The FReeper Foxhole Remembers the Confederate Ram CSS Albemarle (1864) - Apr 28th, 2004

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[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

...................................................................................... ...........................................

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The Birth and Death
of the
Confederate Ram Albemarle

The use of iron versus wood and the torpedo boat were to change the nature of naval warfare forever.

In May of 1861, Lieutenant James W. Cooke, the future Captain of the Confederate Ram Albemarle, resigned his commission in the United States Navy to join the Confederate Navy. By the fall of 1861, Cooke had been appointed official liaison between North Carolina contractors and the Confederate Navy Department. Soon after, he was promoted to the rank Commander. Cooke found himself traveling around North Carolina coordinating the building of ironclads and attempting to locate boat-building materials including iron for plating the gunboats. Iron from the railroads became a primary source. Cooke, for example, managed to secure through negotiations with the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad Company the railroad tracks that ran between Kinston and New Bern. These tracks had become of no use to the Confederates because New Bern had fallen into the hands of Union forces.

CSS Albemarle (1864-1864)
General plan, which appears to be a copy of a Civil War era drawing.
The original is plan # 3-5-27 in Record Group 19 at the U.S. National Archives.

North Carolina Governor Zebulon Vance agreed for the railroad iron to be taken and shipped to either Richmond, Virginia or Atlanta, Georgia to be rolled into plate under the stipulation that it be used for the defense of the state. In particular, the governor noted that the railroad iron should be used on the ironclads being built inland on the Neuse and the Roanoke Rivers.

Propellers and propeller shafts for the ironclads were fabricated in the Confederate Navy yard at Charlotte. Steam engines were obtained wherever they could be found. Although no one knows for sure, some people claim the engine for the Albemarle was converted from "a large saw mill."



The Ram Albemarle was built upriver in eastern North Carolina in William Ruffin Smith, Jr's cornfield on the edge of the Roanoke River near Scotland Neck in the spring of 1864. The cornfield soon became known as Edwards Ferry Shipyard, because of its close proximity to a river crossing called Edwards Ferry. The Albemarle was 122 feet long, 45 feet beam and her draft 8 feet. Her planking was 4 inches thick over 8x10 inch frames. The central shield was 60 feet long and covered by two layers of 2 inch iron plating. Her armament consisted of two 8 inch guns, one forward, the other aft, behind iron shutters. She had two engines of 200hp each. She was commissioned into the Confederate Navy on Sunday, April 17, 1864.

In the spring of 1864 it was decided at Confederate headquarters that an attempt should be made to recapture Plymouth. Commander Cooke, was ordered to begin to take the Albemarle downstream and to cooperate with the commander of the land forces, General Hoke. The Albemarle was to clear the river front of the Federal war vessels protecting Plymouth with their guns.


Location of Plymouth, NC. and Edwards Ferry Shipyard (Red Diamond) and location of first engagement with Federal gunboats (Red Box with X).

On the morning of April 18th, 1864, the Albemarle left the town of Hamilton and proceeded down river toward Plymouth, going stern first, with chains dragging from the bow, the rapidity of the current making it impracticable to steer with her head down-stream. Her tender ship the Cotton Patch following close behind. She came to anchor about three miles above Plymouth, and a mile or so above the battery on the bluff at Warren's Neck, near Thoroughfare Gap, where torpedoes, sunken vessels, piles, and other obstructions had been placed. An exploring expedition was sent out, under command of one of the lieutenants, which returned in about two hours, with the report that it was considered impossible to pass the obstructions. Thereupon the fires were banked, and the officers and crew not on duty retired to rest.


CSS Abemarle under construction

Another party was sent out and found that there was ten feet of water over and above the obstructions. This was due to the remarkable freshet then prevailing. The party had made its way downstream to Plymouth, and taking advantage of the shadow of the trees on the north side of the river, opposite the town, watched the Federal transports taking on board the women and children who were being sent away for safety, on account of the approaching bombardment. With muffled oars, the party made its way back up the river, hugging the northern bank, and reached the ram about 1 o'clock, reporting to Captain Cooke that it was practicable to pass the obstruction provided the boat was kept in the middle of the stream.

Captain Cooke instantly aroused his men, gave the order to get up steam, slipped the cables in his impatience to be off, and started down the river. The obstructions were soon reached and safely passed, under a fire from the fort at Warren's Neck which was not returned. Protected by the iron-clad shield, to those on board the noise made by the shot and shell as they struck the boat sounded no louder than pebbles thrown against an empty barrel. At Boyle's Mill, lower down, there was another fort upon which was mounted a very heavy gun.


19th Century engraving of the ship as she appeared "ready for action".

Two days after leaving the Edwards Ferry yard, the ironclad Albemarle, with her tender ship the Cotton Patch following close behind, arrived offshore of Plymouth.

At 4:07 a.m. on April 19, Cooke ordered the Albemarle's gun crew to load solid shot and standby. Through the misty twilight he had spotted two approaching Union vessels. Union Navy command in New Bern had been warned by spies that the Albemarle was on her way downstream and had sent two gunboats, the Miami and the Southfield to intercept the ram.

As the enemy drew closer Captain Cooke could see that the two ships were lashed together with long spars, and with chains festooned between them. The plan of Miami's Captain, Lt. Commander Charles W. Flusser (also the Senior U.S. naval officer at Plymouth) to run his vessels so as to get the Albemarle between the two, so the ironclad could be boarded and possibly captured.


Ram Albemarle becomes entangled in frame of the Southfield and the Miami opens fire on crippled ram at close range.

Cooke ordered the Albemarle "all ahead full," sending the 376-ton ironclad straight for the space between the bows of wooden hulled Union vessels. Heavy guns from the two Union ships pounded the Albemarle with shot.

Captain Cooke ran the ram close to the southern shore, and then suddenly turning toward the middle of the stream, and going with the current, the throttles, in obedience to his bell, being wide open, he dashed the prow of the Albemarle into the side of the Southfield, The Albemarle's ram crashed 10 feet inside the Southfield's hull, causing the Union ship to start sinking immediately. Part of her crew went down with her.

