LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 
AN ENGLISHMAN'S VIEW 
 
 BATTLE 
 
 BETWEEN THE 
 
 ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OP 
 
 THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE BRITISH CHANNEL, OH SUNDAY, JUNE 19th 
 1864. PROM INFORMATION PERSONALLY OBTAINED IN THE TOWN 
 OP CHERBOURG, AS WELL AS FROM THE OFFICERS AND 
 CREW OF THE UNITED STATES* SLOOP-OF-WAR 
 KEARSARGE, AND THE WOUNDED AND 
 PRISONERS OF THE CONFED- 
 ERATE PRIVATEER, 
 
 FEEDEEICK MILXES EDGE. 
 
 NEW YOEK: 
 
 -A-HsrsoiLxr id. :f». niLNDoijP-ia:, 
 
 No. 770 BROADWAY. 
 1864. 
 
AN ENGLISHMAN'S VIEW 
 
 BATTLE 
 
 BETWEEN THE 
 
 ALABAMA AND THE KEAESARGE. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE BRITISH CHANNEL, ON SUNDAY, JUNE 19th 
 
 > 
 1864. FROM INFORMATION PERSONALLY OBTAINED IN THE TOWN 
 
 OF CHERBOURG, AS WELL AS FROM THE; OFFICERS AND 
 CREW OF THE UNITED STATES' SLOOP-OF-WAR 
 KEARSARGE, AND THE WOUNDED AND 
 PRISONERS OF THE CONFED- 
 ERATE' PRIVATEER. 
 
 BY , 
 
 FKEDEKICK MILNES EDGE. 
 
 <NEW YORK: 
 
 ^IKTSOlsr XD. IF". nA.NIDOIjPH:, 
 
 No. 770 BROADWAY. 
 
 1864. 
 
FS9? 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, 
 
 By ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern 
 District of New York. 
 
 X & ' * k 3 
 
 EDWARD O. JENKINS, 
 
 printer anti Stfreotgpcr, 
 20 North William Street. 
 
%\h §Urtrir 
 
 OP 
 
 .A. MOST G-LOniOUS VICTORY 
 
 GAINED IN THB CAUSE OP 
 
 JUSTICE AND HUMANITY, 
 
 is 
 DEDICATED TO 
 
 THAT NOBLE OFFSPRING OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
 
 ®&e Sanitarg ©ommfastoit of ifit ©rntefc JStatw, 
 
 BT 
 
 THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 London, July 14, 1864. 
 
The writer of this pamphlet is an English gentleman of intelli- 
 gence now residing in London, who has spent some time in this 
 country, and is known and esteemed by many of our best citizens. 
 He visited Cherbourg for the express purpose of making the inquiry 
 and investigation, the results of which are embodied in the follow- 
 ing pages, and generously devotes the pecuniary results of his copy- 
 right to the funds of the Sanitary Commission. 
 
Cjje gJakma anfr tyt |teararp. 
 
 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 Cherbourg on 
 Sunday, the 19th of June, was the first decisive engage- 
 ment 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 estimate the relative advantages 
 of rifled and smooth-bore cannon at short range. 
 
 Perhaps no greater or more numerous misrepresenta- 
 tions 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 defenceless victims to their 
 watery grave, these misrepresentations obtain as much 
 credence as ever. The victory of the Kearsarge was 
 accounted for, 'and the defeat of the Alabama excused or 
 palliated upon the following principal reasons : — 
 
 (5) 
 
b THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 1. The superior size and speed of the Kearsarge. 
 
 2. The superiority of her armament. 
 
 3. The chain-plating at her sides. 
 
 5. The 2T eater number of her crew. 
 ° 
 
 5. The unpreparedness of the Alabama. 
 
 6. The assumed necessity of Captain Semmes' accept- 
 ing the challenge sent him (as represented) by the com- 
 mander 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 odium 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 observations in question 
 were made on receipt of the first news, and from informa- 
 tion 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 Kear- 
 sarge fired about 100 (shot) chiefly 11 -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) 
 were 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 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 7 
 
 Alabama's guns were all on the spar-deck, like those 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 Kear- 
 sarge 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 unfortunate 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 evidence on which side the 
 truth exists. 
 
