The C.S.S. Albemarle and William Cushing: The Remarkable Confederate Ironclad and the Union Officer Who Sank It

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.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Preface Prologue  1. The Mosquito Fleet  2. A Close One, Sir  3. We Are About to Build a Large Number of Gun Boats  4. When Fought as Gallantly as That  5. For Want of This Iron Our Work Has Been Going Backward  6. Wrong Wharf, Wrong Boat  7. In High Favor  8. In a Cornfield at Edward’s Ferry  9. A Presidential Compliment 10. Magnificent, Grim, Irresistible 11. The Good Ship Albemarle 12. Shokokon to Monticello 13. Winter Offensive 14. The Essence of Impudence 15. All Ahead, Full 16. Plymouth Is Ours 17. Heaven Has Crowned Our Efforts with Success 18. A Terrific Grand Waltz 19. Four Miles from Wilmington 20. Captain Cushing’s Exploits in the Cape Fear River 21. Captain Cooke 22. David against Goliath 23. To Prevent an Impending Calamity 24. Send the Boats On 25. I Have Undertaken a Great Project 26. You Must Not Hope to Return 27. Pick Your Men 28. An Example of Coolness and Skill 29. The Fixed Determination to Escape 30. No More Gallant Thing 31. Dead Gone Sunk 32. It Is Done 33. Cheer Ship 34. Thanks of Congress 35. The Cost of the Nation’s Unity 36. Blind to the Facts Epilogue Chapter Notes Bibliography Index