1864

LIEUTENANT CUSHING'S EXPLOIT

Army of the Potomac. Grant's own army was reduced to three corps, under Hancock, Warren, and Sedgwick. Burnside's force of 20,000 was blended with Meade's.

Some notable naval encounters were won by the Confederate ironclad "Albemarle" in Albemarle Sound. Immediately upon her completion, on April 19, she came out to drive away the Federal ships, which threatened the way for the Southern army before Richmond. In midstream the Federal gunboats "Miami" and "Southfield" were lashed together so as to catch their dangerous opponent between them. Captain Cooke of the "Albemarle," on approaching the two vessels, steamed out of the current, and, under a heavy fire, turned at right angles and charged the "Southfield” at full speed amidships. His ram plowed ten feet into the "Southfield's" side. At once the "Southfield" began to sink, and car ried down with her the bow of the Confederate ironclad. The whole forward part of the ship was carried under the water. Across the sinking "Southfield" the "Miami" fired a nineinch shell into the "Albemarle." It struck her armor nearly at right angles, and the fragments of the shell, flying back, killed the "Miami's" commander.

After this Federal defeat a strong flotilla was despatched to Pamlico Sound to watch the "Albemarle." On May 5 the "Albemarle" came out and roughly handled the "Mattabessete" and "Miami." The Federal ship "Sassacus" rammed her, but failed to sink her. Before she could back out, the "Albemarle❞ put a shot through the boiler of the "Sassacus," disabling thirteen men. An attempt to board her was beaten off. In the midst of the steam and confusion, the "Sassacus" drifted clear.

After this second defeat it was determined to accomplish the destruction of the dangerous ironclad by means of torpedo launches. Lieutenant Cushing, who, young as he was, had already distinguished himself by repeated exploits, vol

HAVOC OF CONFEDERATE PRIVATEERS

1864

unteered for this dangerous service. In his first attempt he ran aground and could not get off until daylight. On the following night he stood into the harbor with his launch with the intention of boarding the "Albemarle." As he rounded the shore a watch-dog gave the alarm. The Confederate watch-fires were fed with oil, and in the glare Cushing's boat became a target for sharpshooters. He ran at the “Albemarle," but found that she was surrounded by large fenders. Under a rattling fire, Cushing backed out about 100 yards and then jumped the logs at full speed. As his projecting pole struck the "Albemarle's" side, he pulled the torpedo string. There was a dull roar, a column of water arose, and the "Albemarle" heeled over. One of her 100-pounders, crammed with canister, was fired off over Cushing's head. The torpedo boat was disabled. Her crew surrendered. Cushing jumped overboard and swam down stream. All day long he hid in a swamp. Next night he found a boat and rejoined the squadron. Cushing was promoted and received the thanks of Congress. After the war the "Albemarle❞ was raised and refitted for sea service.

The worst injury done to the Northern cause was the destruction of commerce on the sea. This was accomplished by Southern vessels of two types. The first type included small coasting privateers, which stole out of Southern seaports at night, manned by sailors of great daring, and preyed upon passing Union merchantmen. Without accomplishing much, these vessels served to make all coastwise trade precarious for American shippers.

More serious were the depredations of privateering steam cruisers. First in turn came the "Sumter," commanded by the famous captain, Raphael Semmes, who had won distinction in the Mexican War. After capturing more than a dozen prizes in American waters, the "Sumter" cruised through the Spanish Main and put into Cadiz. Ordered out

1864

CRUISE OF THE "FLORIDA”

of Cadiz, the "Sumter" was chased into Gibraltar, where she was tightly blockaded by the Federal cruisers "Tuscarora," "Chippewa," and "Kearsarge." Semmes had to sell his ship and disband the crew. Under an English flag the "Sumter" became a blockade runner, running in and out of Wilmington.