 Within a few days of the fight, the writer of these 
 pages crossed from London to Cherbourg for the purpose 
 of obtaining by personal examination full and precise 
 information in reference to the engagement. It would 
 seem as though misrepresentation, if not positive false- 
 hood, were inseparable from everything connected with 
 the Alabama, for on reaching the French naval station he 
 was positively assured by the people on shore that no- 
 
8 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 body 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 subordinates. During the six days he 
 remained at Cherbourg, he found the Kearsarge open to 
 the inspection, above and below, of any and everybody 
 who chose to visit her ; and he frequently heard 
 surprise expressed by English and French 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-the-line " Napoleon," two cables' length 
 from that vessel, and about a mile and a half from the 
 harbour ; she had not moved from that anchorage since 
 entering the port of Cherbourg, and no repairs whatever 
 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 
 had 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 honour of her victory ; she 
 appeared to me a mere yacht in comparison with the 
 shipping around her, and disappointed many of the 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 9 
 
 visitors who came to see her. The relative proportions 
 of the two antagonists were as follows : — 
 
 Alabama. Keaesarge. 
 
 Length over all - - 220 ft. 232 ft. 
 
 of keel - - 210 " 198J " 
 Beam ... 32 " 33 « 
 
 Depth ... 17 « I6i " 
 
 Horse power, 2 engines of 300 each 400 h. p. 
 
 Tonnage - - - - 1,040 1,031 
 
 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 appear- 
 ance of a much larger vessel than her antagonist. The 
 masts of the latter are disproportionately 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 permitted to examine, frequently shows a 
 speed of upwards 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. 
 
 *The Kearsarge has a four-bladed screw, diameter 12 ft 9-in. with a 
 pitch of 20-ft, 
 
 1* 
 
10 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 Ships-of-war, however, whatever may be their tonnage, 
 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 armaments ; and herein 
 we find the equality of the antagonist as fully exemplified 
 as in the respective proportions of their hulls and steam- 
 power. The armaments of the Alabama and Kearsarge 
 were are as follows : 
 
 ARMAMENT OF THE ALABAMA. 
 
 One 7-inch Blakely rifle. 
 
 One 8-inch smooth-bore (68-pounder). 
 
 Six 32-pounders. 
 
 ARMAMENT OP THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 Two 11-inch smooth-bore guns. 
 One 30-pounder rifle. 
 Four 32-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 broadside 
 was only some 20 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 artillerymen. The Times 
 informs us that Capt. Semmes asserts, " he owes his best 
 men to the training they received on board the ; Ex- 
 cellent ;' " and trained gunners must naturally be 
 superior to the volunteer gunners on board the Kearsarge. 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 11 
 
 Each vessel fought all her guns, with the exception in 
 either case of one 32-pounder, on the starboard side ; 
 but the struggle was really decided by the two 11-inch 
 Dahlgren smooth-bores of the Kearsarge against the 7- 
 inch Blakely rifle and the heavy 68-pounder pivot of the 
 Alabama. The Kearsarge certainly carried a small 30- 
 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 CHAIN-PLATING OF THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 Great stress has been laid upon the chain- plating of 
 the Kearsarge, and it is assumed by interested parties 
 that, but for this armour, 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 Kear- 
 sarge, a new vessel of great speed, iron-coated" <fec. (p. 23). 
 
 " She," the Kearsarge, " appeared to be temporarily 
 plated with 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 
 
 * The Career of the Alabama, " JVb. 290," from July 26, 1862, to 
 June 19, 1864. London: Dorrell and Son. 
 
12 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 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 were 
 trailed all over ivith chain cables" p. 41). 
 