Cooke ordered "all astern full," hoping that full reverse thrust would relieve the Albemarle's bow and ram from the sinking Southfield.


Lt. Commander Charles Flusser

To his horror, the Albemarle's ram remained stuck.

The chain-plates on the forward deck of the Albemarle became entangled in the frame of the sinking vessel, and her bow was carried down to such a depth that water poured into her port-holes in great volume, and she would soon have shared the fate of the Southfield, had not the latter vessel reached the bottom, and then, turning over on her side, released the ram, thus allowing her to come up on an even keel. The Miami, right alongside, had opened fire with her heavy guns, placing several broadsides into the ironclad's port casemate, but the shots ricocheted off the iron plates of the Albemarle, careening harmlessly into the water.

During the heat of the battle, Captain Flusser trained the Miami's bow-mounted 9-inch Dahlgren cannon, and personally fired the big gun pointblank at the Albemarle from a range of about 30 feet. The shell slammed into the ironclad's casemate, ricocheting back and exploding directly over Flusser, killing him instantly and wounding several of the gun crew.


Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", May 1864, depicting CSS Albemarle driving off USS Miami, after ramming and sinking USS Southfield (foreground), 19 April 1864.

Notwithstanding the death of Flusser, an attempt was made to board the ram, which was heroically resisted by as many of the crew as could be crowded on the top deck, who were supplied with loaded muskets passed up by their comrades below. The Miami, a very fast side-wheeler, succeeded in eluding the Albemarle without receiving a blow from her ram, and retired below Plymouth, into Albemarle Sound.

By 5:11 a.m., as the sun began to cast rays over the waters of the Roanoke River at Plymouth, the Albemarle's first battle was over. She had suffered only one casualty - a crew member identified only as "Harris." That unlucky Confederate received a pistol shot from a sailor on the Miami when he succumbed to curiosity and took a peek out of one the ironclad's gun ports.

Cooke navigated the victorious Albemarle to a point one mile below Plymouth where he dropped anchor and allowed the crew to recover and prepare their ship for another battle. His "iron sharpshooter battery" and tender ship, the Cotton Plant, which had remained above Plymouth while the Albemarle engaged the enemy, was now anchored close by the ironclad. Having now established control of the Roanoke, the Albemarle began sporadically firing her two 6.4 rifles at Union targets in and around occupied Plymouth.


19th Century photograph of an artwork by Acting Second Engineer Alexander C. Stuart, USN, 1864.
It shows CSS Albemarle engaging several Federal gunboats on Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, on 5 May 1864. USS Sassacus is in left center, ramming the Confederate ironclad. Other U.S. Navy ships seen are (from left): Commodore Hull, Wyalusing and Mattabesett. The Confederate transport Bombshell, captured during the action, is in the right background.
Albemarle was not significantly damaged during this action, which left Sassacus disabled by a hit in one of her boilers.

On the morning of the 20th, Cooke steamed the Albemarle to the banks of the river at Plymouth in support of Confederate ground troops who were attacking Union forces stationed there at Fort Williams. Anchoring off Jefferson Street, The Albemarle's crew began shelling the fort. By 10 a.m., the Union had surrendered Plymouth back to the Confederates, and the Albemarle was basking in another victory. The Albemarle now went to the wharf at Plymouth to be completed and repaired.

[SAMWolf]

On May 5, the Albemarle, accompanied by the Cotton Plant and the CSS Bombshell (formerly the USS Bombshell which had been recently raised after being sunk by confederate land fire), entered Albemarle Sound with intentions of heading to New Bern to support a planned Confederate attack against the Union forces occupying the town. Captain Cooke was ordered to convoy the Cotton Plant to Alligator river. After proceeding some 15 miles down the sound she encountered the Federal fleet, consisting of the double-enders Mattabesett, Sassacus, Wyalusing and Miami, and the gunboats Ceres, Whitehead, Commodore Hull and the transport Ida May, all under the command of Commodore M. Smith. These vessels were heavily armed, and the Miami carried a torpedo and a seine, the latter to foul the Albemarle's propeller. The Cotton Plant was sent back to Plymouth, and the Bombshell should have been, for of course she had soon to surrender. The unexpected arrival of the Albemarle caused the Union captains to cancel their mission of laying torpedoes across the river. They quickly withdrew while sending the Ida May, their fastest vessel, for help.


Confederate Ram Albemarle being rammed by the Union Gunboat Sassacus

At 4:40 p.m., the seven Union gunboats had combined forces and were bearing down on the Albemarle. They had orders to steam past the ironclad in two columns, blasting her "at every opportunity." The Bombshell, which had been slow about retreating, was caught in the encounter.

About 5 p.m. the engagement commenced. The Albemarle made repeated attempts to ram her huge antagonist, but her slow speed prevented. The enemy poured broadside after broadside into her; but even the 100-pound rifled projectiles and the 9-inch solid shot failed to penetrate her shield. The Sassacus rammed her just abaft the shield, but without effect. In return, she received from the Albemarle a 100-pound Brooke rifle-shot, which passed through one of her boilers, scalding many of her crew, and sending her out of action, disabled. The Miami made no use of her torpedo and the seine accomplished nothing. The Albemarle kept up a constant fire, though one of her guns was badly cracked. Finding it impossible to capture the Albemarle, the Federal fleet discontinued the action at 7:30 p.m., and the unconquerable little ram made her way slowly back to Plymouth. The total loss in the Federal vessels was 29. We have no returns of the Albemarle's loss. For the next three hours, the Albemarle and the Bombshell were surrounded by gunboats firing into them at close range. Both ships became completely engulfed in thick white smoke from the cannon fire. The Bombshell was finally disabled and her crew captured. The Albemarle was rammed once and hit by shells over 44 times.



