The verse about the "Cushing" relates to the aborted attempt of Lieutenant Charles W. Read, CSN, to cut out the US Revenue Cutter Caleb Cushing from Portland Harbor in June of 1863. The Rebels sucessfully boarded the Cushing in the early morning, overpowered her crew, and slipped out of the inner harbor only to be frustrated by diminishing winds. Hours later, Union forces mobilized two steamers, loaded them up with miscellaneous cannons and even more miscellaneous volunteers and took off in hot pursuit. The action was easily monitored from the Portland Observatory. The steamers caught up with the Cushing and for a brief time were in danger of being sunk by the Cushing's more experienced gun crew, at least until the Rebels ran out of cannon balls; the rest of the cannon balls were locked securely below in the magazine. The last "shot" the Rebels fired was said to be a round Dutch cheese, which provoked further terror and confusion amidst the Union crews. The Rebels then set fire to the ship, abandoned ship and were sucessfully captured.