The Daily Dispatch: May 23, 1864., [Electronic resource]

The fight of the "Albemarle"

‘ The "Albemarle" started on the afternoon of the 6th inst. from Plymouth — her destination it is not now necessary to state. She found nine gunboats in the Sound at the mouth of the river (Roanoke) waiting her approach. A most furious fight occurred between the "Albemarle" and the gunboats, which lasted from 4 P. M. till dark. Three thousand six hundred (3,600) shot were fired at the iron clad from fifty (50) guns. She was struck in about twenty (20) places. The first shot of the enemy broke off the muzzle of one of her guns, which rendered the useless except at short range.--She fought mainly with one gun, and sank one of the largest of her opponents, which attempted to run her down, and disabled at least two more. No such fight in water has occurred since hostilities began between the North and the South. Commander Cooke's report will be highly interesting. --The "Albemarle" returned to Plymouth to repair damages, from which she could hardly be expected to escape in such a terrible encounter.

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