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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 9/23/14 at 8:21 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 9/23/14 at 8:21 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 24 September 1864
Under command of Acting Master William T. Street, the wooden steamer USS Fuchsia, and side-wheelers Thomas Freeborn and Mercury proceeded to Milford Haven, Virginia, near which Confederates were believed to be preparing a number of boats to attack the blockading force at the mouth of the Piankatank River. Leaving Fuchsia and Thomas Freeborn at Milford Haven, Street took armed boats in tow of Mercury and proceeded up Stutt's Creek. Some three miles upstream a force of 40 sailors was landed, under Acting Master William A. Arthur and Acting Ensign Philip Sheridan. Four Confederate boats were destroyed, five were captured, and a fishery demolished. Though the Rappahannock River area was dominated by the Northern forces, Union ships had to be continually on the alert to prevent audacious Southern raids.
General Robert E. Lee wrote Secretary of War Seddon of another dilemma posed by the South's weakness at sea: "Since the fitting out of the privateer Tallahassee and her cruise from the port of Wilmington, the enemy's fleet of blockaders off that coast has been very much increased, and the dangers of running the blockade rendered much greater. The question arises whether it is of more importance to us to obtain supplies through that port or to prey upon the enemy's commerce by privateers sent from thence...It might be well therefore, if practicable, to divert
the enemy's attention from Wilmington Harbor and keep it open as long as possible as a port of entry. While it is open the energies...should be exerted...to get in two or three years' supplies so as to remove all apprehension on this score."
It was a time of rack and ruin in many parts of the country today. In the Shenandoah Valley, General Jubal Early’s Confederate cavalry was staying just far enough ahead of General Phillip Sheridan’s pursuing Federals that no real battle could be fought. Sheridan’s men, therefore, spent their time burning barns, farms, fields, haystacks and anything else that could possibly be of use to the military forces of the Confederacy. When not doing this, they skirmished at Mount Jackson, New Market, Luray, and Timberville. Sheridan, believing the Confederate threat was ended, wrote to Hiram U. Grant, “Let the burning of the crops in the Valley be the end of this campaign, and let some of this army go elsewhere.” Grant agreed, and the Federals began destroying private crops from Staunton to Strasburg to prevent the region from feeding Confederate forces.
In Missouri, Sterling Price’s Confederate raiders committed similar depredations in Fayette, along with rumbles in Jackson and Farmington, Missouri.
Finally, Nathan Bedford Forrest leads his Confederate cavalry to a battle in Athens, Alabama, resulting in their capture of the Union fort there. During the march to Athens, Forrest had sent his 14th and 20th Tennessee Cavalry along with his brother, Jesse, to McDonald's Station--a cotton stop--and orders them to cut the rail lines of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and the telegraph lines as well. Forrest continues approaching Fort Henderson from the southwest, and sends Colonel C.R. Barteau and the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry north of the female seminary.
Inside the fort, Union Colonel Wallace Campbell hears about fighting at McDonald's Station near Tanner. He thinks the Confederate force is Brigadier General P.D. Roddey, of Moulton, a man the Union fears almost as much as Forrest. Both can strike fast and slip away. He doesn't know the cavalry is Jesse Forrest's smaller unit. Campbell takes 100 men from the 110th Colored Infantry by train to the skirmish. His men run off Confederate cavalry tearing up the tracks. As the train travels backward to Athens, Campbell finds more Confederate cavalry burning the tracks to the north. The train forces its way through. The incident takes an hour.
In town, the Union army captures a Confederate physician named Dr. Latham, who boasts Forrest is coming with 10,000 to 12,000 men. Perhaps Forrest wanted the Yankees to capture Dr. Latham, so he could plant the seed that his force is more than double his actual number. A Union relief force from Decatur Junction, where the Memphis and Charleston Railroad intersects with the Tennessee and Alabama Central Railroad, moves toward Athens on Friday afternoon, anticipating a fight.
