The western recorder., 1898-07-07

her case, iJiag at Plymouth IN ths
Roanoke river. He believed that he
could. II allowed to have his way.
make close up to her and destroy her.
.iis plan was this. He would construct
a picket launch, furnish It with a COM
pact engine. man II with small num-
ber of men all as brave as himself. and
with 1t ascend the river stealthfly by
night to where the Albemarle was
moored Picket boats were not n new
thing. but they had formerly been
rowboats; nothing OF the description
that was proposed by Lieut.. Cushing.
propelled by steam and carrying tor
pedoes. had eve- been seen,
This plan was approved OF by the
admiral OF the feet and the navy de-
partment. and young Cushing was de-
tailed to visit New York and procure
sary for the success of the undertake
ing. When he returned he had with
him steam launch. of size and shape
best calculated TO eiude the vigilance
of the enemy. 1t remained. that he se-
cure his crew. and this he did in the
manner that crews are Invariably OBJ
tained for extra-dangerous enterprises
by calling for volunteers. These
numbered several times as many as
could be accepted. Indeed. the number
accepted was the same as that had
by Hobson when on his perilous ad-
venture OF the other day. Seven men
were all the little launch could well
take, and in a very short time these
fnd In hat A,.ff he. tAr
pedoes were attached, the engine fires
started up. all ready for a start on the
night OF October 26. 1864. She did start.
but quickly ran aground and was with
much difficulty again set afioat. The
following night all went in better fash
ion: the launch was now off for good.
His arrangements were carefully
made to insure complete success,
should he first succeed in passing the
enemy's pickets and come alongside the
Albemarle. Approaching. there must
be perfect silence. The usual bell sig
nails to the engineer were accordingly
replaced by pulls at line. one end of
which was fastened around his leg.
while the other end was in the hand
OF Lieut.. Gushing. Another line would.
Nhth lIt lOTDtuO
the launch. and third was to enable
him to explode 1t at the right time
When come within hearing distance of
the Albemnrle the engine was to be
stopped and the oars then used. The
night was pitch dark when with muffied
oars they rowed toward Plymouth. and
as they passed safely under the walls
| OF the fort they turned and shot across
the river and on up the river above
where the Albemarle was. Then they
descended. still undiscovered, upon the
ram which, they found. was moored to
a wharf and protected by log bo9m
against Just such attack as was this
one. They were close upon the ram
when they were discovered and chal-
lenged in the words. What boat is
that?" The answer was lie. of course;
1t was "The Albemarle's boat" At
the same instant the launch struck full
against the logs, which also in the same
instant drew upon II a shower OF bull
lets from the infantry on shore. In an
other second the ports of the Albemarle
were open and belehing shot and shell
upon the daring visitor.
Now Lieut.. Cushing touched off a
howitzer and pulled the line which ex-
ploded the torpedo fair against the side
of the ram. and SO damaged her that
she soon sank, carrying several lives
with her. But a musltet ball had hit
the lieutenant in the right arm and a
shell had burst on the launch; he and
all the men were compelled to jump
into the water. 1t was icy cold, but
all, except the lieutenant, swan to the
near shores under rapid fire from the
rebel infantry. Cushing. with one arm
disabled. was longer in the water and
made directly down the stream for
several miles to a safe landing for him
Crawling ashore, he could do no
more then. but fell asleep only to be
awakened by men talking. They were
rebels. and talking OF the wonderful ad-
venture of the preceding night. From
what he overheard of the conversation
he knew that the Albemarle had gone
down and that his work was effectual-
ly done. After another day and night
he was again with the fleet and the OBJ
ject OF admiration and praise. Soon his
exceptionally herois deed was known Ia
the whole country, and for the time
and as long as he lived, he was made
the recipient of many approriate atten-
tions and rewards.