within about seven miles
of Wilmington, a very stronghold of the Confederates, he landed, and
hid his boat in a neighboring swamp. The men lay in hiding all day;
and, just as they were about to start out again, they captured two
boats with a Wilmington fishing-party. During the second night Cushing
crept cautiously up to within three miles of Wilmington, closely
examining the defences of the town and the obstructions in the river.
At daybreak he rowed up one of the creeks until he found the road
between Fort Fisher and Wilmington. Here he crouched by a hedge until
a mounted mail-carrier came by from the fort. The soldier was captured
and dismounted, vastly astonished at the sight of a blue-jacket in
that region. Presently, along came the carrier from the town, on the
way to the fort. He too was astonished at the sight, but flung back a
scornful answer to the demand that he surrender, and galloped hastily
away. In an instant Cushing was on the back of the captured horse, and
after him; but the fugitive was too well mounted, and escaped. Matters
were now becoming very serious. The runaway would doubtless give the
alarm everywhere. Immediate flight was imperative. The men had been
away from the boat for some hours, and were famished. Food must be
had. But how to get it? Cushing's solution of the problem was
characteristic. Having captured some other prisoners, he learned that
a store was to be found about two miles off. A prisoner about
Howarth's size was ordered to strip, and Howarth put on his clothing.
The change from the trim blue uniform of a Yankee naval officer to the
slouchy jeans jumper and overalls of a North Carolina "cracker" was
somewhat amusing, but the disguise was complete. Mounting the captured
horse, Howarth rode off in the character of a "poor-white" farmer come
in to do his marketing. He chatted freely with the people he met along
the road, and securing his provision, returned to the boat without
arousing the least suspicion. Snugly ensconced in the thick bushes,
the party then proceeded to sup, and after the meal amused themselves
in cutting telegraph-wires, and at dark returned to the boat. This was
the third night in the river, and Cushing prepared to return.
Embarking with his prisoners, he pulled up to the "Raleigh," and found
that she would not need his attentions, as she was already a total
wreck. Then he began the descent of the river. When a little way down
the prisoners were set adrift, with ne