pped, and commanded by Commodore Wm.
H. Macomb, and was anchored about six miles from the mouth of
Roanoke river, in Albemarle Sound, and fourteen miles from
Plymouth, where the Albemarle was stationed. My diary states that
at 7 p.m. we got under weigh, and proceeded to the mouth of Roanoke
river, where we arrived at 8:30 p.m. At 11 p.m. we were hailed by a
voice at the mouth of Roanoke river: "Boat ahoy! send a boat!" A
boat was sent, and the man who had left us so early in the morning
of the 23d of October--Captain William B. Cushing--was brought on
board the Valley City in his stocking feet, with only a coarse
flannel shirt and pantaloons to cover him. He was wet, cold, tired,
hungry and prostrated.

"My diary states that after leaving us on the morning of the 23d of
October he steamed to the fleet in his torpedo launch, having
received from the crews of the fleet twelve volunteer men to
accompany him. On the evening of October 27th he proceeded with his
small torpedo launch, with a torpedo rigged on her bow, up the
Roanoke river. At 3:15 a.m., October 28th, exploded torpedo under
the ram Albemarle and sunk her. He (Captain Cushing) and another
man were the only ones saved from drowning or capture. Captain
Cushing, after blowing up the ram, jumped into the river, swam
ashore, lay in the swamps near Plymouth till night, then proceeded
through the swamps till he came to a creek, where he captured a
skiff belonging to a Confederate picket, and paddled himself to the
Valley City. The torpedo boat was sunk, and about a dozen men were
either drowned or captured. In the meantime, the fleet had moved up
to the mouth of Roanoke river. Upon learning that Captain Cushing
was on board the Valley City, Commodore Macomb ordered the riggings
of the fleet to be manned, and at the general signal to give
Captain Cushing three hearty good cheers; and such cheering--it
made those swamps, forests and waters resound with the voices of
glad-hearted men.

"On the following day, October 29th, at 11 o'clock a.m., the fleet
weighed anchor with every man at his post, and proceeded up Roanoke
river, the Valley City leading, for the purpose of confirming the
report of Captain Cushing that the Albemarle ram was sunk; and, if
true, capturing Plymouth. This is a small town situated on the
right bank of