. On the night
of October n he started on his peril
GUS enterprise.
The Albemarle was anchored in
front of the town of Plymouth about
eight miles up the river The Con
federates held both banks of the
stream with several thousand soldiers
About a mile from the AlbemarIe,
toward the mouth of the river, was
the wreck of the Southtield.
The Confederates were trying to
raise this vessel and schooner was
moored alongside, on which was a
picket of twenty five men. This
guard was ordered to send up rock
cts in case they saw anything suspici
Gus. Thus 1t seemed impossible to
surprise the Albemarle OF to attack
with any hope of success.
Asa matter of course the night on
which the attempt was made was clou
dy and dark. Slowly the launch NOV
ed up the river, making scarcely a
sound. In tow was a small skitf with
few men whose duty it was to make
a dash at the schooner at the first
hail, and try to prevent any alarm be
ing given.
Fortune favored the expedition and
the boat passed within fifty feet of
the Southtield without being discov
cred.
About three o'clock in the morning
the launch arrived close to the Albe
marie. A large fire was burning on
shore near the IRON clad. This was
sci plainly visible against the back
ground of flame.
The COnfederates were SC quiet and
unsuspicious that Lieutenant Cush
ing thought that he might be able to
surprise and capture the Albemarle.
His plan was to board, cut the moor
ings and get her into the stream be
fore the people aboard knew what he
was doing.
To be sure the Albemarle's crew
outnumbered his gallant little band
many times but the lieutenant count
ed on the darkness preventing the
Confederates from seeing how small
force the attacking party was. Once
away from the wharf, the iron sides OF
the great vessel would effectually pro
tect those aboard from the forts.
Stealing quietly up to the Albe
marie the launch bumped into boom
made of logs chained together about
thirty feet from the side of the iron
clad to prevent anything approaching
close. At the same instant one of the
sentries discovered the little boat and
hailed it quick and sharp.
BOAT ahoy there
Receiving no reply the hail was re
peated and then the guards opened
fire. Instantly the ram was alive
with men, and heavy fire was pour
ed into the launch, both from tht
ship and the shore.
With wonderful coolness Lieuten
ant Gushing ran the launch up to tn.
logs and passed nearly the length o.
the Albemarle looking for al openins
by which he might get close enough
to the big ram to use the torpedo.
Seeing that there was no gap in tn,
boom he decided upon a daring act
He steered away from the ram nearly
a hundred yards. Then he turned
and at full speed made straight a
her, hoping that his boat would b,
forced over the Shiny logs by it.
! great momentum.
This was the only chance of sue
cess. 1t was desperate deed, 20
when the boat once got inside th,
boom it could never get out again
Lieutenant Gushing deliberately CAV,
himself and his men up to destruction
In order to perform his mission.
Gushing stood in the bow of tn
launch. In front Of him was how
itzer loaded with canister. At hi
side was Cne end of the spear, to th
other end Of which the torpedo wa
attached.
As the boat dashed toward th
ram load of buckshot tore out tn
back of the lieutenant's coat. and th