aground
during the day. On the 21st I went ashore at Edenton, and spent a
pleasant time. I returned to the Valley City, when she proceeded to off
Roanoke Island, where we arrived on the 22d at 8 o'clock a.m. At 9
o'clock a.m., Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Acting Assistant Paymaster J. W.
Sands and I went ashore, and made the acquaintance of Dr. Walton, of
the 103d Pennsylvania regiment, and Colonel Wardrobe, Commandant of
Roanoke Island. I spent a very pleasant time in company with these
gentlemen. In the evening I became acquainted with Lieutenant Wm. B.
Cushing, U.S. Navy. I will quote a war reminiscence which was
published in the Philadelphia _Weekly Times_ of June 7, 1879:

"CUSHING, THE BRAVE.

"_Reminiscence of His Heroic Adventure in Albemarle Sound:
By J. M. Batten, M.D., late U.S.N._

"It was on the evening of October 22d, 1864, I first met Captain
Wm. B. Cushing. I was then attached to the United States steamer
Valley City, Captain J. A. J. Brooks commanding. The vessel was
anchored about a mile west of Roanoke Island, in Pamlico Sound.
Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Paymaster J. W. Sands and myself, left the
vessel in the morning, the wind blowing a strong breeze from the
west, and arrived at Roanoke Island. The wind continuing to blow
almost a hurricane, we attempted to return to the vessel in the
evening, but failed; consequently we were compelled to remain on
Roanoke Island all night. As I said, it was on this evening I first
met Captain Wm. B. Cushing. He then was a young man of twenty-one
or twenty-two years of age, wore long, light hair falling around
his neck, and was rather reserved in his manners. Captain Cushing,
Captain Brooks, Paymaster Sands and myself, occupied a room
together that night. The next morning when I awoke, I found that
Captain Cushing had gone. Upon making inquiry about him, I learned
he had departed at 4 a.m. of the 23d, in his torpedo launch, a boat
he had constructed at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, for a certain
purpose, and had proceeded this far on his expedition with the
steam launch.

"In referring to my diary, I find that on Friday, October 28, at
5:30 a.m., the Valley City weighed anchor and proceeded toward the
fleet. The weather was clear but windy. We arrived at the fleet at
6 p.m. The fleet was composed of twelve double-ender side-wheel
vessels, manned, armed and equi