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 Copy 2 
 
 THE ALABAMA 
 
 THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT 
 
 fiabal ffingagcnicnt in t^c toritisb Cj/l^anncI, 
 
 OK SVKBAY, JIWE 19th, ISG4, 
 
 FROM INFORMATION FURNISHED TO THR WRITER BY THE WOUNDlED AND 
 
 PAROLED PRISONERS OF THE CONFEDERATE PRIVATEER "ALABAMA," 
 
 THE OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES SLOOP-OF-WAR 
 
 "KEARSAUGE," and C"'^^ENS OF CHERBOURG. 
 
 FREDERICK MILNES EDGE. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 KING & BAIRD, PRINTERS, GOT SANSOM STREET. 
 
 1868. 
 
 i'^rJ'i^-'' 
 
Qass E g^ 
 
 Book -AzE^ 
 
THE ALABAMA 
 
 THE KEAKSAEGE 
 
 A.N A.CCOUl:^T 
 
 n0agemcnt in t\t ^ntisl^ 
 
 Imni«I, 
 
 OJV SUNDAY, jmrE 19th, 1864, 
 
 FROM INFORMATION FURXISHED TO THE WRITER BY THE WOUNDED AND 
 
 PAROLED PRISONERS OF THE CONFEDERATE PRIVATEER " ALABAMA," 
 
 THE OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES SLOOP-OF-WAR 
 
 " KEARSARGE," AND CITIZENS OF CHERBOURG. 
 
 FREDERICK MILNES EDGE. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 KING & BAIRD, PRINTERS, 607 SANSOM STREET. 
 
 1868. 
 

 OQi-XSEOj 
 
T 
 
 HE Alabama and the: Kearsarge. 
 
 The importance of the engagement between the 
 United States Sloop-of-war, Kearsarge, and the Con- 
 federate Privateer, Alabama, cannot be estimated by 
 the size of the two vessels. The conflict off Cher- 
 bourg on Sunday, the 19th of June, was the first 
 decisive engagement between shipping propelled by 
 steam, and the first test of the merits of modern naval 
 artillery. It was, moreover, a contest for superiority 
 between the ordnance of Europe and America, whilst 
 the result furnishes us with data wherefrom to esti- 
 mate the relative advantages of rifled and smooth-bore 
 cannon at short range. 
 
 Perhaps no greater or more numerous misrepresen- 
 tations were ever made in regard to an engagement 
 than in. reference to the one in question. The first 
 news of the conflict came to us enveloped in a mass 
 of statements, the greater part of which, not to use an 
 unparliamentary expression, was diametrically opposed 
 to the truth; and although several weeks have now 
 elapsed since the Alabama followed her many defence- 
 less victims to their watery grave, these misrepresen- 
 tations obtain as much credence as ever. The victory 
 of the Kearsarge was accounted for, and the defeat of 
 
4 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 the Alabama excused or palliated upon the following 
 principal reasons : 
 
 1. The superior size and speed of the Kearsarge. 
 
 2. The superiority of her armament. 
 
 3. The chain-plating of her sides. 
 
 4. The greater number of her crew. 
 
 5. The unpreparedness of the Alabama. 
 
 6. The assumed necessity of Captain Semmes' ac- 
 cepting the challenge sent him (as represented) by 
 the commander of the Kearsarge. 
 
 Besides these misstatements there have been others 
 put forth, either in ignorance of the real facts of the 
 case, or with a purposed intention of diminishing the 
 merit of the victory by casting odiimi upon the 
 Federals on the score of inhumanity. In the former 
 category must be placed the remarks of the Times 
 (June 21st); but it is just to state that the observa- 
 tions in question -were made on receipt of the first 
 news, and from information furnished probably by 
 parties unconnected with the paper, and desirous of 
 palliating the Alabama's defeat by any means in their 
 power. We are informed in the article above referred 
 to that the guns of the latter vessel " had been pointed 
 for 2,000 yards, and the second shot went right 
 through the Kearsarge," whereas no shot whatever 
 went through as stated. Again, " the Kearsarge fired 
 about IdO (shot), chiefiy U-in. shell," the fact being 
 that not one-third of her projectiles were of that calibre. 
 Further on we find — "The men (of the Alabama) 
 w^ere all true to the last; they only ceased firing when 
 the water came to the muzzles of their guns." Such 
 a declaration as this is laughable in the extreme : the 
 Alabama's guns were all on the spar-deck, like those 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 5 
 
 of the Kearsarge ; and, to achieve what the Times 
 represents, her men must have fought on until the 
 hull of their vessel was two feet under water. The 
 truth is — if the evidence of the prisoners saved by the 
 Kearsarge may be taken — Captain Semmes hauled 
 down his flag immediately after being informed by 
 his chief engineer that the water was putting out the 
 fires ; and, within a few minutes, the water gained so 
 rapidly on the vessel that her bow rose slowly in the 
 air, and half her guns obtained a greater elevation 
 than they had ever known previously. It is unfor- 
 tunate to find such cheap-novel style of writing in a 
 paper which at some future period may be referred to 
 as an authoritative chronicler of events now transpiring. 
 It would be too long a task to notice all the 
 numerous misstatements of private individuals, and 
 of the English and French press in reference to this 
 action: the best mode is to give the facts as they 
 occurred, leaving the public to judge by internal evi- 
 dence on which side the iiuth exists. 
 
 Within a few days of the fight, the writer of these 
 pages cro.'sed from London to Cherbourg for the pur- 
 pose of obtaining by personal examination full and 
 precise information in reference to the engagement. 
 It would seem as though misrepresentation, if not 
 positive falsehood, were inseparable from every thing 
 connected with the Alabama, for, on reaching the 
 French naval station, he was positively assured by the 
 people on shore that nobody was permitted to board 
 the Kearsarge. Preferring, however, to substantiate 
 the truth of these allegations from the officers of the 
 vessel themselves, he hired a boat and sailed out to 
 the sloop, receiving on his arrival an immediate and 
 polite reception from Captain Winslow and his gallant 
 
6 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 subordinates. During the six days he remained at 
 Cherbourg, he found the Kearsarge open to the inspec- 
 tion, above and below, of any and every body who 
 chose to visit her; and he frequently heard surprise 
 expressed by English and Frcncli visitors alike that 
 representations on shore were so inconsonant with the 
 truth of the case. 
 
 I found the Kearsarge lying under the guns of the 
 French ship-of-thc-line " Napoleon," two cables' length 
 from that vessel, and about a mile and a half from the 
 harbor ; she had not moved from that anchorage since 
 entering the port of Cherbourg, and no repairs what- 
 ever had been effected in her hull since the fight. 
 I had thus full opportunity to examine the extent of 
 her damage, and she certainly did not look at all like 
 a vessel which liad just been engaged in one of the 
 hottest conflicts of modern times. 
 
 SIZE OF THE TWO VESSELS. 
 
 The Kearsarge, in size, is by no means the terrible 
 craft represented by those who, for some reason or 
 other, seek to detract from the honor of her victory ; 
 she appeared to me a mere yacht in comparison with 
 the shipping around her, and disappointed many of 
 the visitors who came to see her. The relative ])ro- 
 portions of the two antagonists were as follows : 
 
 Ai.ahama. Keaksakoe. 
 
 Length over all 220 feet. 232 feet. 
 
 Length of keel 210 " 198i " 
 
 Beam 33 " 33 " 
 
 Depth 17 " IGi " 
 
 Horse power, 2 engines of 300 each. 400 h. p. 
 
 Tonnage 1,040 1,031* 
 
 * The Kearsarge has a four-bladed screw, diameter twelve feet nine 
 inches with a pitch of twenty feet. 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 7 
 
 The Alabama was a barque-rigged screw propeller, 
 and the heaviness of her rig, and, above all, the 
 greater size and height of her masts, would give her 
 the appearance of a much larger vessel than her 
 antagonist. The masts of the latter are dispropor- 
 tionately low and small ; she has never carried more 
 than top-sail yards, and depends for her speed upon 
 her machinery alone. It is to be questioned whether 
 the Alabama, with all her reputation for velocity, 
 could, in her best trim, outsteam her rival. The log- 
 book of the Kearsarge, which I was courteously per- 
 mitted to examine, frequently shows a speed of up- 
 wards of fourteen knots the hour, and her engineers 
 state that her machinery was never in better working 
 order than at the present time. I have not seen 
 engines more compact in form, nor, apparently, in 
 finer condition; looking in every part as though they 
 were fresh from the workshop, instead of being, as 
 they are, half through the third year of the cruise. 
 
 Ships-of-war, however, whatever may be their ton- 
 nage, are nothing more than platforms for carrying 
 artillery. The only mode by which to judge of the 
 strength of the two vessels is in comparing their arma- 
 ments ; and herein we find the equality of the antago- 
 nists as fully exemplified as in the respective propor- 
 tions of their hulls and steam-power. The armaments 
 of the Alabama and Kearsarge were as follows : 
 
 ARMAMENT OF THE ALABAMA. 
 
 One seven-inch Blakely rifle. 
 
 One eight-inch smooth-bore (sixty-eight-pounder). 
 
 Six thirty-two-pounders. 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 ARMAMENT OF THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 Two eleven-inch smooth-bore guns. 
 
 One thirty-pounder rifle. 
 Four thirty-two-pounders. 
 
 It will therefore be seen that the Alabama had the 
 advantage of the Kearsarge — at all events in the 
 number of her guns ; whilst the weight of the latter's ^jf 
 broadside was only some twenty per cent, greater than 
 her own. This disparity, however, was more than 
 made up by the greater rapidity of the Alabama's 
 firing, and, above all, by the superiority of her artillery- 
 men. The Times informs us that Captain Semmes 
 asserts, " he owes his best men to the training they 
 received on board the ' Excellent ;' " and trained gun- 
 ners must naturally be superior to the volunteer gun- 
 ners on board the Kearsarge. Each vessel fought all 
 her guns, with the exception in either case of one 
 thirty-two-pounder, on the starboard side; but the 
 struggle was really decided by the two eleven-inch 
 Dahlgren smooth-bores of the Kearsarge against the 
 seven-inch Blakely rifle and the heavy sixty-cight- 
 poundcr pivot of the Alabama. The Kearsarge cer- 
 tainly carried a small thirty-pounder rifled Dahlgren 
 in pivot on her forecastle, and this gun was fired 
 several times before the rest were brought into play ; 
 but the gun in question was never regarded as aught 
 than a failure, and the Ordnance Department of the 
 United States Navy has given up its manufacture. 
 
 / 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsargc. 
 
 THE CHAIN-PLATING OF THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 Great stress has been laid upon the chain-plating 
 of the Kearsarge, and it is assumed by interested par- 
 ties that, but for this armor, the contest would have 
 resulted differently A pamphlet lately published in 
 this city, entitled " The Career of the Alabama,"* 
 makes the following statements : 
 
 "The Federal Government had fitted out the Kearsarge, a new 
 vessel of great speed, iron-coated,'''' &c. (p. 23.) 
 
 "She," the Kearsarge, "appeared to be temporarily \A?itG(\.yf'ii\\ iron 
 chains." (p. 38.) (In the previous quotation, it would appear she had 
 so been plated by the Federal Government : both statements are abso- 
 lutely incorrect, as will shortly be seen.) 
 
 "It was frequently observed that shot and shell struck against the 
 Kearsarge's side, and harmlessly rebounded, bursting outside, and 
 doing no damage to the Federal crew. 
 
 ' ' Another advantage accruing from this was that it sank her very 
 low in the water, so low in fact, that the heads of the men who were 
 in the boats were on the level of the Kearsarge's deck." (p. 39.) 
 
 "As before observed, the sides of the Kearsarge icere trailed all over 
 with chain cables.^'' (p. 41.) 
 
 The author of the pamphlet in que stion has judi- 
 ciously refrained from giving his name. A greater 
 number of more unblushing misrepresentations never 
 were contained in an equsl space 
 
 In his official report to the Confederate Envoy, 
 Mr. Mason, Captain Semmes makes the following 
 statements : 
 
 "At the end of the engagement, it was discovered by those of our 
 officers who went alongside the enemy's ship with the wounded, that 
 her midship section on both sides was thoroughly iron-coated ; this 
 having been done with chain constructed for the purpose, {!) placed per- 
 
 *The Career of the Alabama, "No. 290," from July 29, 1862, to 
 June 19, 1864. London : Dorrell and Son. 
 
10 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 pendiciilarly from the rail to the water's eclge, the whole covered over 
 by a thin outer planking, which gave no indication of the armor 
 beneath. This planking had been ripped off in every direction (I) by 
 our shot and shell, the chain broken and indented in many places, and 
 forced partly into the ship's side. She was most effectually guarded, 
 however, in this section from penetration. 
 
