Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-11
THE RAM AL BEMARL
SOMETHING OF HER HISTORY AND
HER EXPLOITS.
WOODS DESPERATE MISSION.

Gilbert EIIioft,s Concepfion-Rendy
sor serE1ee-CuttinE Down the
asuthae1d-A Remarkable Circum-
stance.
captain James Dinkins, IN the New Or
leans Picayune
Early in 1868 the Federals had COM
plete possession of all ths bays and
POUNDS and rivers along the Virginia.
ind North Carolina coasts.
PaInlico sound afforded a fine rem
1ezvous for vessels of all kinds, while
The towns along the. Roanoke. Seuse
anS Panlico rivers were gar.isoned by
Federal troops. From these earrisoned
towns foraging parties secured the
country and destroyed or carried away
every movable thing, Including beast
and fowl. Tho people in that section,
being robbed of everything they possess
Cd. appealed TO the authorities at Rich
rnond for aid and relief
On March "a, 1868. General D. II. Hill
sent a brigade of infantry and battery
of smooth-bore guns. under General J. J..
Pettigrew, in response to the call OF the
People. with Instructions to destroy Fort
Anderson, on the Neuse river opposite
Ncwbern, n. c.
General Pettgrew bombsrded the place
for two hours. but, satisfied he could
not ca pture 1t by assault, Withdrew. Sub
sequently. Genera! George E. Pickett was
ordered from Kinston. with instructions
to capture Newborn and destroy the
enemy's fleet.
AT this juncture the Confederates did
not have vessel Of any kind in either
Of the three rivers named General
Pickett, feeling the need OF some di-
version on the river. managed to get a
iot Of sliffs. or new boats, about thirty
In all, which Re filed with men armed
with rifles and cutlasses, under command
of Colonel John TAYLOR Wood. who pro-
ceeded down the Neuse, 10 cooperate
with the infantry.
The enerny's feet at Newbern con-
sisted Of five gunboats-the Lockwood,
Underwater. Hetzel, Commodore Hull
ind the Hunchback, while the forts were
Earrisoned by 1000 men and fifty cannon.
The audacity of the Confederates there
core. in descending the river with thirty
skiffs TO attack the Federal fleet Of five
sunboats and two heavily-armed forts,
ycarcely has a parallel.
Colonel Wood set out on his desperate
mission with as brave little band as
ever went in search OF AN enemy There
was not q faint heart or a nervous hand
Ii the party. The noble fellows. in fisher
mems boats. moved along, hugginS the
banks as closely as possible, hoping to
avoid detection, until they had reached
Eight of the gunboats., What those men
talked about and what hopes they had
pf surviving an attack against an armor-
I'd feet as they glided down the Neuse.
would be a pretty story, if il could be
told, but we can only surmise what passed
between them in their whispered con-
versation, or what their thoughts reverted
TO.
About the middle of the night they
sighted the Underwater. lsins at anchor.
and Immediately under the big guns OF
the fort.
Nothing daunted. Colonel Wood formed
his slSiffs in columns Of fours. and gave
orders to pull for the gunbeats.
He impaired to the commander of each
the part he was expected to perform.
He directed the movement, with as
much Difference and ceremony as If he
was communicating with captains OF
modern men-of-war.
on they pulled In tho stiffness of the
night, each crew striving their utmost
TO be the first 10 reach the scene.
The signal lights hung from the Un-
derwriter, but all was darkness with
out a sentinel paced the deck to and
fro. but otherwise there WAS no evidence
OF life on the vessel.
It was well known TO the Federals that
tina Confederates had no vessel for any
nature or kind in the river; therefore they
felt no anxiety for their safety.
Fortunately the tide was in favor OF
the confederates. as 1t ebbed to the sea.
md the noise of the waves as they
splashed against the gunboat drowned
The sound OF their oars.
Noiselessly the assatlauts E!ided into
the shadow Of the ship. and the four
sldfs III front passed by and turned into
hore.
Instantly, almost. those following We're
In touch OF the gunboat. and when Col
mel Wood gave the signal the boys
Numbered on the sides as nimbiy as
suuirre.s, They oil knew what was ex~
Aeeted of them. and went to work
The sentinel was captured before he
nould arouse his comrades, therefore lit
De dif1culty was experienced In making
he crew prisoners.
The officers Of the vessel tried to rally
he crew. and the commander, Lieutou-
mi Westerrelt, and four or i've marines,
Who refused to surrende1. were killed.
The little baad OF ConfedeTates be-
layed as II each was a captain, and
covered every part of the boat without
moments delay. ssF
The guns of the fort were not exceed
Hg LOO yards distant. but Colonel Woods
Mans were carried out so perfectly and
aniselessly the garrison was not aware
If what transp.red below them.
FIRED HER AND ESCAPED.
Colonel Mood thought to make the Tn
lerwsiter his flagship. but finding the
hoiiers cold, set fire to her and escaped
Without the loss of man or an oar.
The following day General Pickett
opened fire on the forts and created the
swtldest dismay among the enemy. but
decided not to assault the works. and
s ln Feb. 3 withdrew his command.
Tho holiness Of Colonel Wood and his
I little crew excited the wonder OF tho
! suesny. and won the warmest commen-
dations from our people, especially those
! who had felt the rSpentng haans OF the
xoyassnE parties
Soon after the events described above
had tekea place an ag3ent and dsvnted
southerner BY the name OF Gilbert
Elliott who had l,ad, sons experience In.