The CSS Albemarle was a Confederate ironclad ram built in 1863-64 up the Roanoke River in North Carolina. The Albemarle sailed out into Albemarle Sound to do battle with the Union blockade squadron. The Union had no ship powerful enough to stop it and the Albemarle successfully dominated the Roanoke and the approaches to Plymouth through the summer of 1864. Lt. William Cushing submitted a plan to stop her. On the night of October 27, Cushing with a volunteer crew sailed up the river in a 30 foot steam launch intending to capture the 158 foot Albemarle. However, they were seen by Confederate sentries, so Cushing switched to plan B which was to sink the ship. The weapon was a torpedo on the end of a spar which was attached to the launch. To sink the Albemarle, Cushing had to maneuver the launch next to her and get the torpedo under her armor belt. Cushing was successful, but the launch was destroyed by a shot from a 7â Brooke rifle on the Albemarle. Cushing and one of his crew were able to make their way back down the river to the Union ships. William Barker Cushing is recognized as one of the Union Navyâs heroes of the Civil War. rochestermilitary.com