The November 25, 2009 Civil War Interactive Newswire took a look back at the events of Tuesday, Nov. 25, 1862.
The USS Ellis had, the previous week, visited New Topsail Island and destroyed a large Confederate salt works. Lieutenant Cushing said it was large enough to have supplied all of Wilmington's salt needs.
On the 23rd, a landing party from the Ellis captured arms, mail, and two schooners at Jacksonville, NC. On the 24th, while under attack by Confederate artillery, the Ellis grounded. After every effort was made to float the ship, Cushing ordered it set afire on Nov. 25th to avoid capture. Reported Cushing: "I fired the Ellis in five places and having seen that the battle flag was still flying, trained the gun on the enemy so that the vessel might fight herself after we had left her."
Very Gallant of Cushing. --Old B-Runner
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