They told us of his perilous scouts and his hairbreadth escapes, of his wonderful audacity and still more wonderful success--of his capture of Towns with a handful of sailors, and the destruction of valuable stores, etc.

I felt very sorry that the man was not a cavalry commander.

There he would have had full scope for his peculiar genius.

He had come prominently into notice in the preceding Autumn, when he had, by one of the most daring performances narrated in naval history, destroyed the formidable ram "Albermarle." This vessel had been constructed by the Rebels on the Roanoke River, and had done them very good service, first by assisting to reduce the forts and capture the garrison at Plymouth, N.C., and afterward in some minor engagements.

In October, 1864, she was lying at Plymouth.