 The author of the pamphlet in question has judi- 
 ciously refrained from giving his name. A greater 
 number of more unblushing misrepresentations never 
 were contained in an equal space. 
 
 In his official report to the Confederate Envoy, Mr. 
 Mason, Captain Semmes makes the following state- 
 ments : 
 
 " 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 
 perpendicularly from the rail to the water's edge, the 
 whole covered over by a thin outer planking, which 
 gave no indication of the armour beneath. This 
 planking had been ripped off in every direction (!) 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 ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 13 
 
 " The enemy was heavier than myself, both in ship, 
 battery, and crew, ( ! ) hut I did not know until the 
 action was over that she was also iron-clad. 11 
 
 " Those of our officers who went alongside the 
 enemy's ship with our wounded." As soon as Captain 
 Semmes reached the Deerhound, the yacht stearited off 
 at full speed towards Southampton, and Semmes wrote 
 his report of the fight either in England, or on board 
 the English vessel. Probably the former, for he dates 
 his communication to Mr. Mason — " Southampton, June 
 21, 1864." 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 specified ; nevertheless he did obtain such 
 information. One of his officers — George T. Fiillam, 
 an Englishman 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 honour to return when the object 
 was accomplished. After picking up several men strug- 
 gling in the water, he steered directly for the Deer- 
 hound, and on reaching her actually cast his boat adrift. 
 It was subsequently picked up by the Kearsarge. 
 Fullam's name appears amongst the list of " saved" by 
 the Deerhound ; and he, with others of the Alabama's 
 
14 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 officers who had received a similar permission 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 look out for a notorious 
 ' blockade-runner, named the " Juno." The Kearsarge 
 being short 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 Winslow the advisability of hang- 
 ing her two sheet-anchor cables 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, Fatal {May 1st, 1863.) 
 
 11 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 armour plating ship, using 
 sheet chain. Weighed kedge anchor. 
 
 (Signed) E. M. Stoddard, Acting Master''' 
 
 This operation of chain-armouring took three days, 
 and was effected without assistance from the shore and 
 at an expense of material of seventy-five dollars (XI 5). 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 15 
 
 Iii order to make the addition less unsightly, the chains 
 were boxed over with f-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 mys- 
 tery was made as to what the boarding covered. 
 Captain Semmes was perfectly cognizant of the entire 
 affair, notwithstanding his shameless assertion of igno- 
 rance ; 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 with the 
 first shot. I was so informed by his own wounded men 
 lying in the naval hospital at Cherbourg. Whatever 
 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, however, a 32-pounder shot broke in the 
 deal covering 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 5i-inch 
 chain. Had the cable been struck by the rifled 120- 
 pounder instead of by a 32, the result might have been 
 different ; but in any case the damage would have 
 amounted to nothing serious, for the vessel's side was , 
 hit five feet above the water-line and nowhere in the 
 vicinity of the boilers or machinery. Captain Semmes 
 
16 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 evidently regarded this protection of the chains as little 
 worth, for he might have adopted the same plan before 
 engagiDg the Kearsarge ; but he confined himself to 
 taking on board 150 tons of coal as a protection to his 
 boilers, which, in addition to the 200 tons already in his 
 bonkers, 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 armouring is only 120 fathoms, 
 and it covers a space amidships of 49 ft. 6 in. in length, 
 by 6 ft. 2 in. in depth.* The chain, which is single, not 
 double, was and is stopped to eye-bolts with rope-yarn 
 and by iron dogs.f Is it reasonable to suppose that this 
 plating of l T Vinch iron (the thickness of the links of the 
 chain) could offer any serious resistance to the heavy 
 68-pounder and the 7 in. Blakely rifle of the Alabama — 
 at the comparatively close range of 700 yards ? What 
 then becomes of the mistaken remark of the Times that 
 the Kearsarge was " provided, as it turned out, with 
 some special contrivances for protection," or Semmes' 
 declaration that she was " iron-clad ?" " The Career of 
 the Alabama," in referring to this chain-plating, says — 
 " Another advantage accruing from this was that it sank 
 