Luckily, with darkness coming on, the Union fleet drew weary of attacking the ironclad, believing her to be "impervious to damage." The wounded Albemarle was finally able to escape west to the Roanoke and back to the wharf at Plymouth.

Five days later, Southern loyalist Catherine Ann Edmondston wrote in her journal about the Albemarle's heroic battle on the sound:

"Captain Cooke has had a severe fight with Yankee gunboats in Albemarle Sound. His smokestack was so riddled with shot that he could not burn coal & but for a supply of lard & bacon he would have been taken. He kept up his fires with these, however. Sunk two steamers & fought his way back to Plymouth with one gun disabled & her smokestack with holes in it through which a man might creep. He lost his new tender, the Bombshell. She was sunk & her crew captured. Ten men were killed on the deck of the Albemarle. She engaged 11 boats at once & escaped them all. They threw a net made of rope over her but the ropes which held it to the steamers parting, it fell harmless off her sides into the water. For her preservation, God be thanked."


Ironclad CSS Albemarle Engaging Union Warships, 1864

In actuality, the combined assault on the Albemarle consisted of seven Union gunboats. The damage inflicted on the Union ships by the Albemarle included four Union crewmen killed, 25 wounded, one gunboat completely disabled and three others seriously damaged. After-battle reports from the Union vessels indicated that a combined total of 60 guns had fired 557 various types of shot and shell at the Albemarle. The two-gun Albemarle had fired 27 shells at the Union ships.

By the autumn the Federal Government decided something must be done about the situation in North Carolina and the navy discussed a number of plans for destroying Albemarle. Commander William Cushing was authorized to find two small steam launches to be fitted out as spar-torpedo-boats. He found two suitable 30 foot picket boats building in New York; and he fitted them with a torpedo, invented by Engineer Lay (USN), which was mounted at the end of a fourteen foot spar. A 12-pounder howitzer was mounted in the bow. One of the boats was lost on the way to Norfolk, but he took the other, with a crew of seven officers and men, to the federal ships waiting in the Sound off the mouth of the Roanoke

Photograph of a general arrangement drawing of the boat and its spar torpedo. The original plan appears to be of 19th Century vintage and is drawn on cloth.
Lieutenant William B. Cushing used U.S. Navy Picket Boat No. 1 to sink the Confederate ironclad Albemarle on the night of 27-28 October 1864.

The torpedo contained an air chamber which allowed it to float in a vertical position. Pulling out the pin let a grape ball fall on a percussion cap which ignited the powder charge in the lower chamber. The device, at the end of a 14 ft. spar was released by pulling a lanyard when it was under the enemy hull.


"Lieut. Cushing's Torpedo Boat sinking the Albemarle on Roanoke River, N.C."
Engraving by A. Stachic, published in "Naval Battles of America", by E. Shippen. It depicts the successful spar torpedo attack by Lieutenant William B. Cushing and his crew on the Confederate ironclad Albemarle, at Plymouth, North Carolina, 27 October 1864.

On the night of 27 October they entered the river with a small cutter in tow. The men in this had the job of surprising the picket which had been placed on a schooner alongside the wreck of the Southfield, a mile below Plymouth, and prevent them firing warning rockets. In the event they went past unchallenged and Cdr. Cushing decided to use his 22 men to board the ram and try and take her out into the stream, but as they approached the wharf they were hailed and this was quickly followed by heavy fire from the ship and the shore. By the light of a fire on the bank Cushing now discovered that Albemarle was protected against torpedo attack by a boom of floating logs; however the logs, after long immersion in the water, were covered in slime and the picket boat easily rode over them. Cushing stood in the bow and pulled the detaching and firing lines to explode the torpedo under the ram`s hull at the same time as a canister of grape struck the boat throwing them all into the freezing water. The blast, along with a simultaneous blast of a cannon fired from inside the Albemarle, killed a number of Cushing's crew. Cushing called on his men to save themselves, stripped off his uniform, and swam out into the stream while boats searched for survivors. He was not seen and eventually, finding mud beneath his feet, he lay exhausted, half out of the water until daylight. The sun brought welcome warmth and he found that he was on the outskirts of Plymouth under the parapet of a fort. In the afternoon he managed to board a small skiff and paddled down the river until he reached the safety of a federal picket vessel. His attack had been successful. Albemarle had "a hole in her bottom big enough to drive a wagon in." She was resting in eight feet of water with her upper works above the surface. Her captain, Alexander Warley, who had been appointed to her about a month earlier, salvaged the guns and shells and used them to defend the town against the subsequent federal attack until he could see further resistance was fruitless.


Albemarle being sunk by Lay torpedo. Note chained/sparred log curtain around Albemarle to prevent boarding and torpedo attack.

The only reported casualty of the Albemarle's crew of 66 was acting Master's Mate James Charles Hill. When the torpedo exploded, he sustained severe injuries from a hatchway falling on him as he slept. Probably the youngest member of the Albemarle crew was Benjamin H. Gray, a 12-year old black youth who had enlisted as "powder boy" when Cooke was recruiting his crew. Gray served in combat aboard the Albemarle six months until Cushing's torpedo sank the gunboat.


CSS Albemarle (1864-1864)
Sunk off Plymouth, North Carolina, circa 1865. She had been sunk on 27-28 October 1864 by a torpedo boat. One section of her armored casemate has been displaced.
Photographed by W.B. Rose for A.J. Smith of New Berne, NC. Taken from the wharf at Plymouth, with the swamp and woods opposite the town in the background.
Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

After the war, the famous Confederate ironclad Albemarle was raised, taken north and sold for scrap. Albemarle was raised after the Union forces captured Plymouth. In late April 1865, she was towed to Norfolk Navy Yard by USS Ceres. There she was condemned as a prize, and purchased by the Navy who sold her in October 1867

[SAMWolf]

Captain James Wallace Cooke, Confederate States Navy,
(18??-1869)


Captain James Wallace Cooke, CSN

James Wallace Cooke, born in North Carolina, joined the U.S. Navy in 1828. In May 1861, while holding the rank of Lieutenant, he resigned his United States' commission and joined the Virginia State Navy, entering the service of the Confederate States in the following month. Later in 1861, he was placed in command of the small gunboat Ellis and was captured with her after a hard fight off Roanoke Island, N.C., on 10 February 1862. Wounded in that action and soon paroled, he was promoted to Commander in June 1862.

