The CSS Albemarle and William Cushing: The Remarkable Confederate Ironclad and the Union Officer Who Sank It

Front Cover
McFarland, Oct 14, 2011 - History - 246 pages

On October 27, 1864, two marvels of the Civil War collided on the Roanoke River near Plymouth, North Carolina. The first was the formidable Confederate ironclad Albemarle, a 376-ton behemoth that had for months roamed the nearby rivers and waters of Albemarle Sound, defeating in turn everything the Federal Navy could throw at it. The second was William B. Cushing, a 21-year-old Federal naval lieutenant who had been selected to lead a virtual suicide mission to destroy the ironclad in her berth. This chronicle of the young officer's "David vs. Goliath" victory over the daunting ironclad presents a tale of courage and accomplishment.

 

Contents

Preface
1
Prologue
5
1 The Mosquito Fleet
13
2 A Close One Sir
20
3 We Are About to Build a Large Number of Gun Boats
26
4 When Fought as Gallantly as That
34
5 For Want of This Iron Our Work Has Been Going Backward
41
6 Wrong Wharf Wrong Boat
47
21 Captain Cooke
140
22 David against Goliath
147
23 To Prevent an Impending Calamity
151
24 Send the Boats On
156
25 I Have Undertaken a Great Project
160
26 You Must Not Hope to Return
166
27 Pick Your Men
170
28 An Example of Coolness and Skill
176

7 In High Favor
53
8 In a Cornfield at Edwards Ferry
60
9 A Presidential Compliment
65
10 Magnificent Grim Irresistible
70
11 The Good Ship Albemarle
79
12 Shokokon to Monticello
85
13 Winter Offensive
91
14 The Essence of Impudence
96
15 All Ahead Full
102
16 Plymouth Is Ours
108
17 Heaven Has Crowned Our Efforts with Success
114
18 A Terrific Grand Waltz
119
19 Four Miles from Wilmington
127
20 Captain Cushings Exploits in the Cape Fear River
134
29 The Fixed Determination to Escape
182
30 No More Gallant Thing
188
31 Dead Gone Sunk
193
32 It Is Done
198
33 Cheer Ship
202
34 Thanks of Congress
207
35 The Cost of the Nations Unity
211
36 Blind to the Facts
218
Epilogue
225
Chapter Notes
227
Bibliography
237
Index
239
Copyright

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About the author (2011)

Jim Stempel is an authority of the Eastern campaigns of the American Civil War. His articles on psychology, human development, and warfare have also appeared in the New Times, Concepts In Human Development, and North & South. He lives in western Maryland.

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