 * Captain Winslow, in Iris first hurried report of the engagement, 
 put the space covered at 20 or 25 feet, believing this to be rather over 
 than under the mark. The above, however, is the exact measurement. 
 
 f There was nothing whatever between the chain and the ship's 
 sides. 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 17 
 
 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." It is simply ridiculous to 
 suppose that the weight of 240 fathoms of chain could 
 have any such effect upon a vessel oT one thousand tons 
 burden ; whilst, in addition, the cable itself was part 
 of the ordinary equipment of the ship. Further, the 
 supply of coal on board the Kearsarge at the time of 
 action was only 120 tons, while the Alabama had 350 
 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 ship 
 would be more of a detriment than a benefit to the 
 Kearsarge. The latter vessel had 22 officers on board, 
 and 140 men : the Alabama is represented to have had 
 only 120 in her crew, (Mr. Mason's statement,) but 
 if her officers be included in this number, the assertion 
 is obviously incorrect, for the Kearsarge saved 67," the 
 Deerhoimd 41, and the French pilot-boats 12, and this, 
 without mentioning the 13 accounted for as killed and 
 wounded, t and others who went down with the ship. 
 When the Alabama arrived at Cherbourg, her officers 
 and crew numbered 149. This information was given 
 by captains of American vessels who were held as 
 prisoners on board the privateer after the destruction 
 of their ships ; and their information is indorsed by the 
 
 * Including three dead. f See page 41. 
 
18 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 captured officers of the Alabama now on board the Kear- 
 sarge. It is known also that many persons tried to get 
 on board the Alabama while she lay in Cherbourg ; but 
 this the police prevented as far as lay in their power. 
 If Captain Semmes' representation were correct in re- 
 gard to his being short-handed, he certainly ought not 
 to be trusted with the command of a vessel again, how- 
 ever 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 ship, battery, and 
 crew." 
 
 The asserted unpreparedness 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 that Mr. Kell, my 
 First Lieutenant, deserves great credit for the fine con- 
 dition the ship was in when she went into action f 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 aggres- 
 sor ; 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 com- 
 mitted upon helpless merchantmen, we can still admire 
 the daring he evinced in sallying forth from a secure 
 haven and gallantly attacking his opponent ; but when 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSAKGE. 19 
 
 he professes ignorance of the character of his antag- 
 onist, and unworthily attempts to disparage the victory 
 of his foe, we forget all our first sympathies, and con- 
 demn the moral nature of the man, as he has forced us 
 to do his judgment. 
 
 Nor must ifc 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 Captain supposed 
 her to be in, at all events, as good a condition as the 
 enemy. 
 
 THE CHALLENGE. 
 
 Finally, the challenge to fight was given by the 
 Alabama to the Kearsarge, not by the Kearsarge to the 
 Alabama. "The Career of the Alabama," above re- 
 ferred to makes the following romantic statement : 
 
 " When he (Semmes) was challenged by the com- 
 mander of the Kearsarge, everybody in Cherbourg, it 
 appears, 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 
 
 * The Kearsarge started on her present cruise the 4th of February, 
 1862 ; the Alabama left the Mersey at the end of July following. 
 
20 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 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, Cher- 
 bourg, 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 the Alabama" gives a letter to the like 
 effect from the surgeon of the privateer, addressed to a 
 gentleman of this city. The letter reads as follows : 
 
 ** Cherbourg, June 14, 1864. 
 Dear Travers — Here we are. I send this by a 
 gentleman coming to London. An enemy is outside. 
 If she only stays long enough, we go out and fight he % r. 
 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 Caillet should call on you, please show him every 
 attention. 
 