Commander Cooke's next assignment was to oversee the construction of the ironclad ram Albemarle. After many difficulties, CSS Albemarle was successfully completed in April 1864, and Cooke became her commanding officer. On 19 April and 5 May, he took her into action against Federal forces, sinking one gunboat and disabling or driving off others. That June he was promoted to the rank of Captain and was later placed in charge of Confederate Naval forces on North Carolina's internal waters, holding that position until the end of the Civil War. Captain James W. Cooke died at Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1869.

---

Report of Lieutenant Warley, C. S. Navy,
commanding the C. S. Ram Albemarle.

PLYMOUTH, NC, October 28, 1864.

SIR: The night of the 27th instant, a dark, rainy night, I had the watch on board doubled and took extra precaution. At or about 3 o'clock a. m., on the 28th, the officer of the deck discovered a small steamer in the river, hailed her, received an unsatisfactory answer, rang the alarm bell and opened fire on her with the watch. The officers and men were at their quarters in as quick time as was possible, but the vessel was so near that we could not bring our guns to bear, and the shot fired from the after gun loaded with grape, failed to take effect. The boat running obliquely, struck us under the port bow, running over the boom, exploded a torpedo, and smashed a large hole in us just under the water line, under a heavy fire of musketry. The boat surrendered and I sent Lieutenant Roberts to take charge of her. Manned the pumps and gave the order to fire up, so as to use the donkey engine. 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.


CSS Albemarle (1864-1864)
Is torpedoed and sunk by Lieutenant William B. Cushing's torpedo launch, at Plymouth, North Carolina, 27 October 1864.
Phototype published by F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa the later 19th Century.
Print from the Skerrett Collection, Bethlehem Steel Company Archives.

In justice to myself I must say the pickets below gave no notice of her approach, and the artillery which was stationed by the vessel for a protection, gave us no assistance, manning only one piece at too late a time to be of any service.

Having condensed this report as much as I could, I respectfully request a court of enquiry, to establish on whose shoulders rests the blame of the loss of the Albemarle.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant.
A. F. WARLEY,

Lieutenant, Commanding, C. S. Navy

HON. S. R. MALLORY,
Secretary of the Navy.

---

Commander William B. Cushing, USN,
(1842-1874)


Commander William B. Cushing, USN

William Barker Cushing was born in Delafield, Wisconsin, on 4 November 1842, but spent most of his childhood in Fredonia, New York. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy from 1857 until March 1861, when his high-spirited behavior led to his resignation. The outbreak of the Civil War brought him back into the service, and he soon distinguished himself as an officer of extraordinary initiative and courage. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in mid-1862, Cushing served as Executive Officer of the gunboat Commodore Perry, then was given command of the tug Ellis, which was lost under heroic circumstances on 25 November 1862. He subsequently commanded the gunboats Commodore Barney, Shokokon and Monticello. During this time, he led several daring reconnaissance and raiding excursions into Confederate territories.

On the night of 27-28 October 1864, Cushing and a small crew took the Navy steam launch Picket Boat Number One upriver to Plymouth, NC, where they attacked and sank the Confederate ironclad ram CSS Albemarle with a spar torpedo. This action made him a national celebrity, and he was quickly promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In January 1865, Cushing helped lead the Navy landing force in the conquest of Fort Fisher, NC, again distinguishing himself.


Engraved reproduction of a wash drawing by R.G. Skerrett, 1900. This craft, armed as a spar-torpedo launch, was used by Lieutenant William B. Cushing to sink the Confederate ironclad Albemarle on the night of 27-28 October 1864.

Following the Civil War, LCdr. Cushing was executive officer of USS Lancaster and commanding officer of USS Maumee. Promoted to Commander in 1872, he was captain of USS Wyoming in 1873-74. In November 1873, he boldly confronted Spanish authorities in Cuba to save the lives of many passengers and crew of the steamer Virginius, which had been captured bringing men and supplies to Cuban revolutionaries. While serving as Executive Officer of the Washington Navy Yard, DC, Commander Cushing's always delicate health gave way and he died on 17 December 1874.

As befits the memory of a man that Civil War Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles called "the hero of the War", the Navy has named a series of torpedo boats and destroyers for William Barker Cushing. These include USS Cushing (TB-1) of 1890-1920, USS Cushing (DD-55) of 1915-1936, USS Cushing (DD-376) of 1936-1942, USS Cushing (DD-797) of 1944-1961, and the present USS Cushing (DD-985), commissioned in 1979.

---

Report of Lieutenant William Barker Cushing, U.S. Navy

Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, October, 30, 1864.

SIR:
I have the honor to report that the rebel ironclad Albemarle is at the bottom of the Roanoke River. On the night of the 27th, having prepared my steam launch, I proceeded up toward Plymouth with 13 officers and men, partly volunteers from the squadron.

The distance from the mouth of the river to the ram was about 8 miles, the stream averaging in width some 200 yards, and lined with the enemy's pickets. A mile below the town was the wreck of the Southfield, surrounded by some schooners, and it was understood that a gun was mounted there to command the bend. I therefore took one of the Shamrock's cutters in tow, with orders to cast off and board at that point if we were hailed. Our boat succeeded in passing the pickets, and even the Southfield, within 20 yards, without discovery, and we were not hailed until by the lookouts on the ram. The cutter was then cast off and ordered below, while we made for our enemy under a full head of steam.


At the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, after salvage, circa 1865. Two ladies are standing on her deck, near a section of displaced casemate armor.
Courtesy of Mr. J.C. Hanscom. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

The rebels sprung their rattle, rang the bell, and commenced firing, at the same time repeating their hail and seeming much confused.