 "The enemy was heavier than myself, both in ship, battery and 
 crew, (!) but I did not knotc until the action was over that she teas also 
 iron-clad.^' 
 
 "Those of our officers who went alongside the 
 enemy's ship with our wounded." . As soon as Cap- 
 tain Semmes reached the Deerhound, the yacht 
 steamed off at full speed towards Southampton, and 
 Semmes wrote his report of the fight either in Eng- 
 land, or on hoard the English vessel. Prohahly the 
 former, for he dates his communication to Mr. Mason 
 "Southampton, June 21, 1861." How did he obtain 
 intelligence from those of his officers "who went 
 alongside the enemy's ship," and who would naturally 
 be detained as prisoners of war"? It was impossible 
 for anybody to reach Southampton in the time speci- 
 fied; nevertheless he did obtain such information. 
 One of his officers — George T. Fullam, an English- 
 man unfortunately — came to the Kearsarge in a boat 
 at the close of the action, representing the Alabama 
 to be sinking, and that if the Kearsarge did not hasten 
 to get out boats to save life, the crew must go down 
 with her. Not a moment was to be lost, and he 
 offered to go back to his own vessel to bring off 
 prisoners, pledging his honor to return when the 
 object was accomplished. After picking up several 
 men struggling in the water, he steered directly for 
 the Deerhound, and on reaching her actually cast his 
 boat adrift. It was subsequently picked up by the 
 Kearsarge. FuUam's name appears amongst the list 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 11 
 
 of " saved" by the Deerhound ; and he, with others of 
 the Alabama's officers who had received a similar per- 
 mission from their captors, and had similarly broken 
 their troth, of course gave the above information to 
 their veracious captain. 
 
 The chain-plating of the Kearsarge was decided 
 upon in this wise. The vessel lay off Fayal towards 
 the latter part of April, 1863, on the lookout for a 
 notorious blockade-runner, named the " Juno." The 
 Kearsarge being shor<- of coal, and fearing some 
 attempts at opposition on the part of her prey, the 
 first officer of the sloop, Lieutenant-Commander James 
 S. Thornton, suggested to Captain Win slow the ad- 
 visability of hanging her spare anchor-cable over her 
 sides, so as to protect her midship section. Mr. 
 Thornton had served on board the flag-ship of Admiral 
 Farragut, the " Hartford," when she and the rest of 
 the Federal fleet ran the forts of the Mississippi to 
 reach New Orleans ; and he made the suggestion at 
 Fayal through having seen the advantage gained by 
 it on that occasion. I now copy the following extract 
 from the log-book of the Kearsarge : 
 
 "HoRTA Bay, Fayal, 3Iay 1st, 1863. 
 ''From 8 to Merid. Wind E.N.E. (F. 2). Weather b. c. Strapped, 
 loaded, and fused (5 sec. fuse) 13 Xl-inch shell. Commenced armor- 
 plating ship, using sheet chain. 'Weighed kedge anchor. 
 
 (Signed,) "E. JVI. STODDARD, 
 
 " Acting Master." 
 
 This operation of chain-armoring took three days, 
 and was effected without assistance from the shore 
 and at an expense of material of seventy-five dollars, 
 (£15.) In order to make the addition less unsightly, 
 
12 The Alabama and the Kearsargc. 
 
 the chains were boxed over with inch-deal boards, 
 forming a case or box, which stood out at right angles 
 from the vessel's sides. This box would naturally 
 excite curiosity in every port where the Kearsarge 
 touched, and no mystery was made as to what the 
 boarding covered. Captain Semmes was perfectly 
 cognizant of the entire affair, notwithstanding his 
 shameless assertion of ignorance ; for he spoke about 
 it to his officers and crew several days prior to the 
 19th of June, declaring that the chains were only 
 attached together with rope-yarns, and would drop 
 into the water when struck witli the first shot. I was 
 so informed by his own wounded men lying in the 
 naval hospital at Cherbourg. AYhatever might be the 
 value for defence of this chain-plating, it was only 
 struck once during the engagement, so far as I could 
 discover by a long and close inspection. Some of the 
 officers of the Kearsarge asserted to me that it was 
 struck twice, whilst others deny that declaration : in 
 one spot, liowever, a thirty-two-pounder shot broke in 
 the deal co\ering and smashed a single link, two-thirds 
 of which fell into the water. The remainder is in my 
 possession, and proves to be of the ordinary five and 
 a quarter-inch chain. Had the cable been struck by 
 the rifled one hundred and twenty-pounder instead of 
 by a thirty-two, the result might have been different; 
 but in any case tlie damage would have amounted to 
 notliing serious, for the vessel's side Avas hit five feet 
 above the water-line and nowhere in the vicinity of 
 the boilers or macliinery. Captain Semmes evidently 
 regarded this protection of the chains as little worth, 
 for he might have adopted the same plan before en- 
 gaging the Kearsarge ; but he confined himself to 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 13 
 
 taking on board one hundred and fifty tons of coal as 
 a protection to Ids boilers, which, in addition to the 
 two hundred tons already in his bunkers, would bring 
 him pretty low in the water. The Kearsarge, on the 
 contrary, was deficient in her coal, and she took what 
 was necessary on board during my stay at Cherbourg. 
 The quantity of chain used on each side of the 
 vessel in this much-talked-of armoring is only one 
 hundred and twenty fathoms, and it covers a space 
 amidships of forty-nine feet six inches in length, by 
 six feet two inches in depth. The chain, which is 
 single, not double, was and is stopped to eye-bolts 
 with rope-yarn and by iron dogs.* Is it reasonable 
 to suppose that this plating of one and seven-tenths- 
 inch iron (the thickness of the links of the chain) 
 could offer any serious resistance to the heavy sixty- 
 eight-pounder and the seven-inch Blakely rifle of the 
 Alabama — at the comparatively close range of se^en 
 hundred yards ? What then becomes of the mistaken 
 remark of the Times that the Kearsarge was " pro- 
 vided, as it turned out, with some special contrivances 
 for protection," or Semmes' declaration that she was 
 " iron-clad ?" " The Career of the Alabama," in re- 
 ferring to the chain-plating, says : " Another advan- 
 tage accruing from this was that it sank her very low 
 in the water, so low in fact, that the heads of the men 
 who were in the boats were on the level of the Kear- 
 sarge's deck."' It is simply ridiculous to suppose that 
 the weight of two hundred and forty fathoms of chain 
 could have any such effect upon a vessel of one thou- 
 
 * There was nothing whatever between the chain and the sliip'& 
 sides. 
 
14 The Alabama and the Kearsargc. 
 
 sand tons burden ; whilst, in addition, the cable itself 
 was part of the ordinary gear of the ship. Further, 
 the Kearsarge was deficient in seventy tons of coal of 
 her proper supply at the time of action, while the 
 Alabama had three hundred and fifty tons on board. 
 
 The objection that the Alabama was short-handed 
 does not appear to be borne out by the facts of the 
 case ; while, on the other hand, a greater number of 
 men than were necessary to work the guns and sliip 
 would be more of a detriment than a benefit to the 
 Kearsarge. The latter vessel had twenty-two officers 
 on board, and one hundred and forty men : the 
 Alabama is represented to have had only one hundred 
 and twenty in her crew, (INIr. Mason's statement,) but 
 if lior officers be included in this number, the asser- 
 tion is obviously incorrect, for the Kearsarge saved 
 sixty-seven,* the T3eerhound forty-one, and the French 
 pilot-boats 12, and this, without mentioning the thir- 
 teen accounted for as killed and wounded,"f* and others 
 who went down with the ship. If Captain Semmes' 
 representations were correct in regard to his being 
 short-handed, he certainly ought not to be trusted 
 with the command of a vessel again, however much 
 he may be esteemed by some parties for his Quixotism 
 in challenging an antagonist — to use his own words — 
 " heavier than myself both in sliip, battery, and crew." 
 
 The asserted unpreparcdness of the Alabama is 
 about as truthful as the other representations, if we 
 may take Captain Semmes' report, and certain facts, 
 in rebutting evidence. The Captain writes to Mr. 
 Mason, " I cannot deny myself the pleasure of saying 
 
 * Including three dead. \ See page 41. 
 
The Alabama and the Kcarsarge. 15 
 
 that Mr. Kell, my First Lieutenant, deserves great 
 credit for the fine condition the ship went into action;" 
 but if Captain Semmes were right in the alleged want 
 of preparation, he himself is alone to blame. He had 
 ample time for protecting his vessel and crew in all 
 possible manners; he, not the Kearsarge, was the 
 aggressor; and but for his forcing the fight the 
 Alabama might still be riding inside Cherbourg 
 breakwater. Notwithstanding the horrible cause for 
 which he is struggling, and the atrocious depredations 
 he has committed upon helpless merchantmen, we can 
 still admire the daring he evinced in sallying forth 
 from a secure haven and gallantly attacking his oppo- 
 nent ; but when he professes ignorance of the charac- 
 ter of his antagonist, and unworthily attempts to dis- 
 parage the victory of his foe, we forget all our first 
 sympathies, and condemn the moral nature of the man 
 as he has forced us to do his judgment. 
 
 Nor must it be forgotten that the Kearsarge has 
 had fewer opportunities for repairs than the Alabama, 
 and that she has been cruising around in all seas for 
 a much longer period than her antagonist.^ The 
 Alabama, on the contrary, had lain for many days in 
 Cherbourg, and she only steamed forth when her Cap- 
 tain supposed her to be in at all events as good a con- 
 dition as the enemy. 
 
 THE CHALLENGE. 
 
 Finally, the challenge to fight was given by the 
 Alabama to the Kearsarge, not by the Kearsarge to 
 
 * The Kearsarge started on her present cruise the 4th of February, 
 1862 ; the Alabama left the Mersey at the end of July following. 
 
16 llic Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 the Alabama. " The Career of the Alabama," above 
 referred to, makes the follo'W'ing romantic statement : 
 
 "When lie (Semmes) was challenged by the commander of the Kear- 
 sarge, everybody in Cherbourg, it ai)i)ears, said it would be disgraceful 
 if he refused the challenge, and this, coupled with his belief that the 
 Kearsarge was not so strong as she really proved to be, made him 
 agree to fight." (p. 41.) 
 
 On the Tuesday after the battle, and before leaving 
 London for Cherbourg, I was shown a telegram by a 
 member of the House of Commons, forwarded to him 
 that morning. The telegram was addressed to one 
 of the gentleman's constituents by his son, a sailor on 
 board the Alabama, and was dated " C. S. S. Alabama, 
 Cherbourg, June 14th," the sender stating that they 
 were about to engage the Kearsarge on the morrow, 
 or next day. I have not a copy of this telegram, but 
 " The Career of tlie Alabama" gives a letter to the 
 like effect from the surgeon of the Privateer, addressed 
 to a gentleman in this city. The letter reads as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 "CnERBOURG, Jinieli, 18G4. 
 "Dear Travers : Here we are. I send this by a gentleman coming 
 to London. An enemy is outside. If sJie only stays long enovgh, we go 
 out and fight her. If I live, expect to see me in London shortly. If I 
 die, give my best love to all who know me. If Monsieur A. de Caillct 
 should call on you, please show him every attention. 
 "I remain, dear Travers, ever yours, 
 
 "D. n. LLEWELLYN." 
 
 There were two brave gentlemen on board the 
 Alabama — ]ioor I^lewellyn, who nobly refused to save 
 his own life by leaA'ing his wounded, and a young 
 Lieutenant, Mr. Joseph Wilson, \\\\o honorably de- 
 
Hie Alabama and the Kcarsargc. 17 
 
 livered up his sword on the deck of the Kearsarge 
 when the other officers threw theirs into the water. 
 
 The most unanswerable proof of Captain Semmes 
 havinof challenged the Commander of the Kearsarge 
 is to be found in the following letter addressed by 
 him to the Confederate consul or agent at Cherbourg. 
 After the publication of this document, it is to be 
 hoped we shall hear no more of Captain Winslow's 
 having committed such a breach of discipline and 
 etiquette as that of challenging a rebel against his 
 Government. 
 
 CAPTAIN SEMMES' CHALLENGE TO THE KEARSAEGE. 
 
 "C. S. S. Alabama, 
 
 "Cherboukg, June lAih, 1864. 
 "To Ad. BoNFiLS, Esq., 
 
 "Cherbourg : 
 
 "Sir : I liear that you were informed by tlie United States Consul, 
 that the Kearsarge was to come to this port solely for the prisoners 
 landed by me,* and that she was to depart in twenty-four hours. I 
 desire you to say to the United States Consul, that my intention is to 
 fight the Kearsarge as soon as I can make the necessary arrangements. 
 I hope these will not detain me more than until to-morrow evening, 
 or after the morrow morning at farthest. I beg she wiU not depart 
 before I am ready to go out. 
 
 ' ' I have the honor to be, 
 
 "Very respectfully, your obedient sei-vant, 
 
 "R. SEMMES, 
 
 "Captaiu." 
 
