322 Norto Carontna Troops, 1861~-’65.

portunity, and with all steam on struck the Albemarle
squarely just abaft her starboard beam, causing every timber
in the vicinity of the blow to groan, though none gave way.
The pressure from the revolving wheel of the Sassacus was
so great that it forced the after deck of the ram several feet
below the surface of the water, and created an impression on
board that she was about to sink. Some of the crew became
demoralized, but the calm voice of the undismayed captain
checked the incipient disorder, with the command, “Stand to
your guns, and if we must sink let us go down like brave
men.”
The Albemarle soon recovered, and sent a shot at her as-
sailant which passed through one of the latter’s boilers, the
hissing steam-disabling a number of the crew. Yet the disci-
pline of the Sassacus was such that, notwithstanding the nat-
ural consternation under these appalling circumstances, two
of her guns continued to fire on the Albemarle until she
drifted out of the arena of battle. Two of the fleet attempted
to foul the propellers of the ram with a large fishing seine
which they had previously procured for the purpose, but the
line parted in paying it out. Then they tried to blow her up
with a torpedo, but failed. No better success attended an
effort to throw a keg of gunpowder down her smoke-stack, or
what was left of it, for it was riddled with holes from shot
and shell. This smoke-stack had lost its capacity for draw-
ing, and the boat lay a helpless mass on the water. While in
this condition every effort was made by her numerous ene-
mies to destroy her. The unequal conflict continued until
night. Some of the Federal vessels were more or less disa-
bled, and both sides were doubtless well content to draw off.
Captain Cooke had on board a supply of bacon and lard, and
this sort of fuel being available to burn without draught from
a smoke-stack, he was able to make sufficient steam to get the
boat back to Plymouth, where she tied up to her wharf coy-
ered with wounds and with glory.

The Albemarle in her different engagements was struck a
great many times by shot and shell, the upper section alone of
the smoke-stack has 114 holes made by shot and shell, and yet
but one man lost his life, and that was caused by a pistol-shot

 

THe Ram “ALBEMARLE.” 323

from the Miami, the imprudent sailor having put his ne
out of one of the port-holes to see what was going on outsi m

Captain Cooke was at once promoted and placed soar
mand of all the Confederate naval forces in pa so = :
Carolina. The Albemarle remained tied to her w art a
Plymouth until the night of 27 October, 1864, when cated
ant William B. Cushing, of the United States Navy, per
formed the daring feat of destroying her with a eae >
Having procured a torpedo-boat 80 constructed as to pe : 7
fast, for a short distance, and with the exhaust steam

+7 Y-
as to be noiseless, he proceeded, with a crew of fou

ranged Guards had been stationed

teen men, up the Roanoke river. :
by the Confederate military commander on the wreck of the

Southfield, whose top deck was then above oa since’
failed to see the boat. A boom of logs had Si . Bes
around the Albemarle, distant about thirty — — —
Captain Cooke had Pens e hae pL ialageti : pore .
is arrangement before giving Uf
ange Captain A. F. Warley. Cushing ers a ~~ 2
to these logs, and there, under a hot fire, lowered a

‘le’s bottom, causing her

“pedo under the Albemarle’s bo ;
Septets lly to sink at the wharf. The torpedo-
; Cushing refusing to sur-

plode
to settle down and fina

> were ¢: d; but
boat and crew were captured ; oor he
render, though twice called upon to do so, sprang in

: y oppo-
river, dived to the bottom, and swam across to Ans oie a
eat } A r : an ;
site the town, thus making his escape; and on ; As ce
after having experienced great suffering, wandering

d e 2 2 small eanoe, and made
? 5S ;
the sw amp. he succeeded in obtainin a

his way back to the fleet.
The river front being no longe

isi ¢ el
ances for raising the sunken vess of
tober the Federal forces attacked and captured the town

Plymouth. The Albemarle was subsequently raised Le
towed to the Norfolk Navy Yard, and after being strippec

5 tober.
her atmament, machinery, etc., she was sold, 15 Oc ¥
1867.

r protected, and no appli-
being available, on 31 Oc-

Grupert Exxiort.

Sr. Lours, Mo.,
20 April, 1888.