The light of fire ashore showed me the ironclad made fast to the wharf, with a pen of logs around her about 30 feet from her side.

Passing her closely, we made a complete circle so as to strike her fairly, and went into her bows on. By this time the enemy's fire was fairly severe, but a dose of canister at short range served to moderate their zeal and disturb their aim. Paymaster Swan, of the Otsego, was wounded near me, but how many more I know not. Three bullets struck my clothing, and the air seemed full of them.

In a moment we had struck the logs, just abreast of the quarter port, breasting them in some feet, and our bows resting on them. The torpedo boom was then 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 crashing through my boat, and a dense mass of water rushed in from the torpedo, filling the launch and completely disabling her.

The enemy then continued his fire at 15 feet range, and demanded our surrender, which I twice refused, ordering the men to save themselves, and removing my own coat and shoes. Springing into the river, I swam, with others, into the middle of the stream, the rebels failing to hit us.

The most of our party were captured, some were drowned, and only one escaped besides myself, and he in another direction. Acting Master's Mate Woodman, of the Commodore Hull, I met in the water half a mile below the town, and assisted him as best I could, but failed to get him ashore.

Completely exhausted, I managed to reach the shore, but was too weak to crawl out of the water until just at daylight, when I managed to creep into the swamp, close to the fort. While hiding a few feet from the path, two of the Albemarle's officers passed, and I judged from their conversation that the ship was destroyed.

Some hours traveling in the swamp served to bring me out well below the town, when I sent a negro in to gain information and found that the ram was truly sunk.

Proceeding through another swamp, I came to a creek and captured a skiff, belonging to a picket of the enemy, and with this, by 11 o'clock the next night, had made my way out to the Valley City.

Acting Master's Mate William L. Howorth, of the Monticello, showed, as usual, conspicuous bravery. He is the same officer who has been with me twice in Wilmington harbor. I trust he may be promoted, when exchanged, as well as Acting Third Assistant Engineer Stotesbury, who, being for the first time under fire, handled his engine promptly and with coolness. All the officers and men behaved in the most gallant manner. I will furnish their names to the Department as soon as they can be procured.

The cutter of the Shamrock boarded the Southfield, but found no gun. Four prisoners were taken there.

The ram is now completely submerged, and the enemy have sunk three schooners in the river to obstruct the passage of our ships.

I desire to call the attention of the admiral and Department to the spirit manifested by the sailors on the ships in these sounds. But few men were wanted, but all hands were eager to go into the action, many offering their chosen shipmates a month's pay to resign in their favor.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. B. CUSHING,
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy.

Rear-Admiral D. D. PORTER,
Commanding North Atlantic Squadron.

The name of the man who escaped is William Hoftman, seaman, on the Chicopee. He did his duty well, and deserves a medal of honor.

Respectfully,

W. B. CUSHING,
U.S. Navy.

Additional Sources:

www.livinghistoryweekend.com
www.history.navy.mil
www.portcolumbus.org
www.lastsquare.com
www.james.com/beaumont
civilwar.bluegrass.net/ShipsBlockadesAndRaiders

[SAMWolf]

CSS Albermarle "A Warship Built Of Scrap"
April 17 - October 28, 1864

The fact that the ironclad casemate ram CSS Albermarle was built at all is a tribute to the ingenuity and determination of her contractors and the Confederate navy. She was manned for Albermarle Sound inside North Carolina's Outer Banks, a region that had been under federal control for two years, and she was designed and built for the mission of regaining that area for the Confederacy.


Sepia wash drawing by R.G. Skerrett, 1899.

The Albermarle was constructed in a cornfield near Edward's Ferry on the Roanoke River, 30 winding miles up the river from its namesake sound. Hampered by a lack of materials and the primitive tools used by local carpenters and blacksmiths, construction took a year. "The country was ransacked for miles around for bolts, bars and metal in every form", reported one observer. This scrap was hammered together to make the four-inch-thick armor on the 60-foot octagonal casemate. The Albermarle was 152 feet long and 34 feet across, and being designed for the shallow coastal water, drew only eight feet of water. Her solid-oak tapered prow, sheathed in two inches of iron, was designed to stab like a knife into the sides of wooden Union warships. Two 200-horsepower engines and two propellers powered the ship, and the two 100-pounder rifled cannon could each be fired in three directions. "You must not expect too much of the Albermarle for she is the poorest ironclad in the Confederacy", wrote one of her crew members.


Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken after the ship was salvaged, 1865.

In spite of her humble beginning, the Albermarle was a serious threat to Union warships in Albermarle and neighboring sounds. Because ironclad Union ships could not pass through the shallow inlets piercing the barrier islands, the Albermarle's opponents were all lightweight steamers without protective armor. Commissioned on April 17, 1864, the Albermarle set off to participate in a joint operation with Rebel infantry to recapture Plymouth, a Union-held town near the mouth of the Roanoke River.

Fascinating Fact: The rapid current in the Roanoke River, along with its tight twists and turns, made it difficult to steer the Albermarle. Consequently, she traveled down the river stern first, dragging heavy chains from her bow to make her more manageable.

[SAMWolf]

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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Tribute to a Generation - The memorial will be dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004.

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Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

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Iraq Homecoming Tips

~ Thanks to our Veterans still serving, at home and abroad. ~ Freepmail to Ragtime Cowgirl | 2/09/04 | FRiend in the USAF

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PDN members and fans. We hope you will consider this simple act of patriotism worth passing on or taking up as a project in your own back yard. In summary:

Who They Are: Operation: Stitches Of Love was started by the Mothers of two United States Marines stationed in Iraq.

What They Are Doing: We are gathering 12.5"x12.5" quilt squares from across the country and assembling the largest quilt ever produced. When completed we will take the quilt from state to state and gather even more squares.

Why They Are Doing This: We are building this quilt to rally support for the Coalition Forces in Iraq and to show the service members that they are not forgotten. We want the world to know Nothing will ever break the stitches that bind us together as a country.