 Numerous facts serve to prove that Captain Semmes 
 had made every preparation to engage the Kearsarge, 
 and that wide-spread publicity had been given to his 
 
 * This infoi-mation was incorrect. No such statement was ever 
 made by the Consul of the United States at Cherbourg. 
 
 F. M. E. 
 2 
 
18 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 intention. As soon as the arrival of the Federal 
 vessel was known at Paris, an American gentleman 
 of high position came down to Cherhourg, with 
 instructions for Captain Winslow; but so desirous 
 were the French authorities to preserve a really lionest 
 neutrality, that permission was only granted to liim 
 to sail to her after his promising to return to shore 
 immediately on the delivery of his message. Once 
 back in Cherbourg, and about to return to Paris, he 
 was advised to remain over night, as the Alabamn 
 intended to figlt the Kearsarge next day, (Sunday.) 
 On Sunday morning, an excursion train arrived from 
 the capital, and the visitors were received at the ter- 
 minus of the railway by the boatmen of tlie port, who 
 offered them boats for the purpose of seeing a genuine 
 naval battle which teas to take jplace during the day. 
 Turning such a memorable occurrence to practical 
 uses, Monsieur Hondin, a photographic artist on the 
 Place d^Armes at Cherbourg, prepared the necessary 
 chemicals, plates, and camera, and placed himself on 
 the summit of the old Church tower, which the 
 whilom denizens of Cherbourg had very properly 
 built in happy juxtaposition witli his establishment. 
 I was only able to see tlie negative, but that was quite 
 sufficient to show that the artist had obtained a very 
 fine view, indeed, of the exciting contest. Five days, 
 however, had elapsed since Captain Semmes sent his 
 challenge to Captain Winslow through the Con- 
 federate agent, Monsieur Bonfils ; surely time suflS- 
 cient for him to make all the preparations which he 
 considered necessary. Meanwhile, the Kearsarge was 
 cruising to and fro at sea, outside the breakwater. 
 The Kearsarge reached Cherbourg on the 14th, 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 19 
 
 and her Captain only heard of Captain Semmes' inten- 
 tion to fight him on the following day. Five days, 
 however, elapsed before the Alabama put in an 
 appearance, and her exit from the harbor was heralded 
 by the English yacht Deerhonnd. The officer on 
 watch aboard the Kearsarge made out a three-masted 
 vessel steaming from the harbor, the movements of 
 which were somewhat mysterious : after remaining a 
 short time only, this steamer, which subsequently 
 proved to be the Deerhound, went back into port; 
 only returning to sea a few minutes in advance of 
 the Alabama, and the French iron-clad La Couronne. 
 Mr. Lancaster, her owner, sends a copy of his log to 
 the Times, the first two entries being as follows : 
 
 "Sunday, Jmie 19, 9 a.m. — Got up steam and in-oceeded out of 
 Cliei'bourg harbor. 
 
 "10.30 — Observed the ' Alabama" steamuig out of the harbor towardi? 
 the Federal steamer 'Kearsarge.' "* 
 
 * The following is the copy of the log of the Kearsarge on the day 
 in question : 
 
 ''June Id, 1864. 
 "From 8 to Merid. — Moderate breeze from the Wd. weather b. c. 
 At 10, inspected crew at quarters. At 10.20, discovered the Alabama 
 steaming out from the port of Cherbourg, accompanied by a French 
 iron-clad steamer, and a fore-and-aft rigged steamer showing the white 
 English ensign and a yacht flag. Beat to general quarters, and 
 cleared the ship for action. Steamed ahead standing off shore. At 
 10.50, being distant from the land about two leagues, altered our 
 course, and approached the Alabama. At 10.57, the Alabama com- 
 menced the action with her starboard broadside at 1,000 yards range. 
 At 11, we returned her fire, and came fairly into action, which we 
 continued until Merid., when, observing signs of distress in the enemy, 
 together with a cessation of her fire, our fire was tcithJield. At 12.10, a 
 boat with an ofiicer from the Alaliama came alongside and surrendered 
 his vessel, with the information that she was rapidly sinking, and a 
 request for assistance. Sent the Launch and 2d Cutter, the other 
 
20 21\e Alabama and the Kcarsarge. 
 
 Mr. Lancaster does not inform us why an English 
 gentleman should choose a Sunday morning, of all 
 days in the week, to cruise about at an early hour 
 with ladies on board, nor does he supply the public 
 with information as to the movements of the Deer- 
 hound during the hour and a half which elapsed 
 between his exit from the htrbor and the appearance 
 of the Alabama. The preceding paragraph, however, 
 supplies the omission. 
 
 THE EXGAGEMENT. 
 
 At length the Alabama made her appearance in 
 company with the Couronne, the latter vessel con- 
 vevino- her outside the limit of French waters. Here 
 let me pay a tribute to the careful neutrality of the 
 French authorities. No sooner was the limit of juris- 
 diction reached, than the Couronne put down her 
 helm, and, without any delay, steamed back into port, 
 not even lingering outside the breakwater to witness 
 the fight. Curiosity, if not worse, anchored the Eng- 
 lish vessel in handy vicinity to the combatants. Her 
 presence proved to be of much utility, for she picked 
 
 boats being disabled by the fire of the enemy. The English yacht 
 before mentioned, coming within hail, was requested by the Captain 
 (W.) to render assistance in saving the lives of the officers and crew 
 of the surrendered vessel. At 2.24, the Alabama went down in forty 
 fathoms of water, leaving most of the crew struggling in the water. 
 Seventy jjcrsons were rescued by the boats ; two pilot-boats and the 
 yacht also assisted. One pilot-boat came alongside us, but the other 
 returned to the port. The yacht steamed rapidly away to the Nd. 
 without reporting the number of our prisoners she had picked up. 
 "(Signed,) JAMES S. WHEELER, 
 
 " Acting Miister." 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 21 
 
 up no less than fourteen of the Alabama's officers, and 
 amons: them the redoubtable Semmes himself. 
 
 So soon as the Alabama was made out, the Kear- 
 sarge immediately headed seaward and steamed off 
 the coast, the object being to get a sufficient distance 
 from the land so as to obviate any possible infringe- 
 ment of French jurisdiction ; and, secondly, that in 
 case of the battle going against the Alabama, the 
 latter could not retreat into port. When this was 
 accomplished, the Kearsarge was turned shortly round 
 and steered immediately for the Alabama, Captain 
 Winslow desiring to get within close range, as his 
 guns were shotted with five-seconds shell. The 
 interval between the two vessels being reduced to a 
 mile or thereabouts, the Alabama sheered and dis- 
 charged a broadside, nearly a raking fire, at the Kear- 
 sarge. More speed was given to the latter to shorten 
 the distance, and a slight sheer to prevent raking. 
 The Alabama fired a second broadside and part of a 
 third while her antagonist was closing ; and at the 
 expiration of ten or twelve minutes from the Alabama's 
 opening shot, the Kearsarge discharged her first broad- 
 side. The action henceforward continued in a circle, 
 the distance between the two vessels being about seven 
 hundred yards ; this, at all events, is the opinion of 
 the Federal commander and his officers, for their guns 
 were sighted at that range, and their shell burst in 
 and over the Privateer. The speed of the two vessels 
 during the engagement did not exceed eight knots 
 the hour. 
 
 At the expiration of one hour and two minutes 
 from the first gun, the Alabama hauled down her 
 
22 The Alabama and the Kearsargc. 
 
 colors, and fired a Ice gun (according to tlic statements 
 of her officers) in token of surrender. C'aptain 
 Winslow could not, however, believe tliat the enemy 
 had struck, as his own vessel had received so little 
 damage, and he could not regard his antagonist as 
 much more injured than himself; and it was only 
 when a boat came off from the Alabama that her 
 true condition was know^n. The eleven-inch shell 
 from the Kearsarge, thrown wdth fifteen pounds of 
 powder at seven hundred yards range, had gone clean 
 through the starboard-side of the Privateer, bursting 
 in the port side and tearing great gaps in her timber 
 and planking. This was plainly obvious when the 
 Alabama settled by the stern and raised the forepart 
 of licr hull liigh out of water. 
 
 The Kearsarge was struck tAventy-seven times 
 during the conflict, and fired in all one hundred and 
 seventy-three (173) shots. These were as follow^s : 
 
 SHOTS FIRED BY THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 Two eleven-inch guns 55 shots. 
 
 Rille in forecastle 48 " 
 
 Broadside thiity-two-ponndcrs GO " 
 
 Twelve-pounder boat-howitzer 10 " 
 
 Total 17;5 shots. 
 
 The last-named gun performed no part whatever in 
 sinking the Alabama, and was only used in the action 
 to create laughter among the sailors. Tw^o old 
 quartermasters, the two Dromios of the Kearsarge, 
 were put in charge of this gun, with instructions to 
 fire when they received the order. But the two old 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 23 
 
 salts, little relishing the idea of having nothing to do 
 while their messmates were so actively engaged, com- 
 menced peppering away with their pea-shooter of a 
 piece, alternating their discharges with vituperation 
 of each other. This low-comedy by-play amused the 
 ship's company, and the officers good-humoredly 
 allowed the farce to continue untiL the single box of 
 ammunition was exhausted. 
 
 DAMAGE TO THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 The Kearsarge was struck as follows : 
 
 One shot through the starboard quarter, taking a 
 slanting direction aft, and lodging in the rudder-post. 
 This shot was from the Blakely rifle. 
 
 One shot carrying away starboard life buoy. 
 
 Three thirty-two-pounder shots through port bul- 
 warks, forward of mizzen-mast. 
 
 A shell, exploding after end of pivot port. 
 
 A shell, exploding after end of chain-plating. 
 
 A sixty-eight-pounder shell, passing through star- 
 board bulwarks below main-rigging, wounding three 
 men — the only casualties amongst the crew during 
 the engagement. 
 
 A Blakely-rifle shell, passing through the engine- 
 room sky-light, and dropping harmlessly in the water 
 beyond the vessel. 
 
 Two shots below plank-sheer, abreast of boiler 
 hatch. 
 
 One, forward pivot port plank-sheer. 
 
 One, forward foremast-rigging. 
 
 A shot striking Launch's toping-lift. 
 
24 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 A rifle-sliell, passing through funnel, bursting with- 
 out damage inside. 
 
 One, starboard forward main-shroud. 
 
 One, starboard after-shroud main-topmast rigging. 
 
 One, main topsail tye. 
 
 One, main topsail outhaul. 
 
 One, main topsail runner. 
 
 Two, through port-quarter boat. 
 
 One, tlirough spanker (furled). 
 
 One, starboard forward shroud, mizzen rigging. 
 
 One, starboard mizzen-topmast backstay. 
 
 One, through mizzen peak-signal halyards, which 
 cut the stops when the battle was nearly over, and for 
 the first time let loose the flag to the breeze. 
 
 This list of damages received by the Kearsarge 
 proves the exceedingly bad fire of the Alabama, not- 
 ^^^ithstanding the nutnbers of men on board the latter 
 belonging to our "Naval Reserve," and the trained 
 hands from the gunnery ship "' Excellent." I was 
 informed by some of the paroled prisoners on shore 
 at Cherbourg that Captain Semmes fired rapidly at 
 the commencement of the action " in order to frighten 
 the Yankees," nearly all the oflicers and crew being, 
 as he was well aware, merely volunteers from the 
 merchant service. At the expiration of twenty min- 
 ntes after the Kearsarge discharged the first broadside, 
 continuing the battle in a leisurely, cool manner, 
 Semmes remarked : " Confound them ; they've been 
 fighting twenty minutes, and they're as cool as posts." 
 The probabilities are that the crew of the Federal 
 vessel had learnt not to regard as dangerous the rapid 
 and hap-hazard practice of the Alabama. 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 25 
 
 From the time of her first reaching Cherbourg" until 
 she finally quitted the port, the Kearsarge never re- 
 ceived the slightest assistance from shore, with the 
 exception of that rendered by a boilermaker in patch- 
 ing up her funnel. Every other repair was completed 
 by her own hands, and she might have crossed the 
 Atlantic immediately after the action without diih- 
 culty. So much for Mr. Lancaster's statement that 
 "the Kearsarge was apparently much disabled." 
 
 SEMMES' DESIGN TO BOARD THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 The first accounts received of the action led us to 
 suppose that Captain Semmes' intention was to lay 
 his vessel alongside the enemy, and to carry her by 
 boarding. Whether this information came from the 
 Captain himself or was made out of " whole-cloth" by 
 some of his admirers, the idea of boarding a vessel 
 under steam — unless her engines, or screw, or rudder 
 be disabled — is manifestly ridiculous. The days of 
 boarding are gone by, except under the contingencies 
 above stated ; and any such attempt on the part of the 
 Alabama would have been attended with disastrous 
 results to herself and crew. To have boarded the 
 Kearsarge, Semmes must have possessed greater speed 
 to enable him to run alongside her; and the moment 
 the pursuer came near her victim, the latter would 
 shut off steam, drop astern in a second of time, sheer 
 off, discharge her whole broadside of grape and 
 canister, and rake her antagonist from stern to stem. 
 Our pro-southern sympathisers really ought not to 
 make their protege appear ridiculous by ascribing to 
 him such an egregious intention. 
 
