Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-11

agement the government could offer, and
began the work, under conditions which
very few men would have beer willing to
! undertake.
The river was no. navigable for the
enemy's vessels more than few miles
above Plymouth. therefore Mr.. Elicit de-
scided to construct the ram at what was
known as Edwards Ferry. To all others
1t seemed an impossibility. No material
or competent workmen at hand, yet he
| went to work and put SO much energy
| IN 1t. and expressed such confidence IN
his ability to float machine worthy a
trial, 1t gave vigor and strength to the
undertaking.
It is impossible to say how he obtained
the necessary bolts and nuts. besides the
| iron, to plate her. He prosecuted the
the enemy ascertained his purpose an
effort would be made to thwart It.
Howbeit, he was master OF every situa-s
| ton. and by April 10. 1864 the ram was
ready for SERVICE and was chr1stened
| Albenarle.
| She was built according to the plans of:
consti uctor John l.. Porter. c. S. N.
She was made Of pine timber, sx1o Inches
thick dovetailed together and sheathed
! with four layers Of plank She was LIZ
feet long. Is feet beam. and drew feet.
Her shield, octagona1 in form. was %
| feet long. and was protected BY two
| layers Of Pinch iron plating.
| The ram. or the prov, was of solid oak,
also plated with two-inch iron, and taper-
ed like a wedge. She had two engines OF
| 200-horse power, and when one considers
| the circumstances and difficulties under
which she was constructed, we must con-
| fess she was a wonder.
REPORTED READY.
r1yt,nr rTl1jatY rapOrtp6 her TeaOV 1Ort
service. the government selected the best
/ men available to man her, under CONF
mand Of Captain j. w. Cooke. and de-.
cfded to make another effort to capture
Plymouth.
| on April Is, 1854, the AIbemarle cut loose
| from the little town Of Hamilton, NJ,
and started down the river to cooperate
with an Infantry force under command
! Of General Hoke. The latter reached the
vicinity of Plymouth and surrounded the
! town, from the river above to the river
| below. and awaited the advent OF the
ram.
About a mile and half above the Fed
eral forts at Warren's Neck. and near
! Thoroughfare Gap. the enemy mad plant
ed torpedoes and obstructed the channel
with wrecks of old boats and other
! things.
| Captain Coke came to anchor some
| three miles above Plymouth, and sent cut
| a boat under command Of q. lieutenant TO
| explore the river
| The lieutenant, after time, returned
and reported that it vas Impossible to
, pass the distractions.
| Captain Cooke taereupor gave orders
! to bank the fires, and the men were al
| lowed to go to sleep.
| Gilbert Elliott, who accompanied Cap
! tain Cooke as a volunteer, feeling great
dissatisfaction at the conclusion reached
and believing II was "then or never with
| the ram if she was to accomplish any
| thing, urged Captain Cooke to make the
| trial. He argued that it would be fool
| hardy to attempt. the passage OF the op-
| structions and the forts in day time, and
| reouested permission to make an invests
| cation also.
| Captain Cooke assented. and with the
! pilot, whose name was John Lusk, and
| two sailors, who volunteered to accom-
| pany them, set out in a small life boat
| They carried a long pole with them
| and, arriving .at the INSTRUCTED point be-
| gan to take soundings.
Elliott soon discovered that there was
ten feet >of water over and above the OBJ
struction (Which fact was due to a
| freshet in the river). The little party,
| however, pushed along down the stream
| until they reached Plymouth, and, TAX
| ing advantage of the darnness. which
| was increased by the shadows Of the
| trees, pulled to the opposite shore and
1 watched the transport taking on board
women and children, whom they were
| sending away, on account of General
! Hokes demonstration.
1 With the greatest caution, almost
| afraid to take long breath. for fear OF
| detection, Elliott and his companions
made their way back and reached the
! ,srI,4 r<.,
! ed to Captain Cooke his firm conviction
that the ram could pass the distractions.
/ and urged him to make the attempt
His earnestness was so great that Cap
| tain Cooke at once determined to do so,
/ and had the men aroused, and gave or
| ders to get up steam as quickly as posi-
| BILE.
| The Alhemarle was soon under way.
| hut the enemy was entirely. ignorant of
| her approach. In fact, they had no
4 knowledge that the Confederates owned
| boat in the river.
She passed over the obstruction safe
1 ly, but very soon a. gun belched forth
1 from the fort at Warren's Neck, and
! Captain Cooke realized that he was on
| perilous journey.
! The Federal battery opened IRE Wig
orously, and the shells ratified against
| the ram in rapid succession.
] Elliott had protected her sides with
| hanging chains, and they proved a very
fins shield.
BEYOND RANGE.
Tho ram was soon beyond the range
| of the guns but little lower down she
| passed q fort on which was mounted a
very heavy gun. The big shells went
whizsing over her bow and beyond,
| crashing through the timber FOR two
/ miles.
The firing aroused the federal feet at
Plymouth. and two vessels the Miami,
and the southheld. started to look for
the trouble.
The vessels carried each six e-ineh
guns, one lOo-pounder Parrot rifle, and
| 2a-pouader howitzer-
The two vessels we're lasned together.
and ascended the river with entire con-
| fidcnce among the officers that nothing
In the Roanoke river could check them
one minute.
Captain Flushsr, the senior federal off,
Ger. stated that his purpose In lashins
the vessels together was to get the Con-
federatc craftJ whatever II might be. be-;
tween his vessels. and capture it with
little trouble.
Captain Cooke, however, as soon as he
| sighted the FEDERAL boats. ran the Abe
| marie close to shore, and when in proper
position. he suddenly turned her toward
the middle OF the stream. md giving