Last night, Forrest arrived in Athens and placed eight cannons around the fort. In town, east of the fort, sporadic fighting breaks out, along with cordial greetings between Confederate and Union soldiers who bump into each other in the dark. Some Union soldiers who cannot get to the fort burn goods they think the Confederates might want. Near the courthouse, 2nd Lieutenant John Wesley Andes of the 2nd U.S. Tennessee Cavalry gets an opportunity to accomplish something the entire Union Army has wanted to do throughout the war: capture Forrest.
Andes sees Forrest's escort at the Maclin home about 7 p.m. Forrest is eating dinner with the family. Because it is dark, Andes identifies himself to Confederates outside the home as a member of the 2nd Tennessee. The Rebels think he means the 2nd Tennessee, Confederate cavalry, and do not stop him. Andes orders his men to surround Forrest's escort. Andes hesitates. He, too, heard rumors that Forrest may have more than 10,000 men and decides not to risk a fight. He finds his commander, Colonel William F. Prosser, but remains silent about Forrest's dinner. Prosser argues with Campbell, saying the entire army should sneak out of Athens before Saturday morning. Campbell refuses. Prosser, with the help of a black guide, leads his troops past the Rebels and back to Decatur Junction. Mary Fielding, 29, who is living at the Maclin home, peers out a window before 7 a.m. on Saturday and writes in her diary that one of Forrest's brigades "...seemed to go in all directions; marching, counter-marching, going first one way and then another." Forrest's antics have a purpose. He wants Campbell to think he has a massive force.
"Are there any Yankees in town this morning?" Confederate soldiers ask as they ride into Athens past Roswell Hine's home toward the courthouse. By now, the majority of Union soldiers are inside Fort Henderson.At first light, Forrest orders an artillery barrage. Campbell, who has two cannon, notes that none of the Confederate shells miss the fort. About 10 a.m., Forrest sends Major J.P. Strange under a flag of truce to demand surrender. Campbell assembles a council of war, which reviews Forrest's terms: white officers will go to prison camps and the Negroes to their masters. The council refuses surrender. Forrest proceeds with an artillery barrage. At 10:30 a.m., he sends Strange again to demand surrender. Campbell wants to buy time so relief forces from Decatur or Pulaski, Tennessee, can arrive. Forrest knows his troops are fighting relief troops from Decatur. Forrest plans to trick Campbell before relief forces arrive and asks Campbell to review his Confederate force.
Under command of Acting Master William T. Street, the wooden steamer USS Fuchsia, and side-wheelers Thomas Freeborn and Mercury proceeded to Milford Haven, Virginia, near which Confederates were believed to be preparing a number of boats to attack the blockading force at the mouth of the Piankatank River. Leaving Fuchsia and Thomas Freeborn at Milford Haven, Street took armed boats in tow of Mercury and proceeded up Stutt's Creek. Some three miles upstream a force of 40 sailors was landed, under Acting Master William A. Arthur and Acting Ensign Philip Sheridan. Four Confederate boats were destroyed, five were captured, and a fishery demolished. Though the Rappahannock River area was dominated by the Northern forces, Union ships had to be continually on the alert to prevent audacious Southern raids.
General Robert E. Lee wrote Secretary of War Seddon of another dilemma posed by the South's weakness at sea: "Since the fitting out of the privateer Tallahassee and her cruise from the port of Wilmington, the enemy's fleet of blockaders off that coast has been very much increased, and the dangers of running the blockade rendered much greater. The question arises whether it is of more importance to us to obtain supplies through that port or to prey upon the enemy's commerce by privateers sent from thence...It might be well therefore, if practicable, to divert
the enemy's attention from Wilmington Harbor and keep it open as long as possible as a port of entry. While it is open the energies...should be exerted...to get in two or three years' supplies so as to remove all apprehension on this score."
