Yesterday, I found out a first attempt in May to sink the Confederate ram Albemarle in 1864, before William Cushing was successful in October. I'd never heard of this incident, so did some research on it.
The USS Wyalusing was commissioned Feb. 8, 1864 and joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in Albemarle Sound ten days after the CSS Albemarle had attacked the fleet, ramming two blockaders and chased them off, enabling Confederates to recapture Plymouth, North Carolina, on April 19, 1864.
The ship carried 154 crew and was 205 feet long, 35 feet beam mounting 14 guns.
On May 5th, the Wyalusing took part in a battle with the Albemarle. Over the next five months, efforts were made to sink the Confederate ironclad.
THE PLAN
The first originated with five sailors aboard the Wyasuling. On the 26th of May, they rowed up the Middle River with two 100-pound torpedoes. They landed and took the two torpedoes across the swampland that separates the Middle River from the Roanoke River on stretchers. They got to a point just above where the Albemarle was moored in Plymouth.
Coxswain John W. Lloyd and Coal Heaver Charles H. Baldwin swam the torpedoes across the river with a towline attached to them. The torpedoes were then joined together with a bridle and Baldwin guided them down the river toward the ram, hoping to place the bridle across her bow with the torpedoes making contact with the hull on either side.
THE EFFORT
He was then to swim clear before Lloyd detonated them with electricity. Unfortunately for them, a Confederate sentry caught sight of Baldwin and under a hail of musket fire, he was able to make his escape just a few yards from his target.
Three sailors returned to the Wyalusing on the 28th and the other two were rescued by the USS Commodore Hull and returned the following day.
All five were awarded Medals of Honor December 31, 1864.
A True Tale of Bravery. --B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