26 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 I^ATIOXALITY OF THE CREW OF THE 
 KEAKSARGE. 
 
 It lias frequently been asserted that the major por- 
 tion of the Northern armies is composed of foreigners, 
 and the same statement is made in reference to the 
 crews of the American navy. The report got abroad 
 in Cherbourg that the victory of the Kearsarge was 
 due to her having taken on board a number of French 
 gunners at Brest ; and an admiral of the French navy 
 asked me in perfectly good faith whether it were not 
 the fact. It will not therefore be out of place to give 
 the names and nationalities of the officers and crew 
 on board the Kearsarge during her action with the 
 Alabama : 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE U. S. S. KEARSARGE, June 19, 1SC4. 
 
 Xames. li'rink. Kutivc "/. 
 
 John A. Winslow Captain North Cai-olina.* 
 
 James S. Thornton Lieutenant Commander. ...New Hampshire. 
 
 John M. Browne Surgeon " 
 
 J. Ailanis Smith Paymaster Maine. 
 
 Wm. H. Cuslnnan Chief Engineer Peinisylvania. 
 
 James li. Wheeler Acting Master ]\Iassacliusetts. 
 
 Eben. M. Stoddavd " " Connecticut. 
 
 David II. Sumner " " Elaine. 
 
 Wm. H. Badlani Second Assis't Engineer... Massachusetts. 
 
 Fred. L. Miller.... Third " " ... " 
 
 Sidney L. Smith " " " ... " 
 
 Henry McConnell " " " ...Pennsylvania. 
 
 Edward E. Preble Midsliipnian ]Maine. 
 
 Daniel B. Sargent Paymaster's Clerk " 
 
 S. E. llartwell Captain's Clerk :Massachusetts. 
 
 Franklin A. Graham Guinier Pennsylvania. 
 
 * Captain Winslow has long been a citizen of the State of Massa- 
 chusetts. 
 
The Alabama and the Kcarsarge. 27 
 
 Names. Rank. Native of. 
 
 James C. Walton Boatswain Pennsylvania. 
 
 Wm. H. Yeaton Acting Master's Mate United States. 
 
 Chas. H. Danforth " " " Massacliusetts. 
 
 EzraBartlett " " " New Hampshire. 
 
 George A. Tittle Sin-geon's Steward United States. 
 
 CarstenB. De Witt Yeoman " 
 
 CREW OF U. S. S. KEARSARGE, June 19, 1864. 
 
 Names. Rank. Native of. 
 
 Jason N. Watrus Master-at-arms.. United States. 
 
 Charles Jones Seaman " 
 
 Daniel Charter Landsman " 
 
 Edward Williams Officer's Steward " 
 
 George Williams Landsman " 
 
 Charles Bntts Qnartermaster " 
 
 Charles Redding Landsman " 
 
 James Wilson Coxswain " 
 
 William Gowen (died) Ordinary seaman " 
 
 James Saunders Quartermaster " 
 
 J ohn W. Dempsey Quarter-gunner " 
 
 William D. Chapel Landsman " 
 
 Thomas Perry Boatswain's mate " 
 
 John Barrow Ordinary seaman " 
 
 William Bond Boatswain's mate " 
 
 James Haley. Captain of Fo' castle (?) 
 
 Robert Strahn Captain Top " 
 
 James O. Stone First class boy " 
 
 Jacob Barth Landsman " 
 
 John H. McCarthey " 
 
 James F. Hayes " " 
 
 John Hayes Coxswain " 
 
 James Devine Landsman " 
 
 George H. Russell Armorer " 
 
 Patrick McKeever Landsman " 
 
 Nathan Ives " " 
 
 Dennis McCarty " " 
 
 John Boyle Ordinary seaman " 
 
 John C. AVoodberry " " " 
 
 George E. Read Seaman.. " 
 
 James Morey Ordinary seaman " 
 
 Benedict Drury Seaman " 
 
 William Giles " 
 
 Timothy Hurley Ship's cook " 
 
28 Tlie Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 Karnes. Rank. Native nf. 
 
 Michael Convoy Ordinary seaman United States. 
 
 Levi W. Nye Seaman " 
 
 James n. Lee " 
 
 John E. Brady Ordinary seaman " 
 
 Andrew J. Rowley Quarter-gnnner " 
 
 James Bradley Seaman " 
 
 William Ellis Captain hold '■'■ 
 
 Henry Cook Captain After-gnard " 
 
 Charles A. Kead Seaman " 
 
 William S. Morgan " " 
 
 Joshna E. Carey Sailmaker's mate " 
 
 James Magee Ordinary seaman " 
 
 Benjamin S. Davis Officer's cook " 
 
 John F. Bickford Coxswain " 
 
 AVilliam Gurney Seaman " 
 
 William Smith Quartermaster " 
 
 Lawrence T. Crowley Ordinary seaman " 
 
 Hugh McPherson Gunner's mate " 
 
 Taran Phillips Ordinary seaman •' 
 
 Joachim Pease Seaman " 
 
 Benjamin H. Blaisdell First Class Fireman " 
 
 Joel B. Blaisdell " " " " 
 
 Charles Fisher Officer's cook " 
 
 James Henson Landsman " 
 
 William M. Smith " " 
 
 William Fisher " " 
 
 GeorgcBailey " " 
 
 Martin Hoyt " " 
 
 Mark G. Ham Carpenter's mate " 
 
 William H. Bastine Landsman " 
 
 Lcjnnan P. Si)inney Coal-heavor " 
 
 George E. Smart Second Class Fireman " 
 
 Charles A. Poole Coal-heaver " 
 
 Timothy Lynch " " 
 
 Will. H. Donnally First Class Fireman " 
 
 Sylvanns P. Brackctt Coal-heaver '■ 
 
 John W.Sanborn " 
 
 Adoniram Littlefield " " 
 
 John W.Young " " 
 
 Will. Wainwright " " 
 
 John E. Ordion Second Class Fireman " 
 
 George W. Rem ick First " " " 
 
 Joel L. Sanborn " " " " 
 
 Jere. Young " " " " 
 
 William Smith " " " " 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 29 
 
 Names. Hank. Native of. 
 
 Stephen Smith Second Class Fh-eman United States. 
 
 John F. Stackpole " 
 
 William Stanley " " " " 
 
 Lyman H. Hartford " 
 
 True W. Priest First " " " 
 
 Joseph Dugan " 
 
 John F. Dugan Coal-heaver " 
 
 James W. Sheffield Second Class Fireman " 
 
 Charles T. Young Orderly Sergeant " 
 
 Austin Quimley Corporal of Marines " 
 
 Roscoe G. Dolley Private " " 
 
 Patrick Flood " " 
 
 Henry Hobson Corporal " " 
 
 James Kerrigan Private " " 
 
 John McAleen " " 
 
 George A. llaymond " " 
 
 James Tucker " " 
 
 Isaac Thornton " " " 
 
 William Y. Evans Nurse " 
 
 William B. Poole Quartermaster " 
 
 F. J. Veannoh Captain Afterguard " 
 
 Charles Hill Landsman " 
 
 Henry Jameson First Class Fireman " 
 
 John G. Batchelder Private of Marines " 
 
 John Dwyer First Class Fireman " 
 
 Thomas Salmon Second" " " 
 
 Patrick O' Conner " " " " 
 
 George H. Harrison Ordinary seaman " 
 
 George Andrew " " 
 
 Charles Moore Seaman " 
 
 George A. Whipple Ordinary seaman " 
 
 Edward Wallace Seaman " 
 
 Thomas Marsh Coal-heaver " 
 
 Thomas Buckley Ordinary seaman " 
 
 Edward Wilt Captain Top 
 
 George H. Kinne Ordinary seaman " 
 
 Augustus Johnson Seaman " 
 
 Jeremiah Horrigan " 
 
 William O'Halloran " " 
 
 William Turner " " 
 
 Joshua Collins Ordinary seaman " 
 
 James McBeath " " " 
 
 John Pope Coal-heaver " 
 
 Charles Mattison Ordinary seaman " 
 
 George Baker Seaman " 
 
30 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 Nmnes. Rank. Native of. 
 
 Timothy G. Cauty Seaman United States. 
 
 John Shields " " 
 
 Thomas A^oway " " 
 
 PhiUipWeeks " 
 
 William Barnes Landsman " 
 
 William Alsdorf " Holland. 
 
 Clement Antoine Coal-heaver Western Islands. 
 
 Jose Dabney Landsman " 
 
 Benjamin Bntton Coal-heaver Malay. 
 
 Jean Briset " France. 
 
 Vanburn Francois Landsman Holland. 
 
 Peter Ludy Seaman " 
 
 George En<-lish " England. 
 
 Jonathan Brien Landsman " 
 
 Mannel J. Gallardo Second Class Boy Spain. 
 
 John M. Sonins First " " Holland. 
 
 It thus appears that out of one hundred and sixty- 
 three (168) officers aud crew of the slooiD-of-war 
 Kearsarge, there are only eleven (11) persons foreign 
 born. 
 
 The following is the Surgeon's Report of casualties 
 amonijst the crew of the Kearsar^fe during the action : 
 
 "U. S. S. S. Kearsarge, 
 
 "Chkrbourg, France, 
 
 ''Afternoon, June \Wi, 1864. 
 
 Sir : — I report the following casualties resulting 
 11 the ei 
 Alabama.' 
 
 from the engagement this morning with the steamer 
 
 "John W. Dempsey, Quarter-gunner. Compound 
 comminuted fracture of right arm, lower third, and 
 fore-arm. Arm amputated. 
 
 " Wn.LiAM GowEN, Ordinary seaman. Compound 
 fracture of left thigh and leg. Seriously wounded. 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 31^ 
 
 "James McBeath, Ordinary seaman. Componncl 
 fracture of left leg. Severely wounded. 
 " I am, very respectfully, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 "JOHN M. BROWNE, 
 
 "Surgeon U. S. Navy. 
 
 "Captain John A. Winslow, 
 
 "Comd'g U. S. S S. Kearsarge, 
 
 ^^ Cherbourg,'''' 
 
 All these men were wounded by the same shot, a 
 sixty-eight-pounder, which passed through the star- 
 board bulwarks below main-rigging, narrowly escaping 
 the after eleven-inch pivot-gun. The fuses employed 
 by the Alabama were villanously bad, several shell 
 having lodged in the Kearsarge without taking effect. 
 Had the seven-inch rifle shot exploded which entered 
 the vessel at the starboard quarter, raising the deck 
 by its concussion several inches and lodging in the 
 rudder-post, the action might have lasted some time 
 longer. It would not, however, have altered the 
 result, for the casualty occurred towards the close of 
 the conflict. During my visit, I witnessed the opera- 
 tion of cutting out a thirty-two-pounder shell (time 
 fuse) from the rail close forward of the fore pivot 
 eleven-inch port; the officer in charge of the piece 
 informed me that the concussion actually raised the 
 gun and carriage ; and, had it exploded, many of the 
 crew would have been injured by the fragments and 
 splinters. 
 
 Among the incidents of the fight, some of our 
 papers relate that an eleven-inch shell from the Kear- 
 sarge fell upon the deck of the Alabama, and was 
 
32 The Alabama and the Kearsargc. 
 
 immediately taken np and thrown overboard. Prob- 
 ably no fight ever occurred in modern times in which 
 somebody didn't pick up a live shell and throw it 
 out of harm's way ; but we may be permitted to doubt 
 in this case. Five-second fuses take effect somewhat 
 rapidly ; the shot weighs considerably more than a 
 hundred- weight, and is uncomfortably difficult to lay 
 hold of. Worse than all for the probabilities of the 
 story, fifteen pounds of powder — never more nor less 
 — were used to every shot fired from the eleven-inch 
 pivots, the Kearsarge only opening fire from them 
 when within eight hundred yards of the Alabama. 
 With fifteen pounds of powder and fifteen degrees of 
 elevation, I have myself seen these eleven-inch Dahl- 
 grens throw three and a half miles; and yet we are 
 asked to credit that, with the same charge at less than 
 half a mile, one of the shells fell upon the deck of the 
 Privateer. There are eleven marines in the crew of 
 the Kearsarge ; probably the story was made for them. 
 
 THE REPORTED FIRING UPOi^ THE ALABAjSIA 
 AFTER HER SURREJS'DER. 
 
 Captain Semmes makes the following statement in 
 his official report : 
 
 "Although we were now but foxu- hundred yards from eacli otlicr, 
 the enemy fired upon me five times after my colors had been struck. 
 It is charitable to suppose that a ship of war of a Christian nation 
 could not liave done this intentionally." 
 
