IRONCLAD SAILORSANDTHE CROATAN LIGHT

- The Light-- The CSS Albemarle--The Attack--The Aftermath-

THE LIGHT

THE LIGHT

THE LIGHT

THE LIGHT

THE RAIDING PARTY

CSS ALBEMARLE

CSS ALBEMARLEPLANNED BY JOHN L. PORTER, CHIEF CONSTRUCTOR, CSNBUILT BY GILBERT ELLIOTT AT EDWARDS FERRY, NCArmor: Two layers of 2 iron plates (one horizontal, one vertical)Backing: 4 vertical oak; 5 horizontal pine; 12x13 vertical oakBattery: 2 6.4 inch Brooke RiflesLength Between Perpendiculars: 152 feetBeam above water: 34 feetDraft: 9 feetTonnage: 376 tons

CAPTAIN JAMES W. COOKE, CSNJanuary 1864 June 1864

COMMANDER JOHN N. MAFFITJune 1864 September 1864

THE ATTACKOn October 4, 1864, around 11pm, Assistant Keeper Tillet and his wife awoke to raiding party from the CSS Albemarle coming aboard the lightDemanding to know the whereabouts of the keeper, they were disappointed to find out he was ashore, visiting his sick motherTaking the Lighthouse clock, the party along with the Tillets, boarded a small boat bound for Confederate territory.

KABOOM!A little after midnight, as they were rowing toward the Alligator River, Mrs. Tillet heard an explosion and saw flames coming from the vicinity of the lighthouse.The Albemarle crew members also planned to destroy the Roanoke Marshes Light but for some reason abandoned that part of their mission

THE AFTERMATHWhile the Sailors did release Mrs. Tillet, they sent Assistant Keeper Tillet to the Confederate prison in Salisbury where he waited to be exchanged for a Confederate prisoner.It is unknown if he was ever exchanged but a letter does survive where he asks the lighthouse board to arrange an exchange for him

THE AFTERMATHOctober 27, 1864

Ironclad of the Roanoke by Robert G. ElliotIn Memory of the Croatan Light, Bruce Roberts, Our State, June 2002Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion SOURCES: