The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-26
CUSHNC'S SIGNAL DEFEAT
His Effort to Capture
Blockade Runners.
GALL0WAY'S DEFENSE

River 10 Escape the BlOckading
Fleet-Cushipg,s Attack on the Fort
RepuIsed by Coast iGuardsmen-His
Expedition by Night TO Capture. the
Vessels as successfully RepeIled-GaI.
liant Band of Confederate s
when the blast of war blows in our
ears North Carolina furnishes men,
but other states are honored with gen.
erals; and she is ever doing illustrious
deeds, while other commonwealth are
building monuments and writing his
tory.
AS it might interest some Of your
readers, and, at the same time, help
to splice a broken link in the slumber-
ing chain of past events, l take the
liberty to contribute Il of the numer-
Gus encounters between the old coast
guard, the brave gallant defenders of
u southern coast, and the federal
navy.
During the month Of September,
1863, two confederate blockade run
ners, one American, the Argyle, in
command Of Captain Morse, the other
named Bailey, hailing from Nova
Scotia, in charge of Captain Brown,
put in Little River harbor for safety
late one afternoon, fearing a scout
from the ~blockading fleet which was
family visible man. miles away.
When the ships of the ]blockading fleet
passed beyond the range of the long
guns at Forts Caswell and Campbell,
they often scurried along the beach
close in shore seeking, like the roar
ing lion, whom they might devour.
The prowling scout that day, with the
eye of a hawk, had been leisurely
~plOughing the main as near the land
as prudence would permit, but, for
some reason, put to sea shortly after
midday with a bone in her mouth.
She did not gO/tOO far out to prevent
her from spying the blockade I'M
ners as they were about to enter Lit
tie River harbor, but too late, howev-
er, to make a dash for them, and lay
off for a night attack, knowing there
was but a small force at the inlet,
poorly armed, and the game, therefore,
they thought would be at their mercy.
Lieutenant Cushing, of Albemarle
fame, who, several times, had boldly
entered the Cape Fear river and per-
formed a number of daring and sue
cessful deeds, was thought to be shad-
owing the coast in the neighbOrhOod
and proved to be one of the officers
on the scout seen by our fleeing ships.
l here give my impressions of that
brave, dashing, intrepid officer as |
saw him when | was a lad of thirteen.
1t was at the Walker residence in the
historic town of Smithville, rechrist-
ended Southport Ga shOestring to the
Atlantic cable, comparing the latter to
the fOrmer) a few days after the sur
render of Fort Fisher.
Baldhead, Caswell, Campbell and
Johnson had just been evacuated, and
Cushing, momentarily, came to take
charge of the forts. In company with
SAAAoNAS hAA>S oHu w AAtbA IN IN
was talking to my recently widowed
mother and requested of her in
teous terms the arms of the house,
explaining at the same time, his rea-
sons for so doing. He was a tall, slen-
der, graceful, young man, apparently
not more than %, smooth shaver. His
chin did not look like it would sprOut
a beard. His head was uncovered in
l1fn-a-aD +> xi-f,1 a~1 ~
a new suit of blue with his rank
stamped upon it, he was very hand
some, but there was nothing of the
daredevil about his c~ountenance
save, perchance, a deep, piercing blue
eye.
1t was an attractive face; you liked
to look at it. At the moment | die
not know it was Cushing, and, yet
l took no particular notice of the 9th.
er officer, and have no clear recOllec'
tion of him, but / could not keep my
eyes off of Cushing. The nor l look.
ed the more the fascination grew
There was something about him al
most womanly, and, yet, his presence
was striking and imposing. His com
pleXiOn was light, the kind tina
bronzes without cropping out into
freckles; nose neither large nor small
of the classically Grecian type; {
good, shapely mouth, full jaws, &
strong chin, an expressive, intelligent
forehead. and his head was covered
with a growth of luxurient fiaxen, al
most golden, hair that was so long i
quite touched his shoulders. 1t shool
when he moved his head like the
name of a lion. Just as he was about
to depart my mother politely inquired
the name of her auditor, and wher
he announced it, l was dumbfounded
1 could scarcely believe my eyes. Ii
my boyish fancy l thought a man wht
could perform such wonderful ant
hazardous exploits, and pass, nnscath
ed, through such thrilling II dan
geroas adventures. must be at least
middle-aged, with rough, unkep
beard and look like a CULVER. Rob
Sz- 1850 -- DizIarI DTlyn ~