Albert Gallatin Hudgins, CSN

From Texas History  "Register of Officers of the Confederate States Navy, 1861-1865)

ALBERT GALLATIN HUDGINS

Born and appointed from Virginia.  Resigned as acting midshipman, U.S. Navy, March 11, 1861.  Acting master , September 24, 1861.  Lieutenant for the war, February 8, 1862,   Second lieutenant September 8, 1862. Second lieutenant, October 23, 181862, to rank from October 2, 1862.

First lieutenant Provisional Navy, June 2,  1864, to rank from January 6, 1864.

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Served on the CSS  Sumter, 1861, wounded and captured while in charge of prize brig  Cuba, July   8, 1861; exchanged  at Aiken's Landing, Virginia, August  5, 1862.

CSS Baltic, Mobile Squadron, 1862-1863.  Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, 1863.  Participated in the expedition for the capture of  U.S. steamers Satellite and Reliance,  August 23, 1863.  Johnsons Island  expedition, 1863.

C.S. steamers  Raleigh and Arctic, Wilmington Station,  1863-1864.

Special duty, 1864.  CSS Bombshell; captured in Albemarle Sound, May 5, 1864, ; paroled at Charleston, South Carolina, December  15, 1864.

C.S. steamers  Virginia (No. 2) and Richmond, James River squadron, 1865.

Semmes Naval Brigade 1865.  Paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina,  April 28, 1865.

--Old B-Runner

April 17, 1864: Confederates Attack Plymouth, North Carolina

APRIL 17TH, 1864:  Confederate troops launched a sustained attack on Plymouth, North Carolina.  Union gunboats moved to support their troops ashore and were promptly taken under fire bu the Southern batteries.  Next day, the fighting at Plymouth intensified as the Confederates pressed  the assault.

The Union Army steamer Bombshell, commanded temporarily by Acting Ensign Thomas B. Stokes, was sunk during the action, but at 9 o'clock in the evening, the Southern advance had been halted.

Lieutenant Commander Flusser reported:  "The Southfield and Miami took part and the general says our firing was admirable,"  The Southern attack required naval support in order to achieve success, and Flusser added meaningfully:  "The ram [Albemarle] will be down to-night or to-morrow."

--Old B-R'er

The CSS Albemarle Attacks Again

MAY 5TH, 1854:  The CSS Albemarle, under Commander Cooke, accompanied by the Bombshell and Cotton Plant, steamed into Albemarle Sound and engaged Union naval forces in a fierce action off the mouth of the Roanoke River.

The Bombshell was captured early in the action after coming under heavy fire from the USS Sassacus and the Cotton Plant withdrew up the river.

The Albemarle continued the action and was rammed by the Sassacus but with little effect.  The ram then sent a shell into the Sassacus' starboard boiler, putting her out of action.    Sidewheelers USS Matahessett and Wyalusing continued fighting for three hours until darkness halted the fight.

The Albemarle withdrew to the river and the small sidewheelers USS Commodore Hull and Ceres took up picket duty at the mouth of the Roanoke in case the Albemarle returned.

--Old B-R'er

Confederates Attack Plymouth, NC

APRIL 17TH-18TH, 1863: Confederate troops launched a sustained attack obn Plymouth, North Carolina. Union gunboats coming to their aide came under fire from Confederate batteries. //// On the 18th, the fighting intensified as the Confederates pressed home their attack. The Union Army steamer Bombshell was sunk. //// The attacks stopped at 9 PM. Lt.Cmdr. Flusser reported: "The Southfield and Miami took part and the general says our firing was admirable." he added that: "The ram [Albemarle] will be down to-night or to-morrow." The Confederates needed naval support to be successful at Plymouth. //// --Old B-R'er