It was a time of rack and ruin in many parts of the country today. In the Shenandoah Valley, General Jubal Early’s Confederate cavalry was staying just far enough ahead of General Phillip Sheridan’s pursuing Federals that no real battle could be fought. Sheridan’s men, therefore, spent their time burning barns, farms, fields, haystacks and anything else that could possibly be of use to the military forces of the Confederacy. When not doing this, they skirmished at Mount Jackson, New Market, Luray, and Timberville. Sheridan, believing the Confederate threat was ended, wrote to Hiram U. Grant, “Let the burning of the crops in the Valley be the end of this campaign, and let some of this army go elsewhere.” Grant agreed, and the Federals began destroying private crops from Staunton to Strasburg to prevent the region from feeding Confederate forces.
In Missouri, Sterling Price’s Confederate raiders committed similar depredations in Fayette, along with rumbles in Jackson and Farmington, Missouri.
Finally, Nathan Bedford Forrest leads his Confederate cavalry to a battle in Athens, Alabama, resulting in their capture of the Union fort there. During the march to Athens, Forrest had sent his 14th and 20th Tennessee Cavalry along with his brother, Jesse, to McDonald's Station--a cotton stop--and orders them to cut the rail lines of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and the telegraph lines as well. Forrest continues approaching Fort Henderson from the southwest, and sends Colonel C.R. Barteau and the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry north of the female seminary.
Inside the fort, Union Colonel Wallace Campbell hears about fighting at McDonald's Station near Tanner. He thinks the Confederate force is Brigadier General P.D. Roddey, of Moulton, a man the Union fears almost as much as Forrest. Both can strike fast and slip away. He doesn't know the cavalry is Jesse Forrest's smaller unit. Campbell takes 100 men from the 110th Colored Infantry by train to the skirmish. His men run off Confederate cavalry tearing up the tracks. As the train travels backward to Athens, Campbell finds more Confederate cavalry burning the tracks to the north. The train forces its way through. The incident takes an hour.
In town, the Union army captures a Confederate physician named Dr. Latham, who boasts Forrest is coming with 10,000 to 12,000 men. Perhaps Forrest wanted the Yankees to capture Dr. Latham, so he could plant the seed that his force is more than double his actual number. A Union relief force from Decatur Junction, where the Memphis and Charleston Railroad intersects with the Tennessee and Alabama Central Railroad, moves toward Athens on Friday afternoon, anticipating a fight.
Last night, Forrest arrived in Athens and placed eight cannons around the fort. In town, east of the fort, sporadic fighting breaks out, along with cordial greetings between Confederate and Union soldiers who bump into each other in the dark. Some Union soldiers who cannot get to the fort burn goods they think the Confederates might want. Near the courthouse, 2nd Lieutenant John Wesley Andes of the 2nd U.S. Tennessee Cavalry gets an opportunity to accomplish something the entire Union Army has wanted to do throughout the war: capture Forrest.
Andes sees Forrest's escort at the Maclin home about 7 p.m. Forrest is eating dinner with the family. Because it is dark, Andes identifies himself to Confederates outside the home as a member of the 2nd Tennessee. The Rebels think he means the 2nd Tennessee, Confederate cavalry, and do not stop him. Andes orders his men to surround Forrest's escort. Andes hesitates. He, too, heard rumors that Forrest may have more than 10,000 men and decides not to risk a fight. He finds his commander, Colonel William F. Prosser, but remains silent about Forrest's dinner. Prosser argues with Campbell, saying the entire army should sneak out of Athens before Saturday morning. Campbell refuses. Prosser, with the help of a black guide, leads his troops past the Rebels and back to Decatur Junction. Mary Fielding, 29, who is living at the Maclin home, peers out a window before 7 a.m. on Saturday and writes in her diary that one of Forrest's brigades "...seemed to go in all directions; marching, counter-marching, going first one way and then another." Forrest's antics have a purpose. He wants Campbell to think he has a massive force.