 " I remain, dear Travers, ever yours, 
 
 " D. H. Llewellyn. " 
 
 There were two brave gentlemen on board the Alaba- 
 ma — poor Llewellyn, Avho nobly refused to save his own 
 life, by leaving his wounded, and a young Lieutenant, 
 Mr. Joseph Wilson, who honourably delivered up his 
 sword on the deck of the Kearsarge, when the other 
 officers threw theirs into the water. 
 
 The most unanswerable proof of Captain Semmeg 
 having challenged the commander of the Kearsarge is 
 to be found in the following letter addressed by him to 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 21 
 
 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 com- 
 mitted such a breach of discipline and etiquette as that 
 of challenging a rebel against his Government. 
 
 "C. S. S. Alabama, 
 " Cherbourg, June 14, 1864. 
 " To Ad. Bonfils, Cherbourg : 
 
 "Sir — I hear that you were informed by the U. S. 
 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 U. S. Consul, that my intention is to fight the Kear- 
 sarge 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 far- 
 thest. I beg she will not depart before I am ready to 
 go out. 
 
 "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, " R. Semmes, Captain" 
 
 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 
 intention. As soon as the arrival of the Federal vessel 
 was known at Paris, an American gentleman of high 
 
 * This information was incorrect. No such statement was ever made 
 by the Consul of the United States at Cherbourg. F. M. E. 
 
22 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 position came down to Cherbourg, with instructions for 
 Captain Winslow ; but so desirous were the French 
 authorities to preserve a really honest neutrality, that 
 permission was only granted to him to sail to her after 
 his promise to return to shore immediately on the de- 
 livery of his message. Once back in Cherbourg, and 
 about to return to Paris, he was advised to remain over 
 night, as the Alabama intended to fight the Kearsarge next 
 day (Sunday). On Sunday morning, an excursion train 
 arrived from the Capital, and the visitors were received at 
 the terminus of the railway by the boatmen of the port, 
 who offered them boats for the purpose of seeing a gen- 
 uine naval battle ivhich was to take place during the day. 
 Turning such a memorable occurrence to practical uses, 
 Monsieur Rondin, a celebrated photographic artist on the 
 Place oVArmes at Cherbourg, prepared the necessary 
 chemicals, plates, and camera, and placed himself on the 
 summit of the old church tower which the whilome 
 denizens of Cherbourg had very properly built in happy 
 juxtaposition with his establishment. I was only able 
 to see the 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 Confederate agent, Monsieur Bon- 
 fils ; surely time sufficient for him to make all the pre- 
 parations which he considered necessary. Meanwhile 
 the Kearsarge was cruising to and fro at sea, outside the 
 breakwater. 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 23 
 
 % 
 
 The Kearsarge reached Cherbourg on the 14th, and 
 her Captain only heard of Captain Semmes' intention to 
 fight him on the following day. Five days, however, 
 elapsed before the Alabama put in an appearance, and 
 her exit from the harbour was heralded by the English 
 yacht Deerhound. The officer on watch aboard the 
 Kearsarge made out a three-masted vessel steaming from 
 the» harbour, 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 min- 
 utes 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, June 19, 9 a. m. — Got up steam and pro- 
 ceeded out of Cherbourg harbour. 
 
 "10.30. — Observed the 'Alabama' steaming out of 
 the harbour towards the Federal steamer ' Kearsarge.' "* 
 
 Mr. Lancaster does not inform us why an English 
 
 * The following is the copy of the log of the Kearsarge on the day 
 in question : 
 
 "June 19, 1864. " From 8 to Merid. 
 
 " Moderate breeze from the Wd. weather b. c. At 10 o'clock, 
 inspected crew at quarters. At 10.20, discovered the Alabama steam- 
 ing 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 ap- 
 proached the Alabama. At 10.57, the Alabama commenced the action 
 
24 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEAESAEGE. 
 
 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 Deerhound during the hour 
 and a half which elapsed between his exit from the har- 
 bour and the appearance of the Alabama. The pre- 
 ceding paragraph, however, supplies the omission. 
 
 THE ENGAGEMENT. 
 