Ideas to start a local project:

Obtain enough Red, White and Blue material (cloth) for a 12.5 x 12.5 quilt square.
If you have someone in your family that sews, make it a weekend project and invite neighbors to join you.

Consider this tribute as a project for your civic group, scouts, church or townhall group.

Locate an elementary school with an after school program in your neighborhood or locate an after school program in your neighborhood not attached to a school and ask if you could volunteer one or two afternoons and create some squares with the kids.

Invite some VFW posts to share your project in honor of their post.

Send us webmaster@patriotwatch.com for digital photos of in progress and finished project for various websites, OIFII.com and the media.

PDN is making this appeal in support of Operation: Stitches Of Love
Media Contact: Deborah Johns (916) 716-2749
Volunteers & Alternate Media: PDN (916) 448-1636

Your friends at PDN

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Received trhough our FRiends at PDN:

Hello everyone, my name is "Aunt Sassy", my nephew (my brothers only son) is "PFC Bryan Alvarez" with the USS Marines which just got off the USS Wasp and is currently in Afghanistan fighting for our country and lives along with over thousands of other troops.

I am actually working in my back room hand making YELLOW Ribbons to support our military troops. I plan on mailing numerous ribbons to my nephew Bryans' unit which is the MEU, 22nd (SOC) to show that they are still thought about and loved.

That is why my I would like your support in helping me establish a VIDEO 1-2 minute segments to a son/daughter/grand daughter; grand son/friend/neighbor/fellow worker or just want to show your support. What I need is for a local TV station, Satellite Station, Free Lance Videophotographer or a company that is willing to help see this project started from Northern CA. My thoughts are that if we start it here, that other communities, counties and States will follow in my footsteps to make such a wonderful, loving video. I think just a face, or a smile or just words can brighten their lives for as little or as long as their stay has to be.

PLEASE help me make this a SUCCESS,
Thank you in advance,
Bryan's "Aunt Sassy"

If you knows anyone who can help with this project, please FReep-Mail me so I can contact the people who are trying to put this together.

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The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul

Click on Hagar for
"The FReeper Foxhole Compiled List of Daily Threads"

[snippy_about_it]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!



Good Wednesday Morning Everyone.


If you would like added to our ping list let us know.

[SAMWolf]

Good Night Snippy.

[snippy_about_it]

Good night Sam.

[GATOR NAVY]

During the heat of the battle, Captain Flusser trained the Miami's bow-mounted 9-inch Dahlgren cannon, and personally fired the big gun pointblank at the Albemarle from a range of about 30 feet. The shell slammed into the ironclad's casemate, ricocheting back and exploding directly over Flusser, killing him instantly and wounding several of the gun crew.

Closer is not always better.

USS Cushing (I)

USS Cushing (II)

USS Cushing (III)

[Iris7]

First, before I get technical, may I say that we bred some real men in those days. Cushing was on a suicide mission - the torpedo explosion was certain destruction for his launch - but nonetheless, Cushing reports that though "few men were wanted, ... all hands were eager to go into the action, many offering their chosen shipmates a month's pay to resign in their favor."

The casemate armor angle on Albemarle looks to be about 35-40 degrees to the horizontal, pretty close to the optimum angle. Makes me wonder how the angle was decided upon. Experiment?

Ramming was a popular idea in those days, but actually is very hard to accomplish. The usual problem is too great a speed at impact resulting in entanglement with the target, or inability to get hits. There is a notable battle between Austrian and Italian naval forces in the Adriatic (forget the name!) in about 1880 where despite frenzied maneuver neither side could accomplish a ramming attack.

Shortly after the war the British developed the Palliser (sp?) projectile, which would have gone through Albemarle's armor even if fired by a 4" rifled fieldpiece.

Strategically, scenarios with the South winning without beating the Northern brown water Navy - GATOR NAVY! - are pretty thin. Pretty easy otherwise. Southerners knew this, naturally, and early.

[radu]

Good morning to all at the Foxhole!

To all our military men and women, past and present, and to our allies who stand with us,
THANK YOU!

Looks like it's gonna be "touch 'n' go" for the next few days around here, huh? LOL! Glad I managed to find FR up long enough to get a greeting in to everyone and to send out ((HUGZ)) all 'round.
Have a great time on vacation, Gail!!

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

Be sure to update your anti-virus software. Today's the day Norton updates their virus definitions list.

Also excersise caution when web surfing. Our computer got hit with three pop-up ads upon closing a web site. We're working on uninstalling some of the stuff.

[GailA]

Good Morning FRiends.

May our Lord watch over and keep our brave troops save from all harm and bring them home shortly. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Off camping for a few days. Bye.