"Are there any Yankees in town this morning?" Confederate soldiers ask as they ride into Athens past Roswell Hine's home toward the courthouse. By now, the majority of Union soldiers are inside Fort Henderson.At first light, Forrest orders an artillery barrage. Campbell, who has two cannon, notes that none of the Confederate shells miss the fort. About 10 a.m., Forrest sends Major J.P. Strange under a flag of truce to demand surrender. Campbell assembles a council of war, which reviews Forrest's terms: white officers will go to prison camps and the Negroes to their masters. The council refuses surrender. Forrest proceeds with an artillery barrage. At 10:30 a.m., he sends Strange again to demand surrender. Campbell wants to buy time so relief forces from Decatur or Pulaski, Tennessee, can arrive. Forrest knows his troops are fighting relief troops from Decatur. Forrest plans to trick Campbell before relief forces arrive and asks Campbell to review his Confederate force.
2
Posted on 9/23/14 at 8:25 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 24 September 1864 continued
Riding with Forrest, Campbell counts 24 cannon, not eight. After Campbell counts a cannon and rides on, Forrest's men move it to a new location. Forrest also has campfires lit throughout the countryside to make Campbell think his force is more than 4,500. During Campbell's review, a Colonel James Wheeler, no relation to General Joe Wheeler, rides up to Forrest and Campbell. "General Forrest...saluted him as General Wheeler, and asked how many men he had," writes Ruffin Coleman, a witness to the surrender. "Colonel Wheeler caught on instantly, and in a clear, ringing voice answered, '7,000!' " Campbell thinks General Joseph Wheeler of Lawrence County has his entire cavalry on site. Campbell relates this information to the war council, which still doesn't want to surrender. Campbell tells them, "The jig is up," and orders the flag lowered in surrender. Forrest captures 500 horses and 973 men. He burns the fort and marches his men toward his next objective, the Union fort in Elkmont at Sulphur Creek Trestle.
President Abraham Lincoln appointed Ohio Governor William Dennison to replace Montgomery Blair as postmaster general. Lincoln also approved a measure allowing the Federal purchase of products from states “...declared in insurrection.”
Riding with Forrest, Campbell counts 24 cannon, not eight. After Campbell counts a cannon and rides on, Forrest's men move it to a new location. Forrest also has campfires lit throughout the countryside to make Campbell think his force is more than 4,500. During Campbell's review, a Colonel James Wheeler, no relation to General Joe Wheeler, rides up to Forrest and Campbell. "General Forrest...saluted him as General Wheeler, and asked how many men he had," writes Ruffin Coleman, a witness to the surrender. "Colonel Wheeler caught on instantly, and in a clear, ringing voice answered, '7,000!' " Campbell thinks General Joseph Wheeler of Lawrence County has his entire cavalry on site. Campbell relates this information to the war council, which still doesn't want to surrender. Campbell tells them, "The jig is up," and orders the flag lowered in surrender. Forrest captures 500 horses and 973 men. He burns the fort and marches his men toward his next objective, the Union fort in Elkmont at Sulphur Creek Trestle.
President Abraham Lincoln appointed Ohio Governor William Dennison to replace Montgomery Blair as postmaster general. Lincoln also approved a measure allowing the Federal purchase of products from states “...declared in insurrection.”
Posted on 10/26/14 at 7:11 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Thursday, 27 October 1864
The CSS Albermarle, one of the last warships built by the Confederacy, had caused instant terror in the hearts of the US Navy on Virginia's Roanoke and James River. Lieutenant William Cushing and 14 crewmen set forth on a steam cutter, with a launch in tow, up the Roanoke to deal with their foe once and for all. In rain and darkness they were able to approach within 20 yards before being detected. The scene now lit by a huge shore bonfire, Cushing and his ship were shot at both from ram and shore. Worse, they could now see the ship was surrounded by a protective boom of logs. He circled to build up speed, crashed over the boom, and personally lowered and set off the torpedo spar. The ramship fired simultaneously and both ships exploded. Cushing, ordering an abandon ship tried to get his wounded friend John Woodman to shore but failed. All but one other were killed or captured.