 At length the Alabama made her appearance in 
 company with the Couronne, the latter vessel conveying 
 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 jurisdiction 
 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 English vessel in 
 
 •with her starboard broadside at 1,000 yards range. At 11, we returned 
 her fire, and came fairly into action, which w r e continued until Merid., 
 when observing signs of distress in the enemy, together with a cessation, 
 of her fire, our fire was withheld. At 12.10, a boat with an officer from 
 the Alabama came alongside and surrendered his vessel, with the in- 
 formation that she was rapidly sinking, and a request for assistance. 
 Sent the Launch and 2d Cutter, the other 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 persons 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, Actg. Master." 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 25 
 
 handy vicinity to the combatants. Her presence proved 
 to be of much utility, for she picked up no less than 
 fourteen of the Alabama's officers, and among them the 
 redoubtable Semmes himself. 
 
 So soon as the Alabama was made out, the Kearsarge 
 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 infringement 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 im- 
 mediately 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 discharged a broadside, nearly a raking 
 fire, at the Kearsarge. 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 broadside. 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 
 2 
 
26 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 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 colours and 
 fired a lee gun (according to the statements of her offi- 
 cers), in token of surrender. Captain Winslow could 
 not, however, believe that 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 known. The 11- 
 inch shell from the Kearsarge, thrown with jifteen 
 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 fore- 
 part of her hull high out of water. 
 
 The Kearsarge was struck twenty-seven times during 
 the .conflict, and fired in all one hundred and seventy- 
 three (173) shots. These were as follows : 
 
 SHOTS FIRED BY THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 Two 11-inch guns ... 55 shots. 
 
 Rifle in forecastle . . . 48 " 
 
 Broadside 32-pdrs. . . . 60 " 
 
 12-pdr. boat howitzer . *. 10 " 
 
 Total, 173 shots. 
 
 The last-named gun performed no part whatever in 
 sinking the Alabama, and was only used in the action to 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 27 
 
 create laughter among the sailors. Two old quarter- 
 masters, 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 salts, little relish- 
 ing the idea of having nothing to do while their mess- 
 mates were so actively engaged, commenced 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 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 32-pounder shots through port bulwarks, for- 
 ward of mizzen-mast. 
 
 A shell, exploding after end of pivot port. 
 
 A shell, exploding after end of chain-plating. 
 
 A 68-lb. shell, passing through*starboard bulwarks be- 
 low 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. 
 
28 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 One forward pivot port plank sheer. 
 
 One forward foremast-rigging. 
 
 A shot striking Launch's toping-lift. 
 
 A rifle-shell, passing through funnel, bursting without 
 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, through 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, notwithstanding 
 the numbers 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 o% shore at Cherbourg that Captain 
 Semmes fired rapidly at the commencement of the action 
 " in order to frighten the Yankees/' nearly all the offi- 
 cers and crew being, as he was well aware, merely vol- 
 unteers from the merchant service.* At the expiration 
 
 * According to the statement of prisoners captured, the Alabama 
 fired no less than three hundred and seventy times (shot and shell); 
 more than twice the number of the Kearsargo. 
 
 5 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 29 
 
 of twenty minutes 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. 
 
 From the time of her first reaching Cherbourg until 
 she finally quitted the port, the Kearsarge never received 
 the slightest assistance from shore, with the exception 
 of that rendered by a boiler maker in patching up her 
 funnel. Every other repair was completed by her own 
 hands, and she might have- crossed the Atlantic immedi- 
 ately after the action without difficulty. So much for 
 Mr. Lancaster's statement that " the Kearsarge was ap- 
 parently much disabled." 
 
 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 board- 
 ing. 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 
 
30 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSAEGE. 
 
 crew. To have boarded the Kearsarge, Semmes must 
 have possessed greater speed to enable him to run along- 
 side 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 sympathizers really 
 ought not to make their protege appear ridiculous by 
 ascribing to him such an egregious intention. 
 
