William Barker Cushing was a truly unique individual. At the Naval Academy it could reasonably be said that he excelled at all of his studies except for conduct. Schooling came easy to him and he spent a good deal of time playing practical jokes on his classmates and teachers. One of those practical jokes involved his Spanish teacher, which played a role in his expulsion from the Naval Academy just prior to the breakout of the war. Despite this, he still managed to get himself a position in the Navy where he would rise through the ranks. Cushing would be the youngest person to achieve the rank of Lieutenant and Commander in that service. His career was cut short by his premature death after the war at the age of 32. Cushing rose to prominence in 1862 at a time when the war was not going well for the Union and it needed heroes. Below are some comments that his superiors wrote about him that best show his bravery, coolness under fire, and the esteem that his colleagues and men had for him. They paint a picture of the man Gideon Welles described as the “hero of the war”.

Lieutenant-Commander Flusser wrote: “I desire to mention as worthy of praise for great gallantry, Lieutenant William B. Cushing, who ran the fieldpiece out amid a storm of bullets, took a sure and deliberate aim at the rebels, and sent a charge of canister among them that completely silenced their fire at that point. Mr. Lynch assisted Mr. Cushing, and here met his death like a brave fellow, as he was. Mr. Richards, third assistant engineer, who had charge of the powder division, also assisted with the howitzer, and showed great courage.”

Admiral David D. Porter, U. S. Navy, wrote: “There was another young officer in the North Atlantic Squadron at this time, Lieutenant William B. Cushing, who made a name for himself by his total disregard of danger. He would undertake the most desperate adventures where it seemed impossible for him to escape death or capture, yet he almost always managed to get off with credit to himself and with loss to the enemy. He commanded the small gunboat Ellis, and in November, 1862, it struck him that he would enter New River Inlet, push up the river, sweep it clear of vessels, capture the town of Jacksonville or Onslow Courthouse, take the Wilmington mail and destroy any salt works he could find on the banks. He expected to surprise the enemy on going up, and then fight his way down. The account of the loss of the Ellis is given as an illustration of this young officer’s character and his fancy for seeking adventures. There was nothing particularly to be gained by his trip up New Inlet River, and there was a chance of losing his vessel. He lost her, but in doing so, showed his spirit of adventure, risking his life and the lives of his men, and then escaping with his crew, arms, provisions and clothing, setting fire to his vessel and training her guns upon the enemy so that she might give them a broadside as she went out of existence.”

The Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote: “Sir: Your gallantry and meritorious services during the recent demonstration of the enemy upon the Nansemond and in co-operating with the army are entitled to the especial notice and commendation of the Department. Your conduct on this occasion adds additional luster to the character you have already established for valor in the face of the enemy. The energy and ability displayed by yourself and the officers and men under your command in the defense of the lower Nansemond are most creditable and are appreciated by the Department. The Department desires to express to you more especially its admiration of your gallantry and enterprise in conducting an important armed reconnaissance with a party from the gunboats some miles into the enemy’s country to the village of Chuckatuck and putting to flight a body of rebel cavalry and safely returning to your vessel. Accept my congratulations for yourself and the officers and men that were under your command.”

Rear-Admiral Porter’s comments announcing the destruction of the ram Albemarle, Cushing’s most famous exploit: “Nothing stimulates the energy and zeal of officers and men more than a proper appreciation of their services. It is always my desire to give full credit to all officers and men under my command who may distinguish themselves and reflect credit upon the naval service. It is right that the creditable work of an officer should be made known to those serving in the same squadron. It affords me pleasure to inform the officers and men of the squadron under my command that the rebel ram Albemarle, which has for so long a time kept a large force of vessels employed to watch her, has been destroyed by Lieutenant William B. Cushing, who, in this hazardous enterprise, has displayed a heroic enterprise seldom equaled and never excelled. In the face of a watchful enemy, and under a heavy fire of musketry and great guns, he went right into the ram Albemarle and blew her up, his own boat being destroyed by one of the enemy’s shot. To say nothing of the moral effect of this gallant affair, the loss of this vessel to the rebels cannot be estimated. It leaves open to us all the Albemarle Sound and tributaries, and gives us a number of vessels for employment elsewhere (hitherto kept to watch the ram), which has been a great source of annoyance to the vessels in the sound. The gallant exploits of Lieutenant Cushing previous to this affair will form a bright page in the history of the war, but they have all been eclipsed by the destruction of the Albemarle. The spirit evinced by this officer is what I wish to see pervading this squadron. He has shown an absolute disregard of death or danger, and will no doubt be suitably rewarded by the Government, which reward he well deserves.”

President Abraham Lincoln wrote: “In conformity to the law of July 16, 1862, I most cordially recommend that Lieutenant William B. Cushing, United States Navy, receive a vote of thanks from Congress for his important, gallant and perilous achievement in destroying the rebel ironclad steamer Albemarle on the night of the 27th of October, 1864, at Plymouth, North Carolina. The destruction of so formidable a vessel, which had resisted the continued attacks of a number of our vessels on former occasions, is an important event touching our future naval and military operations, and would reflect honor on any officer, and redound to the credit of this young officer and the few brave comrades who assisted in this successful and daring undertaking.”

Cushing became so popular that the New York Daily Herald embedded one of their reporters with his crew. In the next post we’ll show two of the articles the reporter filed.

Next- William Barker Cushing- “The Hero of the War”- A New York Herald Correspondent Sails With the Crew