Full report: A boat expedition commanded by William Barker Cushing destroyed CSS Albemarle at Plymouth, on the Roanoke River, North Carolina. Cushing reported to Rear Admiral Porter on 30 October: "I have the honor to report that the Rebel ironclad Albemarle is at the bottom of the Roanoke River." In July, Cushing, only 21 years old, bad been sent to Washington by Rear Admiral Lee to discuss with the Navy Department his plans for sinking the Confederate ram. He proposed at that time two plans, one involving a boarding party to travel overland and attack with India rubber boats, and the other calling for two steam launches to approach the ram's moorings on the river. Both plans envisaged the capture of the ram, since Cushing wanted to destroy her only if it became necessary. Secretary Welles assented to the plan, and gave the daring Lieutenant permission to proceed to New York to procure the necessary boats.
Cushing decided upon two thirty-foot steam picket launches, each fitted with a fourteen-foot spar and a torpedo, and mounting a twelve-pounder howitzer in the bow. Moving south by the inland water route, one of the picket boats was lost to the Confederates, but the other arrived in the sounds of North Carolina on 24 October. As Cushing later reported: "Here I, for the first time, disclosed to my officers and men our object and told them that they were at liberty to go or not as they pleased. These, seven in number, all volunteered." The imaginative attack seemed at first doomed to failure. Cushing departed the night of 26 October, but grounded at the mouth of Roanoke River, and spent most of the hours of darkness freeing his small craft. The attempt was postponed until 27 October.
That night was dark and foul. Cushing was accompanied by fourteen men, an additional seven having been recruited from the blockading squadron. Among them were his old companion, Acting Master's Mate William L. Howorth, and that veteran of Roanoke reconnaissance patrols, Acting Master's Mate John Woodman. Towed behind the torpedo boat was a cutter from USS Shamrock whose duty, as Cushing described it,"...was to dash aboard the Southfield at the first hail and prevent any rocket from being ignited." Southfield had been captured by Confederates in an earlier action with Albemarle and was sunk in the Roanoke a mile below the ironclad's berth. With the steam engine's throb muffled by a heavy tarp, the expedition moved out to cover the eight miles between Albemarle Sound and Plymouth, keeping close to the bank and anticipating discovery at any moment. Cushing's renowned good fortune held, however, and he succeeded in passing within twenty feet of Southfield without being challenged. The lieutenant still hoped to board Albemarle and "take her alive" but as he steamed up to the ram, an alert picket saw the dim form of the boat and challenged. Cushing instantly changed his plan: "...just as I was sheering in close to the wharf a hail came sharp and quick from the ironclad, in an instant repeated. I at once directed the cutter to cast off and go down to capture the guard left in our rear, and ordering all steam, went at the dark mountain of iron in front of us. A heavy fire at once opened upon us, not only from the ship, but from the men stationed on the shore, but this did not disable us and we neared them rapidly." A large fire now blazed up on shore and Cushing discovered a large boom of protective logs surrounding the Confederate ship. Amid the mounting fire, he coolly turned the boat around in order to run at the obstructions at full speed. "As I turned the whole back of my coat was torn out by buck shot and the sole of my shoe was carried away. The fire was very severe. In the lull of the firing the Captain hailed us, again demanding what boat it was. All my men gave comical answer and mine was a dose of canister which I sent amongst them from the howitzer, buzzing and singing against the iron ribs and into the mass of men standing firelit upon the shore." According to the recollections of Acting Ensign Thomas Gay, later captured, Cushing shouted: "Leave the ram or I'll blow you to pieces!" No response being heard, Cushing ran through the hail of fire at full speed, his boat lurching over the log barrier. "The torpedo boom was lowered and by a vigorous pull I succeeded in diving the torpedo under the overhang and exploding it at the same time that the Albemarle's gun was fired. A shot seemed to go chasing through my boat, and a dense mass of water rushed in from the torpedo, filling the launch and completely disabling her."
