The USS Monticello crept quietly up to the vicinity of Smithville,
N.C. and dropped a landing party led by Lt. William Cushing, USN.
His mission: capture Gen. Louis Hebert, CSA. Cushing managed to
sneak all the way into the general’s quarters, only to find he had
left for Wilmington. Cushing reported to his boss, Admiral Lee:
“..my deep regret that the general was not in when I called.”
