The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-10-13

a'NN4A'fAD
to dash aboard the wreck in the river
and silence the Confederate pickets
stationed there. Luckily the night was
dark, and tue torpedo launch passed
within thirty feet of the pickets with
out discovery, as Gushing supposed,
and went ahead, leaving an enemy in
the rear. An attack on the pickets so
close to the ram might have raised
general alarm. Besides, Gushing had
decided to fight if lie could but get his
handful to the scene without discov-
cry. His plan at that stage was to
take the ram by boarding OverpOWer-
ing her crew with hand grenades, re-
volvers and cutlasses in the hands of
his brave crew. He counted upon 4
surprise and thought that by cutting
the fastenings of the ram and setting
her adrift he could demoraliZe the men
on board and make an easy capture.
Once adrift, he would take the chances
that her iron sides could protect his
own crew from the fire Of the forts
and the land troops whom the melee
on shipboard would arouse to action.
Gushing knew all the bearings
around the wharf and proposed to steal
past the ram, land his men on the bank
above her, then rush the silent decks.
To his Amusement a large fire was
burning on the bank near by, and the
scene was as light as day. A voice
from the ram challenged the strange
flotilla and quickly repeated the cry.
In an instant all was changed. First,
thinking of the enemy left in the rear,
Gushing ordered the cutter to cast
loose and row swiftly down stream to
silence the Confederate picket on the
cid wreck.
Disregarding the enemy's challenge
Gushing directed the launch toward
the black hull of the Albemarle, but
of logs fastened by chains and doomed
about the hull thirty feet from the
sides. This was another unlocked for
obstacle and showed that the enemy
had prepared for attack. At the mo-
ment Of this discovery the Confeder-
ates opened sharp fire of musketry
from the rams deck and from the
CliOlN' L HS letlillCD ulONC dllttll. GULF
ing abreast of the ram and near enough
for Gushing to examine the logs as
well as near enough for the southern
marksmen to take better aim. Being
satisfied that the logs had been q long
time in the water and must be covered
with slime from the river Cushing
quickly decided to leap the launch over
4hp,,, nj or, ia IL.
pedo. Gushing stood alone in the bow
of the launch, and while turning to
give the order to his engineer below
he was struck with a charge of small
shot across the back. At the first at
tempt the launch was forced over the
logs but the effort exhausted her
steam, and she drifted slowly toward
the ram.
y voice again called out from the
deck, ship ahoy! The men in the
/ launch ali gave facetiouS answers. but
Cushing responded with load Of can
lister fired from Il boat hoWtzer plant
ed by his side. Then was the time for
the torpedo, In order to understand
the most marvellous feature Of this
neryy exploit it rs necessary to know
the mechanism by which the Internal
missile was brought into use. \ spar
was pivoted by a universal joint to the
side of the launch near the bow. II
was raised and lowered by means Of a
haltard On the point Of the spar was
a socket containing a shell held in
place by a pin which had to be pulled
out in order to detach the missile. The
| drawing Of the pin and detaching the
torpedo were separate operations per
| formed by means of two lanyards in
Cushing's hands. The torpedo shell
was intended to float and when in the
right position had to be exploded by Il
third lanyard. In brief, the spar had
to be swung around, point forward,
then lowered to the required depth, the
shell next detached and forced out and
finally, when in place, fired by force
brought against a percussion cap.
At the trying moment, therefore.
Cushing had upon his person four lines
to be handled with the utmost GOODNESS
and precision. If any one movement
failed all failed. Furthermore, he had
a line from one wrist to the ankle of
the engineer to give signals for the con-
troll, of the launch. The boat moved
slowly toward the ram within ten feet
Of 100 pound rifle gun, which, as
words of command heard aboard the
launch indicated, the Confederates
were training upon the rash assailants.
Gushing kept his place bolt upright
at the bow of the launch, lines in hand
Bullets flew again, one striking the
hand which held the detaching line for
the torpedo. In spite of the blow he
lowered the spar to it's place, loosened
the torpedo and felt it floating into po-
sition, then at the right moment pulled
the firing lanyard. The instant of the
explosion a charge of canister from the
100 pound gun struck the launch, and
the upheaval of water from the eX-
ploding torpedo completely swamped
the slender craft.
Cushing paid no heed to calls from
the rams deck to surrender, but threw
aside his sword, revolver, shoes and
coat and, telling his men to save them
selves, jumped into the water. There
was a chop sea on, and he made little