Albemarle, a gaping hole in her port quarter, began to sink rapidly. Lieutenant Warley, commanding her reported: "The water gained on us so fast that all exertions were fruitless, and the vessel went down in a few moments, merely leaving her shield and smokestack out." Cushing found his own boat sinking but, refusing to surrender in the midst of the enemy, ordered his men to save themselves and started to swim for shore. Although he had exploded the torpedo virtually staring down the muzzle of Albemarle's gun, he was miraculously unharmed. Making for shore, he tried to save the gallant John Woodman, who was unable to swim any longer, but Woodman sank. Cushing finally pulled himself half onto the bank and lay exhausted until morning. Finding himself near a Confederate picket station, he managed to seize a skiff and rowed the eight miles downstream to Albemarle Sound. There he was picked up by USS Valley City.
When news of the young lieutenant's feat reached the squadron, rockets were set off, and all hands called to "cheer ship". Elated, Porter said that Lieutenant Cushing had "displayed a heroic enterprise seldom equaled and never excelled..."He has shown an absolute disregard of death or danger, and will no doubt be suitably rewarded by the Government, which reward he well deserves." The Admiral's enthusiasm was well founded, for the destruction of Albemarle paved the way for the capture of Plymouth and firm control of the entire Roanoke River area. It also released ships that had been guarding against the ram for other blockade duties. Congress commended Cushing for his bravery and enterprise, and promoted him to Lieutenant Commander. Edward J. Houghton, the only other man to escape death or capture, was awarded the Medal of Honor.
The CSS Albermarle, one of the last warships built by the Confederacy, had caused instant terror in the hearts of the US Navy on Virginia's Roanoke and James River. Lieutenant William Cushing and 14 crewmen set forth on a steam cutter, with a launch in tow, up the Roanoke to deal with their foe once and for all. In rain and darkness they were able to approach within 20 yards before being detected. The scene now lit by a huge shore bonfire, Cushing and his ship were shot at both from ram and shore. Worse, they could now see the ship was surrounded by a protective boom of logs. He circled to build up speed, crashed over the boom, and personally lowered and set off the torpedo spar. The ramship fired simultaneously and both ships exploded. Cushing, ordering an abandon ship tried to get his wounded friend John Woodman to shore but failed. All but one other were killed or captured.
Full report: A boat expedition commanded by William Barker Cushing destroyed CSS Albemarle at Plymouth, on the Roanoke River, North Carolina. Cushing reported to Rear Admiral Porter on 30 October: "I have the honor to report that the Rebel ironclad Albemarle is at the bottom of the Roanoke River." In July, Cushing, only 21 years old, bad been sent to Washington by Rear Admiral Lee to discuss with the Navy Department his plans for sinking the Confederate ram. He proposed at that time two plans, one involving a boarding party to travel overland and attack with India rubber boats, and the other calling for two steam launches to approach the ram's moorings on the river. Both plans envisaged the capture of the ram, since Cushing wanted to destroy her only if it became necessary. Secretary Welles assented to the plan, and gave the daring Lieutenant permission to proceed to New York to procure the necessary boats.
Cushing decided upon two thirty-foot steam picket launches, each fitted with a fourteen-foot spar and a torpedo, and mounting a twelve-pounder howitzer in the bow. Moving south by the inland water route, one of the picket boats was lost to the Confederates, but the other arrived in the sounds of North Carolina on 24 October. As Cushing later reported: "Here I, for the first time, disclosed to my officers and men our object and told them that they were at liberty to go or not as they pleased. These, seven in number, all volunteered." The imaginative attack seemed at first doomed to failure. Cushing departed the night of 26 October, but grounded at the mouth of Roanoke River, and spent most of the hours of darkness freeing his small craft. The attempt was postponed until 27 October.