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on April 28:
1442 Edward IV king of England (1461-70, 1471-83)
1592 George Villiers 1st duke of Buckingham/English Admiral
1753 Franz K Achard German physicist
1758 James Monroe Westmoreland VA, 5th US President (1817-25, Democratic Republican)
1774 Francis Baily describer of "Baily's Beads" during solar eclipse
1795 Charles Sturt England, explorered Australia
1810 Daniel Ullmann Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1892
1812 Daniel Henry Rucker Brevet Major General (Union Army), died in 1910
1815 Andrew Jackson Smith Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1897
1825 James Winning McMillan Brevet Major General (Union volunteers)
1838 Tobias M Carel Asser Holland, advocate of world law (Nobel Peace Prize 1911)
1846 Johann E Backlund Swedish astronomer (planets/asteroids)
1873 Harold Bauer English/US pianist (Beethoven-Association)
1876 Frank Cavanagh one of football's coaching greats
1878 Lionel [Herbert Blythe] Barrymore Philadelphia PA, actor (A Free Soul, David Cooperfield, Dr Kildare)
1889 António de Oliveira Salazar premier/dictator Portugal (1932-68)
1900 Maurice Thorez coal miner, Secretary-General of French Communist Party
1900 Jan Hendrik Oort Dutch astronomer (hypothesized "Oort Cloud")
1906 Kurt Gödel Austria, mathematician (Incompleteness Theorem)
1906 Bartholomeus J "Bart" Bok Dutch/US astronomer (Milky Way)
1912 Odette Hallowes British classified agent in France (WWII)
1921 Rowland Evans White Marsh PA, news reporter (CNN-Evans & Novak)
1924 Kenneth David Kaunda founder/President (Zambia, 1964-91)
1926 Harper Lee author (To Kill a Mockingbird)
1927 Garfield Weston English industrial/billionaire (Twinings Tea)
1929 Carolyn Jones Amarillo TX, actress (Morticia-Addams Family)
1930 James Baker III Houston TX, Secretary of Treasury (1985-88), Secretary of State (1989-92)
1937 Saddam Hussein [At-Takriti] (EX)President of Iraq (1979- )
1941 Ann-Margret [Olsson] Valsjobya Sweden, actress/babe/hottie (Bye Bye Birdie, Carnal Knowledge, Viva Las Vegas, Tommy)
1943 John Oliver Creighton Orange TX, Captain USN/astronaut (STS 51G, 36, 48)
1949 Jerome "Jay" Apt Springfield MA, PhD/astronaut (STS 37, 47, 59, 79)
1950 Jay Leno New Rochelle, comedian/talk show host (Tonight Show)
1956 Paul S Lockhart Amarillo TX, Major USAF/astronaut
1957 Leopold Eyharts France, cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-26, TM-28/27)
1967 Monique Noel Salem OR, playmate (May 1989)

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Deaths which occurred on April 28:
1109 Hugo van Cluny 6th abbott of Cluny/saint, dies
1843 William Wallace Scottish mathematician (rights of Wallace), dies
1881 Robert W Ollinger US warden/last victim of Billy the Kid, dies
1945 Benito Mussolini Fascist leader (Italy), captured, tried, & shot
1945 Claretta Petacci mistress of Mussolini, executed
1960 Anton Pancake astronomer/marxist theorist, dies at 87
1970 Ed Begley actor (Mr Koppel-Leave it to Larry), dies at 69
1980 Tommy Caldwell rocker (Marshall Tucker Band), dies
1984 Glen H Taylor US Senator/vice presidential candidate (1948), dies at 80
1991 Floyd B McKissick US founder (CORE), dies
1991 Ken Curtis actor (Festus-Gunsmoke), dies at 74
1993 Jim Valvano basketball coach (North Carolina State), dies of cancer at 47

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Reported: MISSING in ACTION
1965 STORZ RONALD EDWARD---SOUTH OZONE PARK NY.
[03/02/74 REMAINS RETURNED]
1967 CARAS FRANKLIN ANGEL---SPANISH FORK UT.
[REMAINS RETURNED 11/25/87]
1968 BORS JOSEPH C.---BINGHAMTON NY.
1968 COOK WILLIAM R.---REDWOOD FALLS MN.
1968 FINLAY JOHN S.---ARLINGTON VA.
[03/14/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1968 RUMBLE WESLEY L.---OROVILLE CA.
[08/05/69 RELEASED]
1968 SAAVEDRA ROBERT---NOGALES AZ.
1969 REARDON RICHARD J.---HUNTINGTON NY.
[02/04/70 CREW REMAINS RECOVERED]
1970 SNIDER HUGHIE F.---NEW CUMBERLAND WV.