The two most dangerous commerce destroyers, the "Alabama" and "Florida," were built and fitted out in England. When the "Florida," which was designed as a warship, was building, the attention of Earl Russell was called to her. It was pretended that the ship, which was then named "Oreto," had been ordered by the Italian Government. The Italian Consul at Liverpool disclaimed all knowledge of her. The vessel was permitted to put to sea and stood across to the British port of Nassau, in the Bahamas, the headquarters of the Southern blockade runners. There she openly proceeded to take on arms and munitions. On the protest of the Federal authorities, a perfunctory inquiry was instituted by the British. The "Florida" was released and proceeded to Green Bay, where she took on two seven-inch and four six-inch rifled guns. Under an English flag, she ran past the Northern cruisers blockading Mobile. With a full crew the "Florida" steamed out of Mobile and led the pursuing Northern cruisers an all-day's chase. During the next few days the "Florida" captured half-a-dozen prizes, among them the American clipper "Jacob Bell," with $1,500,000 worth of Chinese silk. Whenever it was necessary the "Florida" coaled in British ports of the West Indies. One of her prizes, a Baltimore brig, after capture was armed with a howitzer and a number of dummy guns, and went on a privateering cruise of her own under Lieutenant Read. This officer within a few weeks made more than a score of prizes. At last he slipped into Portland, Maine, and seized the Federal excise cutter "Caleb Cushing." He was pursued by two steamers and three tugs, and was finally captured. Mean

CRUISE OF THE "ALABAMA"

1864

while, the "Florida" had scuttled the "United States,” a mail steamer, just outside of New York. The shippers of New York were in a panic. To avoid capture the "Florida” ran straight across the Atlantic to Teneriffe, and thence back to South America, where she entered the Brazilian port of Bahia. The Federal sloop-of-war "Wachusett" was lying in the harbor. A Brazilian ship was anchored between the two hostile vessels. Under cover of darkness the "Wachusett" left her moorings, and, passing the Brazilian vessel, rammed the "Florida." Shot and shell were poured into the Confederate vessel at close range, and she was driven to surrender. Captain Collins of the "Wachusett" towed the "Florida" out of the harbor, and was chased beyond neutral waters by Brazilian men-of-war. On Brazil's demand for satisfaction Collins was ordered to take the "Florida" back to Bahia and surrender her. Instead of doing so, Collins scuttled the ship and sank her under the eyes of his admiral.

A poor excuse of so flagrant a breach of the law of nations was found in England's persistent violation of neutrality. The worst instance was the famous case of the "Alabama." This formidable cruiser, under the designation of "No. 290," was built for the Confederacy in Laird's shipyard at Birkenhead. The American Consul at Birkenhead and Minister Adams at London lodged emphatic protests against this procedure with the British Government. Still the "Alabama" was permitted to put out of Liverpool. She was met in the Azores by an English steamer bringing Captain Raphael Semmes, ex-commander of the "Sumter," and a crew composed largely of Englishmen, among them trained gunners of the royal navy. Having received her armament, the "Alabama" hoisted the Confederate flag and started on her privateering cruise in the waters of the Azores. Within a fortnight Semmes captured ten Northern whalers, all of which he either scuttled or burned. Standing over to the

1864 DUEL BETWEEN "ALABAMA" AND "KEARSARGE"

Newfoundland Banks, he captured a dozen or so of outwardbound corn ships. Off Haiti Semmes captured the Northern mail steamer "Ariel." A bond for $216,000 was exacted, and £1,900 in cash were taken on board the ship. Next, Captain Semmes lured the weak Federal cruiser "Hatteras" into open water, and sank her in a sensational encounter.

After this the "Alabama" ran up and down the South American coast, making a rich haul of twenty-four prizes, and then crossed over to the Cape of Good Hope, capturing two prizes on the way, and steamed thence to the East Indies. After a long cruise Semmes put into the French port of Cherbourg. Captain Semmes could boast that he had driven the United States merchant flag from the seas.

In European waters, off Flushing, lay the United States sloop-of-war "Kearsarge," commanded by Captain Winslow. On the arrival of the "Alabama" at Cherbourg, Minister Bigelow at Paris immediately telegraphed the news to Winslow. The "Kearsarge" steamed down the channel and appeared off Cherbourg. The sides of the "Kearsarge" were covered with chains. On Sunday, June 19, the "Alabama" came out, attended by the French ironclad "Couronne," to keep the belligerents beyond the three-mile neutral zone. The owner of the English yacht "Deerhound," with his children, came out after the "Alabama" to enjoy a good view of the fight. The "Kearsarge" steamed out nearly seven miles. Then she turned and made for the "Alabama." Semmes opened the fight with a 100-pound shot through the “Kearsarge's" rigging, and followed it up with a broadside. The two vessels, fighting at a range of 900 yards, steamed around and around in a small circle. Once a shot carried away the "Alabama's" colors. The men on the "Kearsarge" thought she had struck and cheered tumultuously, but a broadside from the "Alabama" disabused them. The "Alabama" was already sinking, when a shot from her struck the halyards.