Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-19
ICopyright, 1904, by G. l.. Kilmer. ]

by the sudden appearance of a new floating terror in the waters of Roa- noke river. This was the Confederate ram Albemarle, brand new construc- tion of pine beams and iron ribs, which was intended to avenge the Merrimac and smash the numerous frail wooden ships of the Federals in Albemarle sound. The new ram had been built during 1863 far up Roanoke river, the enterprise being attended with great difficulties owing to the activity of the Federals, who were masters of all that region, and the scarcity of iron to fur nfsh shot proof armor. The keel was laid in cornfeld, with country blacksm1th's outfit for implements. All the plantations in the vicinity were searched for bolts and bars and any kind of metal that could be turned into plate for the rams shield.
 At last the ram was ready for a trial, and it was planned by the Confeder- ates to make a land attack upon the Federal post at Plymouth, near the mouth of the Roanoke, with the aid in the river, which at the time con- sisted of the Miami, mounting eight guns, and the Southfeld, mounting seven, each vessel carrying one 100 pounder Parrott rife. These sbips were commanded by Lieutenant c. W. Flusser, who used the Miami as his flagship.
 FluSser was aware that the ram was about completed, and when the en- emy's skirmishers appeared before the town on the 17th it was taken as a signal that the Albemarle was coming down the river, as the high spring floods would allow her to pass over the obstructiOns which had been placed in the channel three miles above. The ram, in fact, reached the Instructions, formed of sunken vessels, piles and tor pedoes, about midnight and was dis covered by the Federal pickets. She was not yet completed, but favorable tide waits for no man. and she actual. ly went into battle with workmen driv- ing bolts alongside of fighting tars handling the guns.
 During the night Captain John w Cooke, who had stayed by the new monster from the moment her keel was laid, ventured out in small Hfeboat to reeonnoiter the situation at the dam and around the town. He found the water ten feet deep over the obstruc- tions and that the Federals were re- moving women and children from the town. This last was 9 sign that the Confederate troops were pressing hard upon the garrison, and it was time for the Albemarle to act
 Returning to the ram, Captain Cooke gave orders to get up steam, and at dawn the great, numbering craft fioated over the dam under fire from a fort which had been built on shore to play upon any vessel caught in the obstruc- tions. The fire of this fort was not re- turned by the ram, neither that of a second fort lower down. which mounted heavy guns and would have sunk wooden ship in two minutes. Upon the iron shield of the AlbemarIe these mis- siles pounded harmlessly, and to the men inside sounded like pebbles thrown against barrel.
 Shortly after passing the lower fort Captain Cooke sighted two Federal steamers moving up the river abreast and taking the center of the channel The outlook was for collision and fight at once, for the channel was mar row and Flusser had fastened his ships together with long spars and chains for the purpose of getting the ram at a disadvantage at the first encounter. He supposed that, being heavy draft the Albermarle would hold tenaciously to the center of the channel.
 Flusser was sailor of daring and ingenuity, resembling in this respect the gallant Cushing, who was one day to settle scores with the Albemarle Intending to make it a fight to the fln- ish should he meet the ram, Flusser had lashed his vessels with sufficient space for the enemy's ship to run her bow between. Caught under the guns of both ships, she would lay at the mercy of shot and shell poured in both sides at close range.
 Both of the Federal gunboats opened fire the moment the Albemarle hove in sight, but the shots made no impress sion upon the iron shield. Captain Cooke did not reply to the fire, but re- lied for execution upon the prov or beak of his ship, which was made out of solid oak and plated with iron, ta- pering to a keen edge. One blow from that beak would send any wooden ship in those waters to the bottom. Seeing the maneuver of the enemy to entrap him, Captain Cooke sheered to the shore, where his vessel had sufficient depth, since she drew but eight feet of water, then, suddenly turning the beak toward midstream, crashed into the Southfield. Having the upstream end, the Albermarle moved with the cur rent, which was very swift, and at the moment of turning the engine throttles were thrown wide open in obedience to the commanders bell. The blow was terrific and made hole in the South field which let in enough water to sink her instantly had she been loose from her consort and the ram. AS 1t was, the beak of the ram broke through the starboard bow of the Southfield, pene- trating to the f1reroom and entangling the ram with her victim. So far did