 A Aery nice appeal after the massacre of Fort 
 Pillow, especially wlien coming from a man who has 
 spent the previous two years of liis life in destroying 
 unresisting merchantmen ! 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 33 
 
 The Captain of the Kearsarge was never aware of 
 the Alabama having struck until a boat put off from 
 her to his own vessel. Prisoners subsequently stated 
 that she had fired a lee-gun, but the fact was not 
 know^n on board the Federal ship, nor that the colors 
 were hauled down in token of surrender. A single 
 fact will prove the humanity with which Captain 
 Winslow conducted the fight. At the close of the 
 action, his deck was found to be literally covered with 
 grape and canister, ready for close quarters ; but he 
 had never used a single charge of all this during the 
 contest, although within capital range for employing it. 
 
 THE FEELING AFTER THE BATTLE. 
 
 The womided of the two vessels were transferred 
 shortly after the action to the Naval Hospital at 
 Cherbourg. 1 paid a visit to that establishment on the 
 Sunday following the engagement, and found the 
 sufferers lying in comfortable beds alongside each 
 other in a long and admirably ventilated ward on 
 the first floor. Poor Gowen, who died the following 
 Tuesday, was in great pain, and already had the seal 
 of death upon his face. James McBeath, a young- 
 fellow of apparently twenty years, with a compound 
 fracture of the leg, chatted with much animation; 
 while Dempsey, the stump of his right arm laid on 
 the pillow, was comfortably smoking a cigar, and 
 laughing and talking with one of the Alabama crew, 
 in the bed alongside him. The wounded men of the 
 sunken Privateer were unmistakably English in 
 physiognomy, and I failed to discover any who were 
 not countrymen of ours. I conversed with all of 
 
34 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 them, stating at the outset that I was an Enghshman 
 Hke themselves, and the information seemed to open 
 their hearts to me. They represented themselves as 
 very comfortable at the hospital, that every thing they 
 asked for was given to them, and that they were sur- 
 prised at the kindness of the Kearsarge men who 
 came to visit the establishment, when the}' were 
 assured by their own officers before the action that 
 foul treatment would only be shown them in the 
 event of their capture. Condoling with one poor 
 fellow who had his leg carried away by a shell, he 
 remarked to me, "Ah, it serves me right ; they won't 
 catch me fighting again without knowing what I'm 
 fighting for." " That's me too," said another poor 
 Englishman alongside him. 
 
 The paroled prisoners (four ofiicers) on shore at 
 Cherbourg evinced no hostility whatever to their 
 captors, but were always on the friendliest of terms 
 with them. All alike frequented the same hotel in 
 the town, (curiously enough — " The Eagle,") played 
 billiards at the same cafe, and bought their pipes, 
 cigars, and tobacco from the same pretty little brunette 
 on the Quai du Port. 
 
 The following are the names of the officers and 
 crew of the Alabama, saved by the Kearsarge : 
 
 Francis L. Gait, of Virginia Assistant Siirf,^con. 
 
 Joseph Wilson Third Lieutenant. 
 
 Miles J. Freeman Engineer, Englishman. 
 
 John W. Pundt Third Assistant Engineer. 
 
 Benjamin L. McCaskey Boatswain. 
 
 William Forrestall Quartermaster, Englishman. 
 
 Thomas Potter Fireman, Englishman. 
 
 Samuel Williams Fireman, Welshman. 
 
 Patrick Bradley Fireman, Englishman. 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 35 
 
 John Orrigin Fireman, Irishman. 
 
 George Freemantle Seaman, Englishman. 
 
 Edgar Tripp Seaman, Englishman. 
 
 .John Neil Seaman, Englishman. 
 
 Thomas Winter Fireman, Englishman. 
 
 Martin King Seaman. 
 
 .Joseph Pearson Seaman, Englishman. 
 
 .James Hicks Caijtain hold. Englishman . 
 
 R. Parkinson Wardroom steward, Englishman. 
 
 John Emory Seaman, Englishman. 
 
 Thomas L. Parker Boy, Englishman. 
 
 Peter Hnghes Captain Top, Englishman. 
 
 (All the above belonged to the Alabama when she 
 first sailed from the Mersey, and John Neil, John 
 Emory, and Peter Hnghes belong to the "Royal 
 Naval Reserve.") 
 
 William Clark Seaman. 
 
 David Leggett " 
 
 Samuel Henry " 
 
 John Russell " ' 
 
 John Smith " 
 
 Henry McCoy " 
 
 Edward Bussell " 
 
 James Ochure " 
 
 John Casen " 
 
 Henry Higgin " 
 
 Frank Hammond '* 
 
 Michael Shields " 
 
 David Thurston " 
 
 George Peasey " 
 
 Henry Yates " 
 
 Henry Godsen Ordinary seaman. 
 
 David Williams 
 
 Henry Hestlake 
 
 Thomas Watson 
 
 John Johnson 
 
 Match Maddock 
 
 Richard Evans 
 
 William Miller 
 
 George Cousey 
 
 Thomas Brandon 
 
 William McKenzie Coxswaii 
 
36 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 •Tames Brodeiick Coxswain, 
 
 William Wilson " 
 
 Edward Rawes Master-at-arms. 
 
 Henry Tucker Officers' cook. 
 
 William Barnes Quarter-gunner. 
 
 Jacob Verbor Seaman, wounded. 
 
 Robert Wright Captain Main Top, wounded. 
 
 William McGuire Captain Fore Top, wounded. 
 
 William McGinley Coxswain, wounded. 
 
 John Benson Coal-heaver. 
 
 James McGuire " 
 
 Frank Currian Fireman, 
 
 Peter Laperty " 
 
 John Riley 
 
 Nicholas Adams Landsman. 
 
 James Clemens Yeoman. 
 
 James Wilson Boy. 
 
 These men, almost without exception, are subjects 
 of Her Majesty, the Queen. There were also three 
 others, who died in the boats, names not known. 
 
 The following are those reported to liave been 
 killed or drowned: 
 
 David Herbert Llewellyn Surgeon, Welshman. 
 
 William Robinson Carpenter. 
 
 James King Master-at-arms, Savannah Pilot. 
 
 Peter Duncan Fireman, Englishman. 
 
 Andrew Sliillings Scotchman. 
 
 Charles Puist Coal-passer, German. 
 
 Frederick Johns Purser' s Steward, Englishman. 
 
 Sanuiol Henry.. Seaman, Englishman. 
 
 John Roberts Seaman, Welshman. 
 
 Peter Henry Seaman, Irishman. 
 
 George Appleby Yeoman, Englishman. 
 
 A. G. Bartelli Seaman, Portuguese. 
 
 Henry Fisher Seaman, Englishman. 
 
 The above all belonged to the original crew of the 
 Alabainn. 
 
 The Deerhound carried off, according to her own 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 37 
 
 account, forty-one; the names of the following are 
 known : 
 
 Raphael Semmes Captain. 
 
 John M. Kell Fh-st Lieutenant. 
 
 Arthur Sinclair, Jr. ' Second Lieutenant. 
 
 R. K. Howell Lieutenant of Marines. 
 
 (This person is brother-in-law of Mr. Jefierson Davis.) 
 
 "W. H. Sinclair Midshipman. 
 
 J. S. Bullock Acting Master. 
 
 E. A. Maffit Midshipman. 
 
 E. M. Anderson Midshipman. 
 
 M. O'Brien Third Assistant Surgeon. 
 
 George T. Fullam Master's Mate, Englishman. 
 
 James Evans Master's Mate. 
 
 MaxMeulnier Master's Mate. 
 
 J. Schrader Master's Mate. 
 
 W. B. Smith Captain's Clerk. 
 
 J. O. Cuddy Gunner. 
 
 J. G. Dent Quartennaster. 
 
 James McFadgen Fireman, Englishman. 
 
 Orran Dufty Fireman, Irishman. 
 
 W. Crawford Englishman. 
 
 Brent Johnson Second Boat. Mate, Englishman. 
 
 William Nevins Englishman. 
 
 William Hearn Seaman, Englishman. 
 
 The last four belong to the "Royal Naval Reserve." 
 
 MOYEME^^TS OF THE ENGLISH YACHT DEER- 
 
 HOUIs^D. 
 
 That an Enghsh yacht, one belonging to the Eoyal 
 Yacht Squadron, and flying the White Ensign, too, 
 during the conflict, shoidd have assisted the Con- 
 federate prisoners to escape, after they had formally 
 surrendered themselves, according to their own state- 
 ment, by flring a lee-gun, striking their colors, hoisting 
 a white flag, and sending a boat to the Kearsarge — 
 some of which signals must have been witnessed from 
 the deck of the Deerhound — is most humiliating to the 
 
38 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 national honor. The movements of the yacht early 
 on Sunday morning were, as before shown, most 
 suspicious; and had Captain Winslow followed the 
 advice and reiterated requests of his officers when she 
 steamed off, the Deerhound might now have been 
 Iving not far distant from the Alabama. Captain 
 Winslow, however, could not believe that a gentleman 
 Avho was asked by himself " to save life" would use 
 the opportunity to decamp with the officers and men 
 who, according to their own act, were prisoners-of-war. 
 There is high presumptive evidence that the Deer- 
 hound was at Cherbourg for the express purpose of 
 rendering every assistance possible to the Corsair; 
 and we may be permitted to doubt whether Mr. Lan- 
 caster, the friend of Mr. Laird, and a member of the 
 Mersey Yacht Club, would have carried Captain 
 AVinslow and his officers to Southampton if the 
 result of the struggle had been reversed, and the 
 Alabama had sent the Kearsarge to the bottom. 
 
 The Deerhound reached Cherbourg on the 17th of 
 June, and between that time and the night of the 
 18th, boats were observed from the shore passing 
 frequently between her and the Alabama. It is 
 reported that English gunners came over from Eng- 
 land purposely to assist the Privateer in the fight ; 
 this I heard before leaving London, and the assertion 
 was repeated to me again at Havre, Honfleur, Cher- 
 bourg, and Paris. If this be the fact, how did the 
 men reach Cherbourg] On the 14th of June, Captain 
 Semmes sends his challenge to tlie Kearsarge through 
 Monsieur Bonfils, stating it to be his intention to 
 fight her "as soon as I can make the necessary 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 39 
 
 arrangements." Two full days elapse, during which 
 he takes on board one hundred and fifty tons addi- 
 tional of coal, and places for security in the Custom- 
 house the following valuables : 
 
 38 kilo. 700 gr. Gold coin. 
 
 G g-r. of Jewelry and set Diamonds. 
 2 Gold Watches. 
 
 What, then, became of the pillage of a hundred 
 merchantmen, the chronometers, &c., which the Times 
 describes as the " spolia opima of a whole mercantile 
 fleet ?" Those could not be landed on French soil, 
 and were not : did they go to the bottom with the 
 ship herself, or are they saved % 
 
 Captain Semmes' preparations are apparently com- 
 pleted on the 16th, but still lingers behind the famous 
 breakwater, much to the surprise of his men. The 
 Deerhound arrives at length, and the preparations are 
 rapidly completed. How unfortunate that Mr. Lan- 
 caster did not favor the Times with a copy of his log- 
 book from the 12th to the 19th June, inclusive! 
 
 The record of the Deerhound is suggestive on the 
 morning of that memorable Sunday. She steams out 
 from behind the Cherbourg breakwater at an early 
 hour — scouts hither and thither, apparently purpose- 
 less — runs back to her anchorage — precedes the 
 Alabama to sea — is the solitary and close spectator 
 of the fight whilst the Couronne has the delicacy to 
 return to port, and finally — having picked up Semmes, 
 thirteen of his officers and a few of his men — steams 
 off at fullest speed to Southampton, leaving the 
 '' apj)are7idi/ much-cUsablecV Kearsarge (Mr. Lancas- 
 
40 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 tor's own words) to save two-thirds of the Alabama's 
 drowning crew, struggHng in the water. 
 
 An English gentleman's yacht playing tender to a 
 corsair ! No one will OA'er believe that Deerliound to 
 be thorough-bred. 
 
 COis^CLUSIOK 
 
 Snch are the facts relating to the memorable action 
 off Cherbourg, on the 19th of June, 1864. The 
 Alabama went down riddled through and through 
 with shot ; and, as she sank beneatli the green waves 
 of the Channel, not a single cheer arose from the 
 victors. The order was given, " Silence, boys" — and, 
 in perfect silence, this terror of American commerce 
 plunged to her last resting-place. 
 
 There is but one key to the victory. The two ves- 
 sels were, as nearly as possible, equals in size, speed, 
 armament and crew, and the contest was decided by 
 the superiority of the eleven-inch Dahlgren guns of 
 the Kearsarge, over the Blakely rifle and the vaunted 
 sixty-eight-pounder of the Alabama, in conjunction 
 with tlie greater coolness and surer aim of the former's 
 crew. The Kearsarge was not, as represented, specially 
 armed and manned for destroying her foe ; but is in 
 every respect similar to all the vessels of her class 
 (third-rate) in the United States Navy. ^Moreover, 
 the large majority of her officers are from the mer- 
 chant service. 
 
