Lt. Cushing still hoped to board the Albemarle and "take her alive", but as he steamed up to the ram, an alert picket saw the dim form of his launch and challenged. Cushing instantly changed his plan: "...just as I was steering in close to the wharf a hail came sharp and quick from the ironclad, in an instant repeated.
"I at once directed the cutter to cast off and go down and capture the guard left in our rear [on the Southfield], and ordering all steam, went at the dark mountain of iron in front of us. A heavy fire at once opened upon us, not only from the ship, but from men stationed on the shore, but this did not disable us and we neared them rapidly."
A large fire now blazed up on the shore, and Cushing discovered a large boom of protective logs surrounding the Confederate ship. Amid the mounting fire, he cooly turned the boat around in order to run at the obstructions at full speed.
"As I turned the whole back of my coat was torn out by buck shot and the sole of my shoe was carried away. The fire was very severe. In the lull of the firing the Captain hailed us, again demanding what boat it was. All my men gave a comical answer and mine was a dose of cannister which I sent amongst them from the howitzer, buzzing and singing against the iron ribs and into the mass of men standing fire-lit upon the shore."
--Old B-Runner
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