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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
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Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

Picket Boat Number One, 1864

Picket Boat Number One, a steam launch, was built in 1864 for use in support of the U.S. Navy's blockade of the Confederacy. Outfitted with a spar-torpedo, she could also be employed to attack larger enemy vessels. On the dark night of 27-28 October 1864, Lieutenant William B. Cushing and a crew of 14 men took Picket Boat Number One up river to Plymouth, North Carolina. In one of the Civil War's most daring naval actions, they attacked the Confederate ironclad Albemarle, sinking it with the spar torpedo. Only Lt. Cushing and one other man escaped, and Picket Boat Number One was lost, but the Union forces on the North Carolina sounds were freed of the great threat presented by the continued existence of the Albemarle.

This page features views related to the Civil War Navy vessel Picket Boat Number One.

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 63378 Picket Boat No. 1 (1864) Engraved reproduction of a wash drawing by R.G. Skerrett, 1900. This craft, armed as a spar-torpedo launch, was used by Lieutenant William B. Cushing to sink the Confederate ironclad Albemarle on the night of 27-28 October 1864. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 360 pixels
Photo #: NH 79932 "Cushings Daring and Successful Exploit" Artwork by Bacon, published in "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 74, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907. It depicts the attack on CSS Albemarle by a torpedo launch commanded by Lieutenant William B. Cushing, USN, at Plymouth, North Carolina, 27 October 1864. The torpedo boat is shown crashing over Albemarle's protective log boom to deliver its torpedo against the ironclad's hull. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 198KB; 740 x 570 pixels
Photo #: NH 57267 CSS Albemarle (1864-1864) Is torpedoed and sunk by Lieutenant William B. Cushing's torpedo launch, at Plymouth, North Carolina, 27 October 1864. Phototype published by F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa the later 19th Century. Print from the Skerrett Collection, Bethlehem Steel Company Archives. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 181KB; 740 x 620 pixels
Photo #: NH 42220 "Lieut. Cushing's Torpedo Boat sinking the Albemarle on Roanoke River, N.C." Engraving by A. Stachic, published in "Naval Battles of America", by E. Shippen. It depicts the successful spar torpedo attack by Lieutenant William B. Cushing and his crew on the Confederate ironclad Albemarle, at Plymouth, North Carolina, 27 October 1864. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 134KB; 740 x 545 pixels
Photo #: NH 72999 "Screw Picket Boat" "Constructed for the Navy Department" General arrangement plan published in "Submarine Warfare, Offensive and Defensive", by Lieutenant Commander J.S. Barnes, USN, 1869. The drawing also includes detail drawings of the spar torpedo carried by this boat. This craft is similar to Picket Boat No. 1, which was used by Lieutenant William B. Cushing to sink the Confederate ironclad Albemarle on the night of 27-28 October 1864. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 640 pixels
Photo #: NH 84468 "Cushing's Torpedo Boat" Photograph of a general arrangement drawing of the boat and its spar torpedo. The original plan appears to be of 19th Century vintage and is drawn on cloth. Lieutenant William B. Cushing used U.S. Navy Picket Boat No. 1 to sink the Confederate ironclad Albemarle on the night of 27-28 October 1864. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 320 pixels

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Page made 13 October 1999
New image added 22 May 2001