Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Albemarle, the,

A powerful Confederate iron-clad vessel that patrolled the waters off the coast of North Carolina during

Ram Albemarle.

a part of the Civil War. Late in October, 1864, Lieut. W. B. Cushing, a daring young officer of the United States navy, undertook to destroy it. It was lying at Plymouth, behind a barricade of logs 30 feet in width. With a small steam-launch equipped as a torpedo-boat, Cushing moved in towards Plymouth on a dark night (Oct. 27), with a crew of thirteen officers and men, part of whom had volunteered for this service. The launch had a cutter in tow. They were within 20 yards of the “ram” before the were discovered, when its pickets began firing. In the face of a severe discharge of musketry. Cushing pressed to the attack. He drove his launch far into the log barricade, lowered his torpedo boom, and drove it directly under the overhang of the “ram.” The mine was exploded, and at the same moment one of the guns of the Albemarle hurled a heavy bolt that went crashing through and destroying the launch. Cushing and his companions leaped into the water, but only one besides the commander escaped drowning or capture. Cushing swam ashore, crept into a swamp, and was found and cared for by some negroes. The torpedo had destroyed the Albemarle, and she settled down in the mud in Plymouth Harbor. Plymouth was recaptured (Oct. 31) by a squadron under Commodore Macomb. with some prisoners and valuable stores. See Cushing. William Barker.