d of the capture of the paymaster and some others of his
crew from the same source.

"Finding that there was great danger of his detection if he
remained in his exposed position all day, lying within a few yards
of two frequented paths, and so near the river, he began to move
slowly away towards the swamp. He was obliged to move cautiously,
so he lay on his back, and by pushing his heels into the ground, he
slowly pushed himself along, and after a long and exhausting
effort, passed over the sixty yards of ground that lay between him
and better cover. Once concealed, he laid up for the day and rested
himself. He was fortunate enough before midnight to get hold of a
negro, whom he sent into town to learn the extent of his success.
The negro obeyed his instructions, and reported that the Albemarle
was out of sight--'clar gone sunk.'

"At night, Lieutenant Cushing struck through the swamp, and after
the greatest and most exhausting toil and pain--as he was in his
stocking-feet, and continually plunging over roots, briers, logs,
oyster-shells, and lacerating his flesh severely--he reached a
point four miles below the town, where he discovered a skiff used
by a picket. Watching his chance, he seized this, and, with a
single paddle, paddled off to the squadron, four miles distant,
which he reached in safety. Only one besides himself--William
Holton, a sailor on the Chicopee, who had volunteered on the
occasion--returned to the squadron. He was picked up by the Valley
City, the following day, nearly exhausted.

"Lieutenant Cushing immediately came here on the special
despatch-boat Valley City, and reported to Admiral D. D. Porter.
To-night he will go to Washington and report to the Department. He
is worn out and in need of rest, which we hope he will be permitted
to enjoy.

"This last brave and gallant action of his is likely to gain him an
advance of one grade in his rank, and it will also, if the law is
rightly construed, be a great financial success, which is somewhat
more substantial. His share of the prize-money from the Albemarle,
if she is fairly placed at a valuation, would be in the
neighborhood of fifty thousand dollars, an acceptable sum to any
one. Lieutenant Cushing has been ordered to the command of the
gun-boat Monticello, which will await him until his return fro