 The French at Cherbourg were by no means dila- 
 tory in recognizing the value of these Dahlgren guns. 
 Officers of all grades, naval and military alike, crowded 
 the vessel during her stay at their port ; and they 
 
The Alabama and the Kcarsarge. 41 
 
 were all eyes for the massive pivots and for nothing 
 else. Guns, carriages, even rammers and sponges, 
 were carefolly measured; and, if the pieces can be 
 made in France, many months will not elapse before 
 their muzzles will be grinning through the port-holes 
 of French ships-of-war. 
 
 AVe have no such gun in Europe as this eleven- 
 inch Dahlgren, but it is considered behind the age in 
 America. The sixty-eight-pounder is regarded by us 
 as a heavy piece ; in the United States it is the mini- 
 mum for large vessels ; whilst some ships, the " New 
 Ironsides," " Niagara," " Vanderbilt," &c., carry the 
 eleven-inch in broadside. It is considered far too 
 light, however, for the sea-going ironclads, although 
 throwing a solid shot of one hundred and sixty pounds ; 
 yet it has made a wonderful stir on both sides of the 
 Channel. What, then, will be thought of the eleven- 
 inch gun, throwing a shot of four hundred and eighty 
 pounds, or of the two hundred-pound Parrot, with its 
 range of five miles X 
 
 We are arming our ironclads with nine-inch smooth- 
 bores and one hundred-pounder rifles, whilst the 
 Americans are constructing their armor-ships to re- 
 sist the impact of eleven and fifteen-inch shot. By 
 next June, the United States will have in commission 
 the following ironclads : 
 
 Dunderberg 5,090 tons. 10 guns. 
 
 Dictator 3,033 " 'Z " 
 
 Kalamazoo 8,200 " 4 " 
 
 Passaconaway 3,200 " 4 " 
 
 Puritan 3,265 " 4 " 
 
 Quinsigamond 3,200 " 4 " 
 
 Eoanoke 3,435 " 6 " 
 
 Shakamaxon 3,200 " 4 " 
 
42 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 Tlicsp, too, without counting six others of " second 
 class," all alike armed with the tremendous fifteen- 
 inch, and built to cross the Atlantic in any season. 
 But it is not in ironclads alone that America is 
 proving her energy; first, second, and third-rates, 
 wooden built, are issuing constantly from trans- 
 Atlantic yards, and the Navy of the United States 
 now numbers no less than six hundred vessels and 
 upwards, seventy-three of which were ironclads. 
 
 This is indeed an immense fleet for one nation, but 
 wc may, at all events, rejoice that it will bo used to 
 defend — in the words of the wisest and noblest of 
 English statesmen — " the democratic principle ; or, if 
 that term is ofi'ensive, popular sovereignty." 
 
OFFICIAL REPORTS. 
 
 THE DEERHOUJS^D. 
 
 United States Steamer Kearsarge, 
 Cherbourg^ June 21, 1864, 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to report that toward the close of 
 the action between the Alabama and this vessel, all avail- 
 able sail was made on the former, for the purpose of again 
 reaching Cherbourg. When the object was apparent, the 
 Kearsaro-e was steered across the bow of the Alabama for 
 a raking fire, but before reaching this point the Alabama 
 struck. Uncertain whether Captain Semmes was not 
 using some ruse, the Kearsarge was stopped. It was seen 
 shortly afterward that the Alabama was lowering her 
 boats ; and an officer came alongside in one of them to 
 say that they had surrendered, and were fast sinking, and 
 begging that boats would be 'despatched immediately for 
 savine- of life. The two boats not disabled were at once 
 lowered, and as it was apparent the Alabama was settling, 
 this ofiicer w^as permitted to leave in his boat to aftbrd 
 assistance. An English yacht, the Deerhound, had ap- 
 proached near the Kearsarge at this time, when I hailed, 
 and begged the commander to run down to the Alabama, 
 as she was fast sinking, and we had but two boats, and 
 assist in picking up the men. He answered afiirmatively, 
 and steamed toward the Alabama, but the latter sunk 
 almost immediately. The Deerhound, however, sent her 
 boats, and was most actively engaged, aided hj several 
 others which had come from shore. These boats were 
 
44 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 luisy in bringing the wounded and otliers to tlie Kearsarge, 
 whom we were trying to make as comfortable as possible, 
 wlien it was reported to me that the Deerhound was 
 moving oft". I could not believe that the commander of 
 that vessel could be guilty of so disgraceful an act as 
 taking our prisoners off, and therefore took no means to 
 prevent it, but continued to keep our boats at work rescu- 
 ing the men in the water. I am sorry to say that I was 
 mistaken. The Deerhound made olf with Captain Semmes 
 and otliers, and also the very otHcer who had come on 
 board to surrender. I learned subsequently that the 
 Deerhound was a consort of the Alabama, and that she 
 received on board all the valuable personal effects of 
 Captain Semmes the night before the engagement. 
 ^ I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JOII>^ A. WINSLOW, 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Hon. Gideon AVelles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, 'Washiugton. 
 
 THE ALABAMA'S WOUNDED. 
 
 United States Steamer Kearsarge, 
 Cherbourg^ June 21, 1864. 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to report that the number of 
 pi-isoners brought on board the Kearsarge belonging to 
 the Alabama was sevent}^ — six ofiieers and sixty-four 
 men. One officer (carpenter) and two men dying, and 
 seventeen wounded, are included in this number. As 
 we have very contracted accommodations for our own 
 crew, without increase, it became indispensable to send 
 these prisoners on shore, and their parole was taken. 
 With the exception of the doctor, (non-combatant, who 
 was put on parole that he might attend to his wounded,) 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 45 
 
 the officers were held as prisoners of war. I learu tliat 
 three officers, with six men, were carried on shore at 
 Cherhonrg by pilot boats, bnt of the nnmber who reached 
 England in the Deerhound I have no trustworthy accounts. 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully. 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JOHiT A. Wlis^SLOW, 
 
 Captaiu. 
 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the iN^avy, 
 
 DAMAGE TO THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 United States Steamer Kearsarge, 
 
 Cherbourg^ June 21, 1864. 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to enclose herewith reports of 
 the executive officer, chief engineer, boatswain, and gunner 
 of this vessel, with copy of log-book containing minntes 
 of the action. 
 
 I fnlly coincide in the recommendations of the executive 
 officer, and such cases as deserve special reference to, will 
 be subject to future commnnication. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully. 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JOH^T ^, wmSLOW, 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Hon. Gideon Welles. 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 United States Steamer Kearsarge, 
 Cherbourg^ June 21, 1864. 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to forward to you the reports of 
 the damage sustained in the different departments of this 
 vessel during the recent action with the Alabama. 
 
 In connection with this engagement, I take great 
 pleasure in informing you officially that the conduct of 
 
46 The Alabama and the Kcarsarge. 
 
 both men and officers equalled, in every respect, my most 
 sanguine expectations. 
 
 In tlie gun division the utmost coolness prevailed 
 throughout the action, the details of the manual of 
 exercise being as carefully attended to as if in ordinary 
 exercise ; and to this cause may be attributed the excel- 
 lejit condition of the guns and gear after a rapid firing of 
 an hour's duration. 
 
 The powder division received my particular attention, 
 and its important service was promptly* and thoroughly 
 rendered. 
 
 The circumstances under which the battle was fought 
 aftbrded no opportunity of displaying special acts of indi- 
 vidual heroism ; but, while every man and boy in the 
 ship displayed the utmost coolness, zeal, and courage, 
 there were some who, by their position and peculiar 
 duties, attracted special attention, and deserve special 
 mention. 
 
 The marines fought the rifle gun upon the topgallant 
 forecastle, under the charge of Acting Master's Mate 
 Charles 11. Danforth. 
 
 The action on our part was commenced by this gun, 
 and its fire was rapid and effective throughout. 
 
 The high reputation of the service was nobly sustained 
 by the marine guard of this ship. The boatswain, James 
 C. '^A^'alton, was observedly active and efficient. Gunner 
 F. A. Graham's duties were all performed efficiently, and 
 merit commendation. The carpenter's mate, Mark G. 
 Ham, is well known to you, sir, as a faithful and compe- 
 tent man. His conduct in the battle was distinguished 
 by the cool and intelligent performance of his duties. It 
 is unnecessary for me to call your attention to the officers 
 commanding the gun or master's division, as their duty 
 was performed under your own eye. 
 
 I am hai)py to commend Acting Master's Mate Ezra 
 Bartlett, in charge of the sliell supply, for his coolness and 
 efficiency. 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 47 
 
 111 the Surgeon's departinent every arrangement that 
 experience or humanity could suggest was made for the 
 comfort of the wounded. Fortunately, we have but three 
 of our own crew in that condition, but, after the action, 
 the wounded of the enemy, numbering fifteen persons, 
 were consigned to the care of Surgeon J. M. Browne, who 
 was entirely without professional assistance. The duties 
 of his department were thereby rendered extremely ardu- 
 ous, but were coolly and successfully performed. 
 
 ^Villiam Gowen (0. S.) was severely wounded by the 
 explosion of a shell. He dragged himself to the forward 
 hatch, refusing to allow the men to leave his gun for the 
 purpose of assisting him. His cheerful willingness to 
 sacrifice his life for victory's sake Avas expressed in terms 
 that animated and encouraged others. 
 
 John W. Dempsey, quarter-gunner, wounded at the 
 same time, losing an arm, displayed similar heroism. 
 
 James McBeth, ordinary seaman, another of the wounded 
 men, displayed both courage and patience. 
 
 All the men on the sick list went to their quarters, and 
 rendered such service as they were able to perform. 
 
 The engineer's division was admirably and etficiently 
 conducted, under the command of Chief Engineer W. H. 
 Cushman. 
 
 Sidney L. Smith and Henry McConnell (Third Assistant 
 Engineers) were stationed on deck, and their conduct 
 came immediately under my observation. It was distin- 
 guished by coolness and vigilance. The other assistants, 
 Mr. W. H. Badlam and Mr. F. L. Miller, were on duty in 
 the engine and fire-room, and, judging from the prompt 
 manner in which the orders from the deck were executed, 
 I know that their duties were creditably performed. 
 
 The ship is indebted to Paymaster J. A. Smith for 
 efficient service during the action. His clerk, Mr. D, B. 
 Sargent, performed his duty on deck in the third division. 
 The Orderly Sergeant, T. C. Young, and the Master-at- 
 arms, Jason R. Watrous, deserve special mention for 
 
48 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 admirable performance of their duty. I will hand to yon 
 the names of those men specially mentioned hy the division 
 officer as soon as I receive them. 
 
 In conckision, sir, let me congratulate you on the success 
 of your plan of battle, and compliment you on the skill 
 and judgment displayed in its execution. 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JAMES s. thor:n^tox, 
 
 Lieut. Commauder aud Executive Officer. 
 
 John A. Winslow, 
 
 Captain Commanding United States Steamer Kearsarge. 
 
 Approved and forwarded. 
 
 JOHN A. WmSLOW, 
 
 Captain. 
 
 THE CHIEF ENGIIN^EER'S REPORT. 
 
 United States Steamer Kearsarge, 
 Cherbourg, June 21, 1864. 
 
 Sir : I respectfully report that the ord}- injury received 
 in the engine department during our engagement with 
 the Alabama, on tlie 19tli inst., was to the smoke-pipe, 
 which was perforated through both sections by a hundred- 
 pound rifle shell, which exploded as it was coming through, 
 tearing out a ragged hole of about three feet in diameter, 
 carrying away three of the chain guys, and to the top of 
 the engine-room hatch, which was cut comjiletely through 
 and across l)y a shell. 
 
 I would further report that all the assistant engineers, 
 and the firemen and coal-heavers, behaved with perfect 
 coolness, aud were attentive to their duty through the 
 action ; and that by the self-possession and attention of 
 Second Assistant Engineer William II. Badlam, in the 
 management of the engines ; Third Assistant Engineer 
 
The Alabama and the Kcarsarge. 49 
 
 Fred. L. jSIiller, in cliarge of tlie boilers ; Third Assistant 
 Engineer Sidney L. Smith, on deck, at the fire and hot- 
 water hose, and Third Assistant Engineer Henry McCon- 
 nell, at the engine signal-bell, the efficiency of the engine 
 department is to be attributed. I would also mention 
 first-class Fireman Joseph Dugan for his coolness and com- 
 petency in assisting Mr. Miller in fire-room ; first-class 
 Firemen Jerry Young, William Smith, Benjamin H. Blais- 
 dell, William H. Donnelly, in assisting Mr. Badlani in 
 charge of the engines ; and first-class Fireman True W; 
 Priest, for quickness and attention in charge of the after- 
 fire liose, during the alarm of fire in the action. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 WM. II. ousiima:^', 
 
 Chief Engineer U. 8. N. 
 
