Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-09-14
INTREPID GUSHING.
Warm Words of Praise from an
Old Confederate Who Witnessed
Lieutenant Cushing's Heroic


Action.
Norfolk, Va, September 3, 1906.-An
old Confederate sailor who was present
when the ram Albemarle was blown
up at Plymouth, N. c., in 1864, stood
on the string piece of a Norfolk wharf
last week. A few yards away the tor
pedo boat Cushing was beating the
placid waters of the harbor into a vio-
lently-twisting froth as she tore swiftly
out to sea. "There," said the old mari.
ner, "goes boat with the name of the
bravest man the Yanks ever had in their
navy and one of the bravest men that
ever lived. On the night on which w.
B. Cushing blew up the Albemarle, l
could plainly see his face and actions by
the bonfire built on shore. He w nt
about his work oblivious of verything
using deliberation where deliberation was
necessary and haste where he could.
although a hundred rifles were
trained on him and he could plainly see
the big Bcookes Rifle in the bow of the
Albemarle trained directly on him he
never finched. How he escaped ami
hilation is more than | can understand.
The one chance in a million saved him. "
Cushing was only twenty-one at the
time of this brilliant exploit. He was
made a lieutenant commander and re-
ceived 1000 as his share of prize money
for destroying the Albemarle. The story
of the destruction of the Albemarle is
too well-known to be repeated here.
After its destruction was verified the
world rang with Cushing's fame. Not
only was his achievement remarkable
for the splendid bravery displayed but
because a whole fleet of Federal ships
had in vain tried to make an impress
sion on the rams invulnerable sides.
Had it not been destroyed in a short
time the land and water operations of
the Federal government would have been
jeopardized.
j. NJ. Batten, NJ. D., who was sur
geon in the. United States Navy tells
in his book of Cushing's behavior in
connection with the destruction of the
Abemare. DIR. Batten was a passenger
on the steamer Valley City of the Federal
fleet on October 90. 1854. Cushing was
also aboard having just arrived with a
torpedo launch which he had had con-
structed at the New York Navy Yard.
The next morning DR.. Batten found
Cushing has disappeared. On October
2Sth, the day after the destruction of the
Albemarle, the Valley City got under
way and proceeded to the mouth of the
Roanoke. AS she was passing in DR..
Batten says voice hailed the ship from
the shore and the Valley City sent of
a boat, which much to his surprise, on
its return brought off Lieutenant Cush.
ing with all his clothing gone except
pair of stockings, pantaloons and a
coarse flannel shirt. He was wet, cold
tired, hungry and Frustrated. He had
, been absent five days and most of that
time had been without food. His crew
had consisted of twelve volunteers OF
whom two were drowned, one escaped
and the rest captured
On Cushings return to the feet he was
received with rational salute of twenty.
one guns. This is one of the few coca.
sions on which lieutenant not in com.
mand has been given salute with big
guns. 1t is the only occasion on which
lieutenant has been saluted with the
National salute, which is reserved fol-
rulers of countries.
The Gushing at present forms part of
the reserve torpedo squadron which has
its base at Norfolk under command of
Lieutenant l. V. ellis. She will prob.
ably he kept in Norfolk during the life
of the jamestown Exposition to he held
on the shores of Hampton Roads near
Norfolk, in 1907 and visitors can then
see the famous old boat.
During the Spanish American War
she acted as despatch boat and member
of the Cuban blockadng fleet. She was
built at the yard of the Herreshoffs al
Bristol. Rhode Island. She Is 139 feet
inches in length on the water line. of
ID feet three inches beam. and dra We
four feet ten inches of water. Her full
load displacement is l42 tons. She is a
twin screw vessel driven by Thorney.