The following Official Reports were hand-copied by Assistant Engineer Ezra Jabez Whitaker of the USS LACKAWANNA and are graciously provided by his granddaughter, Sara Whitaker Hale.
Report of Lieutenant W. B Cushing
Albermarle Sound, N.C.
October 30th 1864
Sir:
I have the honor to report that the rebel iorn-clad Albermarle 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 thirteen officers and men, partly volunteers from the Squadron. The distance from the mouth of the river to the ram is about eight miles, the stream averaging in width some two hundred 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 picket, and even the Southfield, within twenty yards, without discovery, and we were not hailed until by the look-outs on the Ram. The cutter was then cast off and ordered below, while we made for our enemy under a full head of Steam.
The rebels sprung their rattles, rang the bell, and commenced firing, at the same time repeating their hail, and seeming much confused.
The light of a fire ashore showed me the iron-clad, made fast to the wharf, and a pen of logs around her about thirty 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 very 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 exploded it at the same time that the “Albermarle’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 fifteen 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 drowned, and only one escaped besides myself, and he in a different direction. Acting Masters 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 daylight, when I managed to creep into the swamp, close to the fort. While hiding a few feet from the path, two of the Albermarle’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 eleven o’clock the next night, had made my way out to the “Valley City” ( US Steam Ship). Acting Masters Mate William L Howarth, 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 ex-changed as well as Acting Third Assistant Engineer Stolesbury, 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 all 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.N.
The name of the man who escaped is William Hoftman, seaman, on the Chickopee. He did his duty well , and deserves a medal of honor. W. B. C
Submitted to Rear Admiral D. D. Porter, Commanding N. A. Blockading Squadron
Report of Commander W. H. Macomb
United States Steamer Shamrock
Off Plymouth, N. C. November 1st, 1864
Rear Admiral D. D Porter
Commanding North Atlantic Squadron.
Sir: I have the honor to report that on the night of the 27th ultimo, Lieutenant W. B. Cushing went up the Roanoke river in his torpedo boat, having the second cutter of this vessel in tow, with a crew of eleven men under Acting Gunner William Peterkin and Acting Master's Mate W. D Burlingame, both of this vessel.
He arrived at a short distance from the ram before he was perceived, when he cast loose the cutter, and , going at full speed, he struck the logs with which the ram was surrounded, with such force as to run his boat over them, He then exploded his torpedo; but a gun which we fired from the Albemarle at that instant preventing him from seeing what damage he had done, and his boat being full of water, he jumped overboard, and swam down the river. He will himself, I suppose, give you the account of his escape, and I shall therefore merely state that he was picked up by the United States Steamer Valley City on the night of the 28th October.
I enclose a copy of a letter which I bound in the post office at Plymouth, on taking possession of that town, as I report in my No 8, and also a copy of a paper found in the town which seems to be official, both of which give accounts of the affair. On my arrival I found the ram sunk at the wharf as far as her ports, and the top plating of her casemates entirely off. I have ordered a survey, and here with enclose the report.
Lieutenant Cushing's intention in taking the cutter with him was to land at the wharf, in case he was not discovered, and, casting loose the fastenings of the ram to take her out of the river. This he was prevented from doing, but the cutter captured four rebel pickets on duty on the Southfield, which they brought off.
As far as I know at this time, Lieutenant Cushing and E J Horton, ordinary seaman of the Chickopee, were the only persons belonging to the party that escaped, the rest were either captured or drowned. I have a private letter picked up in Plymouth, which states that eleven were captured. The names of the missing ones belonging to the ships under my command, are as follows.
F. H. Swan, Acting Assistant Paymaster, Otsego. Charles L Stuver, acting third assistant engineer, Otsego; Thomas S Gay, acting Masters Mate Otsego. John Woodman, acting Master's mate, Commodore Hull; Bernard Hailey ordinary seaman, Chickopee; William Smith, ordinary seaman Chickopee; Richard Hamilton, coal-heaver, Shamrock.