That night was dark and foul. Cushing was accompanied by fourteen men, an additional seven having been recruited from the blockading squadron. Among them were his old companion, Acting Master's Mate William L. Howorth, and that veteran of Roanoke reconnaissance patrols, Acting Master's Mate John Woodman. Towed behind the torpedo boat was a cutter from USS Shamrock whose duty, as Cushing described it,"...was to dash aboard the Southfield at the first hail and prevent any rocket from being ignited." Southfield had been captured by Confederates in an earlier action with Albemarle and was sunk in the Roanoke a mile below the ironclad's berth. With the steam engine's throb muffled by a heavy tarp, the expedition moved out to cover the eight miles between Albemarle Sound and Plymouth, keeping close to the bank and anticipating discovery at any moment. Cushing's renowned good fortune held, however, and he succeeded in passing within twenty feet of Southfield without being challenged. The lieutenant still hoped to board Albemarle and "take her alive" but as he steamed up to the ram, an alert picket saw the dim form of the boat and challenged. Cushing instantly changed his plan: "...just as I was sheering in close to the wharf a hail came sharp and quick from the ironclad, in an instant repeated. I at once directed the cutter to cast off and go down to capture the guard left in our rear, and ordering all steam, went at the dark mountain of iron in front of us. A heavy fire at once opened upon us, not only from the ship, but from the men stationed on the shore, but this did not disable us and we neared them rapidly." A large fire now blazed up on shore and Cushing discovered a large boom of protective logs surrounding the Confederate ship. Amid the mounting fire, he coolly turned the boat around in order to run at the obstructions at full speed. "As I turned the whole back of my coat was torn out by buck shot and the sole of my shoe was carried away. The fire was very severe. In the lull of the firing the Captain hailed us, again demanding what boat it was. All my men gave comical answer and mine was a dose of canister which I sent amongst them from the howitzer, buzzing and singing against the iron ribs and into the mass of men standing firelit upon the shore." According to the recollections of Acting Ensign Thomas Gay, later captured, Cushing shouted: "Leave the ram or I'll blow you to pieces!" No response being heard, Cushing ran through the hail of fire at full speed, his boat lurching over the log barrier. "The torpedo boom was lowered and by a vigorous pull I succeeded in diving the torpedo under the overhang and exploding it at the same time that the Albemarle's gun was fired. A shot seemed to go chasing through my boat, and a dense mass of water rushed in from the torpedo, filling the launch and completely disabling her."
Albemarle, a gaping hole in her port quarter, began to sink rapidly. Lieutenant Warley, commanding her reported: "The water gained on us so fast that all exertions were fruitless, and the vessel went down in a few moments, merely leaving her shield and smokestack out." Cushing found his own boat sinking but, refusing to surrender in the midst of the enemy, ordered his men to save themselves and started to swim for shore. Although he had exploded the torpedo virtually staring down the muzzle of Albemarle's gun, he was miraculously unharmed. Making for shore, he tried to save the gallant John Woodman, who was unable to swim any longer, but Woodman sank. Cushing finally pulled himself half onto the bank and lay exhausted until morning. Finding himself near a Confederate picket station, he managed to seize a skiff and rowed the eight miles downstream to Albemarle Sound. There he was picked up by USS Valley City.
When news of the young lieutenant's feat reached the squadron, rockets were set off, and all hands called to "cheer ship". Elated, Porter said that Lieutenant Cushing had "displayed a heroic enterprise seldom equaled and never excelled..."He has shown an absolute disregard of death or danger, and will no doubt be suitably rewarded by the Government, which reward he well deserves." The Admiral's enthusiasm was well founded, for the destruction of Albemarle paved the way for the capture of Plymouth and firm control of the entire Roanoke River area. It also released ships that had been guarding against the ram for other blockade duties. Congress commended Cushing for his bravery and enterprise, and promoted him to Lieutenant Commander. Edward J. Houghton, the only other man to escape death or capture, was awarded the Medal of Honor.
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