The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-30

Capt Cooke meant, on the completion
OF this GRAND, to make an extended
cruise on the Sound against the Union
feet. Capt. Smith got his little SQUAD
ron undo way as loon as he saw the
corfcderates. md just aboutYb O'Clock
IN the afternoon approached the enemy,
then fourteen miles fr6mithe mouth OF
tho Roanoke, 1t wac reported that
thirty armed launches then being
equipped In q nearby river, would back
up the ram. and the smaller Union ves-
sells were directed to look after them.
while the other vessels were to pass tho
ram again and again, delivering their
broadsides, each time.
While come distance of q puff Of
white smoke and q faint flash told that
The Albemarle had opened the battle.
and almost Immediately two, shells
from another discharge, skllfully aimed,
cut away the rails and spars OF the Mat
tabessett and wounded six men at her
pivot gun. The Mnt.nhessett, followed
by her comrades, eludcd the Aibemarle's
attempts to ram. and, passing. deliva
cred ~broadsides OF solid 0-inch and 100
pounded shot. Though delivered at
short range, the missiles glanced harm
leSsly from the iron casemate. Tho
gunboats turned and c%ndeavoreG 10 re-
new the action IN the other side, but
the ram turned amout also, thus form.
Ing the ships in q circle.
Well knowing that he could not In
fict serious injury by c%annon-fre alone
Capt. Smith had instructed his vessels
to am. The Sassacus, after passing
the Albemarle, had captured the Bomb
Shell, and was about 400 yards from the
ironclad Observing the Albemarle
change her course q little, In order to
avoid ramming by the Mattabessett,
Commander Rice took advantage OF the
chance to strike q full blow on the. enc
my's broadsidc. He ordered his en-
gineer to put oil and waste to the fires,
SO as to get a good head OF steam, then,
backing until he had secured the right
position, dashed at top speed straight
for the Aibemarle's side. All hands
were ordered to lie down Just before the
collision.
The Sissacus struck the ironclad ut
right angles on the %starboard side abaft
the casemate. The shock was terrific,
%careening the Albemarle over and tear
Ing away the bow OF the S~assacus.
The gunboat swung round alongside,
and her pa~ddle-wheel. continuing to re-
votve. struck the deck OF the ironclad
and forced the vessel several feet below
the water. Many Of the C%onfederates,
Indeed. believed that they were sinking
but the ram righted and proved to be
not seriously injured. At the instant OF
the collision the C~onfederates fired a
l0-pound shot. which crashed through
the wooden side OF the Sassacus as
though 1t were as much paper. Assist
ant Surgeon E. Holden, who was aboard
the Sassacus at the time, had this to
say. Of the eventful experience:
Through the starboard shutter, which
had been partly Jared off by the con-
cussion, I saw the port Of the ram not
teN feet away. It opened, and like a
flash OF lightning I saw the grim muz-
zle OF the cannon; the guns crew naked
to the waist and blackened with pow
der; then a blaze. a roar, and the. rush
OF the shell as 1t crushed through,
whlrl!nS me round and dashing me to
the deck" 1t was on this ship in this
engagement that the present Congress-
man Boutelle distinguished himself so
that he was promoted, for his gallantry.
The C~onfederates next fired q shot
that pierced one Of the gunboat's boil
ers. In an instant the lower deck was
htISu VIII olCdilI, WlllCu SCtlCeQ many
OF the crew. Taking advantage OF the
~sassacus's plight. the enemy tried to
board her, but were repulsed. The dis
abled Sassacus slowly drifted out OF ac-
tlon, herolcally keeping up u fire as long
as in range Of the antagonist. Another
danger threatened. however; her other
boilers were in momentary danger of
explosion, and the loss OF the whole
| crow tyon1d" ho va apc,aIt- bod M IT,,
glneer Hobby summoned his men to the
fire room to draw the fires-a precaution
that proved effective, but that resulted
In his being led back to the deck help
less and blinded. The other gunboats
continued to shell the Albemarle, but
she was shot-proof; and as night drew
on she retired up the river, severely bat
tered. but having sustained only such
injuries as could be easily repaired.
The muzzle Of one OF her guns was
cracked: her smokestack riddled, her
steerinS-gear disabled, and, everything
which was exposed outside of her case
mate was swept off.
In a brief time she was as formidable
an opponent as ever, and so constant a
menace to all Federal movements at
that point that 1t became a problem to
the navy department how to get rid OF
her. Several Intellectual attempts we're
made to blow her up by torpedoes, vol
unteers going to great pains and infinite
personal risk to wreck her at her moor
ing ground. near Plymouth. How this
desired result was eventually effected
by 4 dash!:g young Union officer, but
twenty-one years old, is oRSrecord a5
n o. the most valiant feats achieved
during the war, n performance OF such
consummate benefit to the country that
the Office, Lieut.. Cushing, was rendered
a vote OF thanks by, congress and pro-
noted TO higher rank in the navy.