I am, Sir, respectfully, your obedient servant
W. H. Macomb, Commander
Com'd'g "District of the Sounds" n.a.s.
note.- Lieutenant Cushing unofficially reports the following persons as composing the party that destroyed the Albemarle; Lieutenant W. B Cushing, Commanding the expedition, escaped; Acting Master's Mate W. L Howarth, picket boat, missing; Acting Third Assistant Engineer William Stokesbury, picket boat, missing; Acting Master's Mate John Woodman, Commodore Hull, drowned; Acting Master's Mate Thomas S. Gay, Otsego, missing; Acting Third Assistant Engineer Charles S. Heever, Otsego, missing; Acting Assistant Paymaster F. H. Swan, Otsego, missing; Edward J. Horton, ordinary seaman, Chicopee, escaped; Bernard Hurley, ordinary seaman, Chicopee, missing; Wm. Smith, ordinary seaman, Chicopee, missing; Richard Hamilton, coal-heaver, Shamrock, missing; R. H. King, landsman, picket boat, missing; -----Wilkes, landsman, picket boat, missing; ----Demming, landsman, picket boat, missing; Samuel Higgins, first class fireman, picket boat, drowned. Rebel accounts mention eleven prisoners, which would leave two as having been drowned or killed. The bodies of Acting Master's Mate John Woodman, and Samuel Higgins, first class fireman, have floated ashore at Plymouth.
Complimentary letter to Lieutenant W. B. Cushing:
Navy Department, November 9th 1864
Sir: Your report of October 30th has been received, announcing the destruction of the rebel iron-clad steamer Albermarle, on the night of the 27th ultimo, at Plymouth, North Carolina.
When last summer the department selected you for this important and perilous undertaking, and sent you to Rear Admiral Gregory at New York to make the necessary preperations, it left the details to yourself to perfect. To you and to your brave comrades, therefore, belongs the exclusive credit which attaches to this daring achievement. The destruction of so formidable a vessel which had resisted the combined attack of a number of our steamers, is an important event touching our future naval and military operations. The judgement, as well as the daring courage displayed, would do honor to any officer, and redounds to the credit of one of twenty-one years of age.
On four previous occasions the department has had the gratification of expressing its approbation of your conduct in the face of the enemy, and in each instance there was manifested by you the same heroic daring and innate love of perilous adventure; a mind determined to succeed, and not to be deterred by any apprehensions of defeat.
The department has presented your name to the President for a vote of thanks, and that you may be promoted one grade, and your comrades also shall receive recognition.
It gives me pleasure to recall the assurance you gave me at the commencement of your active professional career, that you would prove yourself worthy of the confidence reposed in you, and the service to which you were appointed. I trust you may be preserved through further trials; and it is for yourself to determine whether, after entering upon so auspicious a career, you shall, by careful study and self-discipline be prepared for a wider sphere of usefullness on the call of your country.
Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy
Captured Rebel Correspondence
Plymouth, North Carolina
October 28, 1864
Hon. S. R. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy.
Sir: The night of the 27th instant, a dark and 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 officers of the deck discovered a small boat 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, under the circumstances, but the vessel was so close 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 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 ordered to fire up to use the donkey-pumps. The water gained on us so fast that all our exertions were fruitless, and the vessel went down in a few minutes, merely leaving her shield and smoke-stack out of water.
In justice to myself, I must say that the pickets below gave no notice of her approach, and the artillery, which was stationed by the vessel for a protection, gave no assistance. Manning only one piece at too late a time to be of any service. Having condensed this report as much as possible I respectfully request a court to establish on whose shoulders rest the loss of the Albermarle.
[N. B. This letter is not signed, but appears to be official: probably the draught of the report of Captain Wharley, Confederate States Navy.]
Copy of Captured Rebel Correspondence found in the post office at Plymouth, N. C.
November 1st 1864
Esteemed Friend: I received your kind interesting epistle of the 20th inst, finding me lingering under a severe attack of the fever. I am up and about again, nearly as well as ever. They are sending out expeditions every now and then. We captured a Yankee yawl-boat. It is said we killed nearly all her crew, consisting of about 8 men. But the most awful thing of all (perhaps you will hear of it before this reaches you) is, that a Yankee torpedo boat steamed up the river Thursday night, and about 3 o’clock Friday morning she run into the “Albermarle”. The torpedo bursting, blowed a hole in her some six feet long, sinking her almost immediately. She is now lying at the bottom of the Roanoke River. The crew lost everything they had, bed clothing, everything: some lost their hats, shoes, even some come out in their shirt sleeves and drawers, barefooted. We are in an awful condition. I believe they are going to hold the place to the bitter end. Captain Wharley says he intends to fight as long as a man is left (this is all gas). I never did witness such an uproar before in my life; troops hurrying to and fro, expecting every minute to meet in battle dread --------------”rest of no interest”
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