w steam picket boats, which is
about the size of a frigate launch, with a torpedo arrangement, and
then took her down into the Sound for duty. Having made several
reconnoissances up the Roanoke river, which gave him some valuable
information, and having perfected his arrangements, on the night of
the 27th ultimo he got under way from the squadron off the mouth of
the river, and steamed boldly up stream. In the steam launch were
Lieutenant Cushing, Paymaster T. H. Swann, a volunteer from the
Otsego, Master's Mate W. L. Howorth, of the gunboat Monticello, and
Third Assistant Engineer Stolsbury, in charge of the engine, with a
crew of ten men, nearly all of whom volunteered for the service. An
armed cutter of the Shamrock, with an officer and ten men, was
towed along for the purpose of attending to some of the minor
details of the work. It was known that the enemy had pickets along
the river banks, and on the wreck of the gunboat Southfield sunk by
the Albemarle last spring, and which lay about a mile below the
town of Plymouth. The pickets, who were in the habit of stationing
themselves on the hurricane deck of the Southfield--the only
portion of the wreck above water--were to be turned over to the
care of the Shamrock's cutter when the proper time came, whilst
those along the river were to be passed in silence, and without
giving alarm, if possible.

"At about midnight the little picket-boat entered the narrow river,
and steamed silently and cautiously up without giving the least
alarm. The Southfield and three schooners alongside of her, engaged
in raising her up, were passed at a short distance--almost within
biscuit-toss--without challenge or hail. It was not till Lieutenant
Cushing reached within pistol-shot of the Albemarle, which lay
alongside of the dock at Plymouth, that he was hailed, and then in
an uncertain sort of way, as though the lookouts doubted the
accuracy of their vision. He made no reply, but continued to press
towards the rebel monster, and was for the second time hailed. He
paid no attention to the challenge, but kept straight on his way,
first detaching the Shamrock's cutter, to go below and secure the
rebel pickets on the Southfield.

"In another instant, as he closed in on the ram Albemarle, the
rebel Captain Walley, in a very dignified, pompous, studied