Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-23
O BY Review of Reviews company.

Federal troops. and formidable Federal
fleets rode upon the sounds and rivers.
Tle Confederate war vessels upon
those waters had been aunihilated in
connection with Burnside's operations.
and thenceforth until 1854 no Confed-
crate flag was flung from the mast in
broad daylight north Of Wilmington.
% The rule OF the sounds by the Fed
.-eral feet was by no means to the lik-
ing of the COnfederates. But the coast
was too well guarded to permit any
respectable war craft TO get in. The
old ones had been destroyed or cap
turcd and there were no yards and
shops Mt hand where new ones could be
constructed.
% Federal guns frowned from fortress
walls on Plymouth and Newbern.
and Federal vessels rode I'm their har-
bors. With occasional attempts on the
part OF the Confederates to end this
unequal state of things two years pass
ed Orders had been given to con-
'struct vessels in the upper waters of
1he state. but the work went on slow
by. and in the winter of 1864 it was
decided at Richmond to commence re-
fjdeeming North Carolina.
= The Iron Ram Albemarle.
A general attempt was decided upon
10 secure the important Federal posts
along the whole coast. and force IN
der General r. r. Hoke was directed
upon Plymouth. The place was de-
sfended by General II. w. Vessels
with about $500 infantry. and in the
river were the wooden gunboats South
field and Miami and an improvised war
vessel, the BombsheIl. mounting three
hpieces. General Hoke began his opera
9tdons on the 10th OF April and urged
bthe commander Of the ram AIbemarle
Ito hasten down the river and assail |
1.-THE Federal ships.
r The AlbemarIe was brand new con
kstruction OF pine beams and iron ribs. |
(which was intended 10 initiate the /
fMerrimac and smash the numerous /
frail wooden ships OF the Federals in i
fAIbemarle sound. The new ram had
fbeen built during 1853 far up Roanoke
river, the enterprise being attended
with great difficulties owing 10 the &C
tffvity OF the Federals, who were mas
tters OF all that region. The keel was
tlaid in n cornheid. with a country
blacksmitffs outfit for implements All
the plantations in the vicinity were
lsearched for metal that could be turn
ed into plate for the rams shield.
The region where the keel was laid
afforded nothing but pine. and to Sc
lcure tmbers portable sawmills were
run about the country 20 pick out suit
able trees. The vessel was I52 feet
Bong and - wide az the extreme. Her
depth was nine feet and her draft
when ironed and armed about eight
fleet. Her armor was two courses Of
iron seven inches wide and two inches
ithlck laid on sixteen inches OF wooden
backing. The iron for the armor was ,
rolled at the Tredegar works in Rich
tmond. but the crude material was diff
hcult TO get. and use was made OF such
old pieces as could be picked up.
Fighting Begins at Plymouth.
i When at last the ram was ready for
a trial Il was planned by the Confeder- {
ates 10 make n land attack ut Plym- r
outh. near the mouth Of the Roanoke. T
with the aid Of the ram 10 silence the Z
Federal ships in the river-na mely. the Fl
Miami. mounting eiGL; guns. and the 81
sOUtb6eld mounting seven. each yes q
81 carrying hundred FOUNDER Par al
OFT rife. These ships were command 81
d by Lieutenant c. W. Flusser who
sed the MiaHH - his flagship. m
Flusser had been warned thar the in
cw ram was about completed. and bH
zen General Roses skirmishers aIi- an
jared IcfOre the town on the 18th i IN,
a. taken aS si.ual that the Abe ! LO'