 John A. Winslow, 
 
 Caplaiii \S. S. N., CommauJiug. 
 
 Forwarded. JOHiT A. WmSLOW, 
 
 Captalu. 
 
 THE GUNi^ER'S REPORT. 
 
 United States Steamer Kearsarge, 
 
 Cherbourg^ June 21, 1864. 
 
 Sir : I respectfully submit the following report of the 
 
 expenditure of ordnance stores on board this ship, during 
 
 the engagement with the rebel steamer Alabama, on the 
 
 19th instant : 
 
 Fifty-five fifteen-pound service charges, fifty-five eleven- 
 inch five-second shell, sixty six-pound service charges, 
 eighteen thirty-two-pounder five-second shell, forty-two 
 thirty-two-pound solid shot, forty-eight two-and-a-half- 
 pound service charges rifle, forty-eight rifle-percussion 
 
 4 
 
50 The Alahama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 sliell, one hundred friction primers, two Inindred and forty 
 percussion primers. 
 
 Fixed ammunition for boat-liowitzer — nine schrapnel, 
 Bormann fused, one canister. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Duration of action, 65 minutes. 
 
 Xumber of rounds, 11 inch 55 
 
 Number of rounds, 32-pounder 60 
 
 Number of rounds, 30-pound rifle 48 
 
 Number of rounds, 12-pound howitzer 10 
 
 Total 173 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 FRANKLIN A. GRAHAM, 
 
 Gunner United States Steamer Kearsarge. 
 
 To James Thornton, 
 
 Lieuteaant Commander and Executive Oflicer. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM LOG-BOOK. 
 
 [Moderate breeze from the windward, weather b. c. At 
 10 inspected crow at quarters. At 10.20 discovered the 
 Alabama steaming out from the port of Cherl)Ourg, 
 accompanied by a French iron-clad and a steamer showing 
 the wdiite English ensign and a yacht iiag. Beat to 
 general quarters and cleared the ship for action; steamed 
 ahead, standing offshore at 10.50, being distant from the 
 land about two leagues ; altered our course and ajiproached 
 the Alabama. At 10.57 the Alabama commenced the 
 action with her starboard broadside at one thousand yards 
 range. At 11 we returned her fire, and came fairly into 
 action, which we continued until meridian, when, observing 
 signs of distress in the enemy, together with a cessation of 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 51 
 
 her fire, our fire was withlielcl. At 12.10 a boat witli an 
 oflicer from the Alabama came alongside and surrendered 
 his vessel, with the information that she was rapidly 
 sinking, and a request for assistance. Sent the launch 
 and second cutter, the other boats being disabled bv the 
 fire of the 'enemy. 
 
 The English yacht before mentioned, coming within 
 hail, was requested by the captain to render assistance in 
 saving the lives of the ofiicers and crew of the surrendered 
 vessel. 
 
 At 12.24 the Alabama went doAvn in forty fathoms 
 water, leaving most of her crew struggling in the water. 
 Seventy persons were rescued by the boats. Two pilot- 
 boats and the yacht also assisted. One pilot-boat came 
 alongside of us, but the other returned to the port. The 
 English yacht steamed rapidly away to the northward, 
 without reporting the number of our prisoners she had 
 picked up. 
 
 Hoisted up our boats and three of the enemy's cutters. 
 Repaired the rigging temporarily. Took a French pilot, 
 and steamed away for Cherbourg. 
 
 At 3.10 let go the port-anchor in seven fathoms water, 
 and veered to thirty fathoms chain. 
 
 Forwarded. 
 
 JOHX A. WINSLOW, 
 
 Captaiu. 
 
THE KEARSARGE 
 
 From EiiL'Hsli Xewspapei- pulilislied iu noulogue-sur-mcr. 
 
 On Friday moruino- a report circulated tlirongli tlic 
 town that a sliip-ot-war was anchored ott' the harbor. At 
 tirst it ol)tained but little credence ; but as the truth 
 gradually became known, people flocked towards the 
 jetty, and at three o'clock — although a sharp and piercing 
 wind was blowing — the port presented an animated ap- 
 pearance. Telescopes, field-glasses, binocular glasses, opera- 
 glasses — even eye-glasses and spectacles! — were all turned 
 in the direction of the unknown vessel, for, although the 
 name of our mysterious visitor was known to many, the 
 mass were ignorant of her cognt)nien. At last "Ivear- 
 sarge" became the mot (Vordre^ and was soon repeated from 
 mouth to mouth. In the meantime, and during the 
 afternoon, the boatmen, eager for gain, were reaidng a 
 rich harvest, and their little crafts, filled with living 
 cargoes, plied between the harbor and the Federal steamer. 
 On board, the utmost civility was shown, and — whatever 
 way may tend our sympathies — we frankly admit that 
 the politeness of the ofiicers and crew elicited universal 
 approbation. The evening had far advanced when the 
 crowd had finally dispersed. On Saturday and the fol- 
 lowing days the visitors on l>oard were very numerous, 
 and the boatmen will doubtless bless the saint who directed 
 the Ivearsarge into these waters. 
 
 The Kearsarge, Captain J. A. Winslow, is a screw cor- 
 vette of 1040 tons. Built in 1801, at the commencement 
 of the present war, which now unhappily rages on the 
 American continent, she is fitted up with all the latest 
 improvements appertaining to a vessel of war. Pier com- 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 53 
 
 plcment, is about one liundred and fifty officers and men, 
 but her present quota far exceeds that number. She 
 carries seven guns — four thirtj-two-pounders, one rifled 
 twenty-eight, and two one hundred and twenty-pounders, 
 (Dahlgrens,) the latter of the most formidable description, 
 besides a small brass howitzer. Her speed is about four- 
 teen to fifteen knots an hour, and she can get up her 
 steam in less than forty minutes. Her number of marines 
 is limited to fourteen, in command of a sergeant. Every 
 visitor on board must have been struck with the order 
 that prevails in every department, the engine-room de- 
 serving special mention. We cannot, however, close this 
 notice without alluding more particularly to the composi- 
 tion of the crew. All nations are represented on the 
 Kearsarge, from the Saxon to the Malaga, the Celt to the 
 black — all speaking different tongues or dialects — giving 
 an idea of the Tower of Eabel, on a diminutive scale. 
 Altogether, it would be difficult to find a finer set of men 
 — the Yankee element, of course, predominating. 
 
 " She is a fine vessel," was our exclamation on leavino-, 
 to which a curious individual, with a certain nervous 
 twitch of the mouth, and a slight contraction of the nasal 
 organ, exclaimed : " She'll lick creation — she will." 
 
THE A L A B A :SI A AND S E :M M E S 
 
 VIEWS OF A SCOTTISH EDITOR. 
 
 From the Edinburgh Mercury, June 29. 
 
 The circumstances connected with the sinking of the 
 Alabama — circumstances which the commander of the 
 Kearsarge, in his sailor-like brusqueness, has shorn of 
 much of the ftilse glory imparted to them by the pro- 
 Confederate press of this country — are well known to the 
 reading public ; so also are the fulsome flatteries and 
 overdone compliments paid to Captain Senmies and what 
 was described as "his gallant and heroic ere av." The 
 Captain has had :i}»plied to him, by certain organs of 
 opinion, and even by ofheials in her Majesty's serA'iee and 
 pay, terms of the most extravagant praise — " chivalrous," 
 "• noble," " heroic," " gallant," &c., being among the num- 
 Ijcr — and his crew have shared in the honors thus heaped 
 upon him. This to a pirate, who during the past two 
 years has burned and sunk hundreds of British and 
 other merchant vessels, and destroyed property to the 
 value of between £3,000,000 and £4,000,000, and has 
 never once attacked or come in the way of a vessel of his 
 own calibre except under false colors, and with a lie in 
 the mouth of his officials, is rather more than honest and 
 brave men are disposed to bear. It amounts to an orna- 
 menting and decorating of vice at the expense of virtue; 
 it suggests a confoundingof chicanery, deceit, and })lunder, 
 of tlic worst description, with true courage and genuine 
 spirit and worth ; it giA'es glory to men who, had they 
 attempted to do on land what they would have done on 
 sea, would have been hunted to death as highwaymen 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 55 
 
 and murderers of the most insufferable kind, and not en- 
 titled to live. That we are not using language one whit 
 too strong, let those who are disposed to make themselves 
 acquainted with all the facts read " The cruise of the 
 Alabama, from her departure from Liverpool until her 
 arrival at the Cape of Good Hope," a pamphlet just pub- 
 lished " by an officer on board" — an officer, one, let us 
 sa3^ who is a keen Confederate, who loved and gloried in 
 his work, who has the highest admiration of Captain 
 Senmies, and who will therefore not be suspected of wit- 
 tingly doing him, his crew, or his cause injustice. 
 
 That pamphlet we have read with the utmost loathing 
 — loathing that a vile, lying, drunken, debauched and 
 frequently mutinous crew, such as that of the Alabama, 
 as here described, should excite the sympathy and com- 
 mand the regards of a portion of the British people — 
 loathing that a scheming, skulking, deceiving and un- 
 scrupulous fellow such as Captain Semmes is here shown 
 to be — most approvingly, no doubt — should, in a disor- 
 dered state of the public mind, be characterized as either 
 spirited or brave, not to talk of " chivalrous" or " noble ;" 
 and loathing, too, that at a time like the present, when, 
 were the conduct pursued by the supporters of the Ala- 
 bama adopted by other nations, our whole mercantile 
 marine might be swept off" the face of the seas, there 
 should be found in Britain men ready to vindicate her 
 conduct and the stratagems by which she succeeded in 
 almost every instance in capturing her prize. 
 
 The fact is, if we are to believe this pamphlet, every 
 one of the hundreds of unprotected merchant vessels cap- 
 tured, burned and sunk by Captain Semmes during his 
 two years' cruise, was captured by deceit, by hoisting 
 false flags, chiefly those of Great Britain, and by telling 
 the most atrocious lies ; and in not a single instance, as 
 we have already said, did the "heroic" captain attack a 
 vessel, large or small, with or without guns, till his hands 
 had first entrapped and deceived it by the falsest repre- 
 
56 The Alahama and the Kearsorge, 
 
 mentations as to liis own cliaractcr and aim. Take a few 
 extracts, culled at random, as proof of this: 
 
 Sept. 9.— Captnred bark Alert, of Xew Bedford. En- 
 o-ao-ed all day transferrino; stores for ship's use. Set on 
 iire harks Ocean Rover and Alert, and schooner Starlight. 
 Overlianled and ca])tured schooner AVeather Gaue, of 
 Provincetown. Stood in chase of a hark, and which, on 
 hoardino-, proved to he Danish. To this vessel we hoisted 
 American colors, and passed as the United States steamer 
 Iroquois. To all prizes we had captured we hoisted Eng- 
 lish colors, and exchanged them for Confederate as soon 
 as the hoarding officer gained the vessel's deck. 
 
 Sept. 14, 1.30 A. M. — Gave chase to a sail on lee how ; 
 2.30 A. M., fired a gun for her to heave to. Darkness pre- 
 vented ns from knowing who she was, so I went on hoard 
 to examine her papers, and which, if Yankee, I was to 
 signal it and heave to until daylight. AVhat I did on 
 hoarding this vessel was the course usually adopted in 
 taking prizes. Pulling under his stern I saw it was the 
 whaling ship Benjamin Tucker, of and from Xew Bed- 
 ford. Gaining the quarter deck, I was welcomed with 
 outstretched hands. In answer to my questions, the cajv 
 tain told me her name, port of registry, &c., of all which 
 I was previously aware. I then told him that he was a 
 prize to the Confederate States steamer Alahama, order- 
 ing him to put his clothes in one truidv, allowing the 
 mates and men one l)ag each — all navigation hooks and 
 instruments being left behind. At daylight sent the cajv 
 tain and crew, with the ship's ])apers and luggage, to the 
 Alal)ama. I then examined tlie ship, and finding some 
 cases of stores, they were transferred to our ship. The 
 preparations to fire her were soon made, so that after see- 
 ing her well fired we pushed off and regained our vessel, 
 the i:)risoners being placed in single irons. 
 
 October 3.^ — Earl}- in the morning the joyful cry of 
 " Sail ho 1" was heard from the masthead ; presently three 
 sails were reported as being in sight. At 7.30 came up 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 57 
 
 with one, lioisted the St. George's ensign, boarded, hauled 
 down, and lioisted the Stars and Bars, and took possession 
 of the ship Emily Farnum, of Portsmouth. Made sail 
 after another prize, following astern. On boarding, she 
 was found to be the ship Brilliant, of and from ^ew 
 York, twelve days out, bound to Liverpool with a valu- 
 able cargo of grain and flour. The cargo of the Emily 
 Farnum proving to be neutral, and the prisoners becoming 
 irksome, it was deemed a favorable opportunity to get rid 
 of them. All the prisoners were then placed on board of 
 her, and the ship allowed to proceed on lier voyage, her 
 captain promising to land them in Liverpool. It seemed 
 a fearful thing to burn such a cargo as the Brilliant had, 
 when I thought how the operatives in the cotton districts 
 would have danced with joy had they it shared among 
 them. I never saw a vessel burn Math such brilliancy, 
 the flames completely enveloping the masts, hull and rig- 
 ging in a few minutes, making a sight as grand as it was 
 appalling. 
 
