the Roanoke river, eight miles from its mouth,
surrounded by swamps and large cypress trees as far as the eye can
reach. One mile above Plymouth the waters of the Roanoke river
divide, one forming the Cashie river, the other the Roanoke river.
At about two thirds of the distance from the mouth of the Roanoke
river to Plymouth, the Cashie river and the Roanoke river are
connected by what is called Middle river, so that these rivers in
their course at these points formed a figure resembling the capital
letter A, the left line the Roanoke river, the right line the
Cashie river, and the horizontal line the Middle river.

"The fleet steamed up Roanoke river. The day was beautiful, the
birds were singing in the branches of the trees, the leaves of
which were gently rustling, and the water could be heard dripping
from the wheels of the fleet as they made their slow revolutions.
All else was quiet. No man said a word. This was not strange, for
we believed the river to be full of torpedoes and its banks lined
with sharpshooters. We ascended further and further up the river
till we came to Middle river, when the Valley City steamed through
Middle and up the Cashie river. The remainder of the fleet steamed
on up Roanoke river.

"After arriving at a point in the Cashie river opposite Plymouth,
we heard heavy firing by the fleet, which continued an hour, and
then suddenly ceased. We thought, of course, that Plymouth had been
captured. At this point we picked up the other man who was with the
expedition, and who escaped. The Valley City continued to ascend
the Cashie river, and after encountering much difficulty on account
of the narrowness and crookedness of the river, we arrived at the
Roanoke river above Plymouth, where we could see the town, but we
could see no fleet nor American flag. We concluded then that the
Albemarle had not been sunk, but had driven the fleet back into the
Sound. Of course, it was not a very happy feeling to fear the ram
might prevent our retreat.

"After some delay, and an exchange of shot with the enemy at
Plymouth, we descended the Cashie river to Albemarle Sound, where
we arrived at 8 p.m., and found the fleet at the mouth of Roanoke
river. They had ascended the Roanoke river till they came to some
obstruction which placed them at a disadvantage to the enemy;