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

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On this day...
0357 Emperor Constantius II visits Rome
0585 War between Lydia & Media ended by solar eclipse
1202 King Philip II throws out John without Country, from France
1376 English parliament demands supervision on royal outlay
1521 Treaty of Worms Emperor Charles names his brother Ferdinand Arch duke of Netherlands-Austria
1635 Virginia Governor John Harvey accused of treason & removed from office
1655 English Admiral Blake beats Tunen pirate fleet
1686 1st volume of Isaac Newton's "Principia" published
1770 Captain James Cook in Endeavor lands at Botany Bay in Australia
1788 Maryland becomes the 7th state to ratify the constitution
1789 Fletcher Christian leads Mutiny on HMS Bounty & Captain William Bligh
1804 31 English ship sail Suriname river demand transition colony
1818 Monroe proclaims naval disarmament on Great Lakes & Lake Champlain
1847 George B Vashon becomes 1st black to enter New York State Bar
1848 Free last slaves in French colonies
1855 1st veterinary college in US incorporated in Boston
1901 Cleveland's Bock Baker gives up a record 23 singles as Chicago White Sox beat Blues (Cleveland Blues!) 13-1
1910 1st night air flight (Claude Grahame-White, England)
1914 181 die in coal mine collapse at Eccles WV
1914 W H Carrier patents air conditioner
1919 1st jump with Army Air Corp (rip-cord type) parachute (Les Irvin)
1922 WOI (Ames IA) country's 1st licensed educational radio station
1924 119 die in Benwood WV coal mine disaster
1925 Kurd rebels surrender to Turkish army
1925 Netherlands & Great Britain return to gold standard
1930 1st night organized baseball game (Independence KS)
1931 Program for woman athletes approved for 1932 Olympics track & field
1932 Yellow fever vaccine for humans announced
1932 1st broadcast of "One Man's Family" on NBC-radio
1934 Tigers' Goose Goslin grounds into 4 straight double plays
1934 FDR signs Home Owners Loan Act
1937 1st animated cartoon electric sign displayed (New York NY)
1937 1st commercial flight across the Pacific, Pan Am
1939 Hitler claims German-Polish non-attack treaty still in effect
1940 Glenn Miller records "Pennsylvania 6-5000"
1940 Rudolf Hess becomes commandant of concentration camp Auschwitz
1941 Last British troops in Greece surrenders
1942 "WWII" titled so, as result of Gallup Poll
1942 Nightly "dim-out" begins along the East Coast
1943 US 34th Division occupies Djebel el Hara North Tunisia
1944 Exercise "Tiger" ends with 750 US soldiers dead in D-Day rehearsal after their convoy ships were attacked by German torpedo boats
1944 Stalin meets Polish/US priest S Orlemanski
1945 US 5th army reaches Swiss border
1947 Thor Heyerdahl & "Kon-Tiki" sail from Peru to Polynesia
1952 WWII Pacific peace treaty takes effect
1956 Last French troop leave Vietnam
1956 Reds Frank Robinson hits his 1st of 586 homeruns
1958 Vice President Richard Nixon begins goodwill tour of Latin America
1958 Great Britain performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island
1961 Lieutenant Colonel Georgi Mossolov takes E-66A to 34,714 meter altitude
1961 Warren Spahn pitches 2nd no hitter at 41 beats San Francisco Giants, 1-0
1965 Barbra Streisand stars on "My Name is Barbra, and I'm dumber than a small pile of rocks" special on CBS
1965 US marines invade Dominican Republic, stay until October 1966
1965 Richard Helms replaces Marshall S Carter as deputy director of CIA
1967 Expo 67 opens in Montréal Canada
1967 Muhammad Ali refuses induction into army & stripped of boxing title
1968 11 year-old Mary Bell strangles 4 year-old Martin Brown
1968 "Hair" opens at Biltmore Theater NYC for 1750 performances
1969 Charles de Gaulle resigns as President of France
1969 King Crimson with Greg Lake & Ian McDonald debuts
1971 Samuel Lee Gravely Jr becomes 1st black Admiral in US Navy
1972 The courts awarded the Kentucky Derby prize money to 2nd place winner because the winner was given drugs before the race
1975 Last Americans evacuated from Saigon
1975 South-Vietnam General Duong Van Minh sworn in as president till April 30
1977 Christopher Boyce convicted for selling US secrets to the Russians
1977 Andreas Baader & members of Baader-Meinhoff jailed for life after a trial lasting nearly 2 years in Stuttgart Germany
1980 Cyrus Vance, Carter's Secretary of State, resigns
1983 Argentine government declares all 15-30,000 missing persons dead
1985 Billy Martin named New York Yankee manager for 4th time
1986 Chernobyl, USSR site of world's worst nuclear power plant disaster
1988 Baltimore Orioles lose American League record 21 games in a row
1989 Iran protests sale of "Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdie
1990 Last issue of Dutch communist daily De Waarheid (The Truth)
1991 Space Shuttle STS 39 (Discovery 12) is launched
1994 1st multi-racial election in South Africa ends [3 days]
1994 Aldrich Ames, former CIA officer & wife Rosario plead guilty to spying
1996 Martin Bryant shoots & kills 35 in Port Arthur Tasmania

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Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Maryland : Ratification Day (1788)
Alabama, Florida, Mississippi : Confederate Memorial Day (1868) (Monday)
US-Utah : Arbor Day-plant a tree (1872) (Friday)
US : Great Poetry Reading Day
US : Workers Memorial Day
USA] Kiss Your Mate Day
Sports Eye Safety Month

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Religious Observances
old Roman Catholic : Feast of St Paul of the Cross, confessor
Roman Catholic : Memorial of St Peter Chanel, priest/martyr (optional)

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Religious History
1521 German reformer Martin Luther wrote in a letter: 'The authority of Scripture is greater than the comprehension of the whole of man's reason.'
1839 Birth of Vernon J. Charlesworth, English clergyman and headmaster at Charles Spurgeon's Stockwell Orphanage. Today, Charlesworth is remembered as author of the hymn, "A Shelter in the Time of Storm."
1872 English devotional author Frances Ridley Havergal, 33, penned the words to the hymn, "Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak."
1874 Birth of Susan Strachan, missions pioneer. Working together with her husband Harry Strachan, in 1921 she helped found the Latin America Mission in Stony Point, NY.
1960 The 100th General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian Church (PCUS) passed a resolution declaring that sexual relations within marriage -- without the intention of procreation -- were not sinful.

Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.

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Thought for the day :
"Alcohol and calculus don't mix. Never drink and derive"

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Actual Newspaper Headlines...
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says

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New State Slogans...
IOWA: Idiots Out Wandering Around

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Female Language Patterns...
"That's men's work." REALLY MEANS,
"I'm going shopping."

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Male Language Patterns...
"Oh, don't fuss. I just cut myself. It's no big deal," REALLY MEANS,
"I have actually severed a limb, but will bleed to death
before I admit I'm hurt."

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone.

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies. Flag o'gram.

By 1861, the nation had 34 states. Even after the South seceded from the Union, President Lincoln would not allow any stars to be removed from the flag.

Not really related to the flag, but cool none the less.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/h/bhymnotr.htm

[SAMWolf]

Morning Gator Navy.

Closer is not always better.

LOL! Especially with anything concerning explosives.

Thanks for the pictures of the three USS CUSHINGs.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Iris7.

You made me go and learn something this morning, thanks.

On the introduction of iron ships in the late 19th century it was found that the ordinary cast-iron projectile readily pierced the thin plating, and in order to protect the vital parts of the vessel wrought-iron armour of considerable thickness was placed on the sides. It then became necessary to produce a projectile which would pierce this armour. This was effected by Sir W. Palliser, who invented a method of hardening the head of the pointed cast-iron shot. By casting the projectile point downwards and forming the head in an iron mould, the hot metal was suddenly chilled and became intensely hard, while the remainder of the mould being formed of sand allowed the metal to cool slowly and the body of the shot to be made tough.

These shot proved very effective against wrought-iron armour, but were not serviceable against compound and steel armour. A new departure had, therefore, to be made, and forged steel shot with points hardened by water, took the place of the Palliser shot.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Radu. Let's hope they keep FR up for us addicts. :-).

[SAMWolf]

Morning E.G.C. Once again thanks for the heads up.

[SAMWolf]

Enjoy your trip, stay safe, may you have excellent camping weather and we'll see you when you return.