 This is the only occasion in which the writer seems to 
 have felt any twitchings of conscience. He did not like 
 the idea of a whole cargo of grain going to the bottom of 
 the ocean while the operatives of Lancvashire were starv- 
 ing. It did not occur to him, however, in this connec- 
 tion, to recall to memory how some of the very shipping 
 he was so recklessly destroying had been employed by the 
 benevolent people of the Unit'ed States to convey food to 
 the famishing thousands of Lancashire weavers. "We 
 proceed : 
 
 May 20.— Strong S. S. E. wind, with a heavy sea. 
 10.30 A. M., two vessels in sight; gave chase. Another 
 vessel seen. Hoisted United States colors to a ship; she 
 not replying, signalled, "I want to speak to you;" upon 
 which she stood toward us and hoisted Yankee colors 
 also. On boarding, took possession— the ship S. Gilder- 
 sleeve of mw York, Sunderland, to Calcutta, laden with 
 coal. Chased a bark, which, on boarding, I found to be 
 
58 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 the Justina of Baltimore, Rio de Janeiro to Baltimore, in 
 ballast. Chased another vessel, which proved to be 
 Dutch. The Justina was ransomed and allowed to pro- 
 ceed on her voyage, taking with her the crew of the just 
 captured ship. 
 
 !N'ov. 8, 2 A. M. — Made sail in chase of a schooner stand- 
 ing to the southward. Another vessel standing northeast 
 in sight shortly after. AVent in chase of her. She showed 
 Yankee colors. AVe answered l)y showing the same. In 
 reply to his signal we passed as the United States Ticon- 
 deroga. The signal, " AVhat is j^our longitude?" we de- 
 clined answering until we could verbally do it. ITove to 
 until she neared us, tluMi fired a gun and hoisted the Con- 
 federate ensign. tSent a boat on board and took posses- 
 sion. Found her to be the Thonuis B. Wales, of ]3oston, 
 from Calcutta, with a general cargo, having as passenger 
 the late United States Cojisul at Mauritius, with his wife 
 and two children, the captain having his wife with him 
 also. They were accommodated in the wardroom, tlie 
 officers vacating their rooms for that pur}iose. Many 
 articles for ship's use were taken from her, including a 
 mainyard ; at sunset burned her. Shipped eleven hands. 
 
 ISTov. 21. — Reduced sail to topsails, and hove maintop- 
 sail to the mast ; 5.10 a. m., filled away again ; 10 a. m., 
 saw the Agripina, and signalled her to follow ; saw the 
 land and a ship at 1 o'clock. At 3, got up steam and 
 stood in toward Blanquilla. Drawing in toward the har- 
 l)or, we observed a schooner at anchor. On coming within 
 signal range she hoisted the Stars and Stripes ; we an- 
 swered by hoisting the same ; shortly after, a boat put oft' 
 from her. Coming on l)oard (without undeceiving him) 
 we asked him about the anchorage ; after receiving satis- 
 factory rei)lies, we hauled down the Yankee flag and 
 hoisted the Confederate ensign. Great, indeed, was the 
 poor Yankee's astonishment. Captain Semmes told him 
 that, as he was at anchor, he should not destroy his ves- 
 sel, but that, for our safety, we should detain him, order- 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 59 
 
 iiig tlie captain and mate to come on board every even- 
 ing, and depart each morning to their own vessel. She 
 proved to be the Clara L. S^tarks, whaler, of Province- 
 town. 
 
 The cool eftrontery exhibited in this last paragraph 
 (the words we have put in small capitals) must, under 
 the circumstances, be regarded as " chivalrous " indeecl. 
 We have space only for another extract. It describes the 
 way in which the United States gunboat Hatteras was 
 taken. It is as follows : 
 
 January 11. — At 6.30 the strange steamer hailed and 
 asked, " What steamer is that ?" ■ We replied, (in order 
 to be certain who he was,) " Her Majesty's steamer 
 Petrel !" " What steamer is that ?" Two or three times 
 we asked the question, until we heard, " This is the 
 
 United States steamer ," not hearing the name. 
 
 However, United States was sufficient. As no doubt 
 existed as to her character, we said, at 6.36, that this was 
 the Confederate steamer Alabama, accompanying the last 
 syllable of our name with a shell fired over him. The 
 signal being given, the other guns took up the refrain, 
 and a tremendous volley from our whole broadside given 
 to him, every shell striking her side, the shot striking 
 being distinctly heard on board our vessel, and thus found 
 that she Avas iron. The enemy replied, and the action 
 became general. A most shai'p, spirited firing was kept 
 up on both sides ; our fellows peppering away as though 
 the action depended on each individual. And so it did. 
 Pistols and rifles were continually pouring from our 
 quarter deck messengers most deadly; the distance dur- 
 ing the hottest of the fight not being more than forty 
 yards. It was a grand though fearful sight to see the 
 guns belching forth, in the darkness of the night, sheets 
 of living flame, the deadly missiles striking the enemy 
 with a force that we could feel. 
 
 The result was the captain surrendered and the vessel 
 was sunk. Need we add more? We think not. Let 
 
60 The Alabama and the Kearsargc. 
 
 us express; a hope tliat, with revelations such as these, 
 and with many otliers M'hich we might give from the 
 same })amplilet, tlie lionorahle epithets of '" pluck," 
 ''spirit," "courage," and "chivalry," which we are 
 always happy to apply when and where they are really 
 merited, will never again he associated with deceptions 
 so lia grant, cunning so despicable, and conduct altogether 
 so foreign to what becomes gallant or true men, even 
 when engaged in an unworthy cause. 
 
 CAPTAI^^ SExMMES, C. S. A. K 
 
 June 19, 186-4. 
 
 Out of Cherbourg harbor one clear 
 Sunday morning the cavalier 
 Captain Semmes, with his cap a-cock, 
 Sailed from the friendly Frenchman's dock. 
 Gayly along the rebel came. 
 Under the flag of the cross of shame ; 
 Knight of the haiidcuti" and bloody lash, 
 lie twisted the point of his red moustache. 
 And swore, in English, not over nice. 
 To sink our Yankee scum in a trice, 
 Or burn our ship, as the thing might be. 
 Where the eyes of Cherbourg all should see. 
 
 " Ileigh-ho ! you don't say so !" 
 Whispered his friend, litHe Jean Crapaud. 
 
 Semmes has been a wolf of the deep 
 For many a day to harmless sheep ; 
 Ships he scuttled, and robbed, and burned. 
 Watches pilfered and pockets turned ; 
 And all his plunder, bonds and gold 
 lie left for his Gallic friend to hold. 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsargc. 61 
 
 A little over prudent was he 
 
 For a cavalier of liigli degree ; 
 
 And Raphael Semnies don't sound, indeed. 
 
 As if it came of the purple seed ; 
 
 But all the blood in his veins was blue, 
 
 And his clay was porcelain through and through. 
 
 Heigh-ho ! the Lord doth know 
 We are but dirt, and our blood's so-so. 
 
 "What will the doughty Captain do, 
 With his British ship, his British crew, 
 His gunners, trained in the " Excellent," 
 The guns his cousin Blakely sent. 
 His shot and shell at Woolwich made. 
 What will he do with the whole parade ? 
 Up to the top of his cliffs Crapaud 
 Had clambered to see the Sunday show ; 
 And his brother Bull, in his fancy yacht. 
 Stood off" and on towards the fated spot ; 
 And right across the bold Captain's way 
 The Ivearsarge steamed in her war array. 
 
 " Heigh-ho !" said Semmes, " Let's blow 
 That craft to splinters before we go." 
 
 Semmes had heard, with his lip a-curl, 
 
 Li Cherbourg, that some northern churl, 
 
 Backed by a gang of onion-eaters. 
 
 Waited the noble nes:ro-beaters. 
 
 Shop-keeping, peddling, vulgar knaves, 
 
 To stick their heads into open graves ! 
 
 " 'Sdeath ! 'Swounds ! 'Ods bodkins I Ha ! what then, 
 
 Will they dare to tight with gentlemen ? 
 
 had I my lance, and shield, and things, 
 
 With which I tilted at Sulphur Springs ! 
 
 Or a troop of horse marines ! Of course, 
 
 A knight is nothing without his horse." 
 
 Heigh-ho ! this seemed to show 
 Our hero's spirits were running low. 
 
G2 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 
 
 Sh'aight out to sea the Kearsarge drew, 
 
 And Semmes, who followed all that flew, 
 
 Followed, perhaps by some mistake. 
 
 Close in liis foemaii's frothing wake. 
 
 But wlicii three leagues were gained from shore, 
 
 Slowly and grimly the Yankee wore; 
 
 And our starry ensign leaped above. 
 
 Round which the wind, like a fluttering dove. 
 
 Cooed low, and the sunshine of God's day 
 
 Like an open blessing on it lay ; 
 
 So we felt our friendless ship would fight 
 
 Full under the great Disposer's sight. 
 
 lleigh-ho ! 'tis well to know 
 Who looks on the deeds done here below. 
 
 Semmes led the waltz and struck the tune ; 
 
 Shots at the sea and at the moon 
 
 The swashing, wasteful cavalier 
 
 Scattered around him far and near. 
 
 The saving Yankees squandered not 
 
 An ounce of powder or pound of shot. 
 
 They lield their peace till the guns would tell. 
 
 Then out they burst like the mouths of hell. 
 
 Terribk', horrible! how they tore 
 
 The Alabama, until the gore 
 
 Fn^m her bursting scuppers smoked and streamed, 
 
 The dying groaned and the wounded screamed! 
 
 '^ Trcii>i;h-ho! ' said Semmes, " let's show 
 The Yankees the heels we boast of so." 
 
 Seven times in that deadly round 
 Sped the ships to the cannon's sound. 
 The vulture, through the smoke and din, 
 Saw the eagle's circles narroAving in ; 
 And every time her pivots roared 
 The fatal bomb-shells came straiglit aboard. 
 His helm was useless, his engine failed, 
 His ])owder was wet, liis Britons rpiailed ; 
 
The Alabama and the Kearsarge. 63 
 
 And ill liis course, like a warning hand, 
 Stretched forth the flag of his outraged land. 
 In vain he hoisted his sails to flee ; 
 For each foot he sailed, his foe sailed three. 
 
 Heigh-ho ! '' Why here's a blow !" 
 Said Senimes, as he hauled his flag below. 
 
 Well was it for the cavalier 
 
 That brother Bull was lying near. 
 
 His vessel with a haughty curl 
 
 Turned up her nose, and in the whirl 
 
 Of the white sea, stern foremost, tore 
 
 As if in scorn of the crew she bore. 
 
 Then the thrifty Briton launched his boat. 
 
 To pick up aught that might be afloat. 
 
 And amongst other less precious spoil, 
 
 Fished swordless Semmes from his w^atery coil ; 
 
 " Hide me !" the gallant cried in aftright ; 
 
 " Cover me up from the Yankee's sight." 
 
 Heigh-ho ! they laid him low, 
 AVith a bit of sail to hide his woe. 
 
 Safely they bore the chief aboard. 
 Leaving behind his fame and sword : 
 And then the Deerhound stole away. 
 Lest Winslow's guns might have a say ; 
 Landed him in Southampton town. 
 Where heroes like him have had renown. 
 Ever since Lawrence, Perry and Hull 
 Took hold of the horns of great John Bull. 
 Had I been Winslow, I say to you. 
 As the sea is green, the sky is blue. 
 Through the Deerhound I'd have sent a shot, 
 And John might have liked the thing or not. 
 
 Heigh-ho ! come soon or slow. 
 In the end we are bound to have a blow. 
 
64 The Alabama and the Kearsargc. 
 
 What said the Frenehiiiaii from liis hill 
 
 After the caimon-shots Avere still 'r' 
 
 What said the Briton from his deck, 
 
 Gazing down on the snnken wreck? 
 
 Sometliing was said of guns like mortars, 
 
 And something of smooth-bores at close quarters ; 
 
 Chain armor furnished a word or two ; 
 
 But the end of all was hoth looked blue. 
 
 They sighed again o'er the "• Great Contention," 
 
 But never hinted at "Intervention." 
 
 One thing they wished, which they dared not sa}-, 
 
 '•'■ If tlie tight had ])ut gone the other way I 
 
 Ileigh-ho ! I told you so ! 
 1 Semmes was a sorry fool to go !" 
 
 George H. Boker. 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 013 709 468 A "^