 NATIONALITY OF THE CREW OF THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 It has frequently been asserted that the major portion 
 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 Cher- 
 bourg 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 Kear- 
 sarge during her action with the Alabama. 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE TJ.S.S. KEARSARGE, Junk 19, 1864. 
 
 NAMES. RANK. NATIVE OF 
 
 John A. Winslow Captain North Carolina* 
 
 James S. Thornton Lieut. Commander New Hampshire 
 
 John M. Browne Surgeon " 
 
 J. Adams Smith Paymaster Maine 
 
 Wm. H. Cushman Chief Engineer Pennsylvania 
 
 * Captain Winslow has long been a citizen of the State of Massachusetts. 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 31 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 NATIVE OF 
 
 James R. Wheeler 
 
 Acting Master 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 Eben. M. Stoddard 
 
 « u 
 
 Connecticut 
 
 David H. Sumner 
 
 U li 
 
 Maine 
 
 Wm. H. Badlam 
 
 2d Asst. Engr. 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 Fred. L. Miller 
 
 3d " " 
 
 u 
 
 Sidney L. Smith 
 
 u a a 
 
 (C 
 
 Henry McConnell 
 
 a a u 
 
 Pennsylvania 
 
 Edward E. Preble 
 
 Midshipman 
 
 Maine 
 
 Daniel B. Sargent 
 
 Paymaster's Clerk 
 
 u 
 
 S. E. Hartwell 
 
 Captain's Clerk 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 Franklin A. Graham 
 
 Gunner 
 
 Pennsylvania 
 
 James C. Walton 
 
 Boatswain 
 
 a 
 
 Wm. H. Yeaton 
 
 Acting Master's Mate 
 
 United States 
 
 Chas. H. Danforth 
 
 u (i u 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 Ezra Bartlett 
 
 a a a 
 
 New Hampshire 
 
 George A. Tittle 
 
 Surgeon's Steward 
 
 United States 
 
 Carsten B. De Witt 
 
 Yeoman 
 
 United States 
 
 CREW OF THE U.S.S. KEARSARGE, June 19, 1864. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 RATE. 
 
 NATIVE OF 
 
 Jason N. Watrus 
 
 Master-at-arms 
 
 United States 
 
 Charles Jones 
 
 Seaman 
 
 u 
 
 Daniel Charter 
 
 Landsman 
 
 K 
 
 Edward Williams 
 
 Officers' Steward 
 
 u 
 
 George Williams 
 
 Landsman 
 
 « 
 
 Charles Butts 
 
 Quartermaster 
 
 a 
 
 Charles Redding 
 
 Landsman 
 
 u 
 
 James Wilson 
 
 Coxswain 
 
 a 
 
 William Gowen (died) Ordinary seaman 
 
 u 
 
 James Saunders 
 
 Quartermaster 
 
 a 
 
 John W. Dempsey 
 
 Quarter-gunner 
 
 u 
 
 William D. Chapel 
 
 Landsman 
 
 a 
 
 Thomas Perry 
 
 B oats w ain's-m ate 
 
 a 
 
 John Barrow 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 u 
 
 William Bond 
 
 Boatswain's-mate 
 
 a 
 
 James Haley 
 
 Capt. of Fo'castle 
 
 « 
 
 Robert Strahn 
 
 Capt. Top 
 
 u 
 
32 
 
 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 NAMES 
 
 KATE. 
 
 NATIVE OF 
 
 Jas. 0. Stone 
 
 1st class boy 
 
 United States 
 
 Jacob Barth 
 
 Landsman 
 
 it 
 
 Jno. H. McCartney 
 
 u 
 
 (< 
 
 Jas. F. Hayes 
 
 (< 
 
 « 
 
 John Hayes 
 
 .Coxswain 
 
 a 
 
 James Devine 
 
 Landsman 
 
 u 
 
 George H. Russell 
 
 Armourer 
 
 u 
 
 Patrick McKeever 
 
 Landsman 
 
 u 
 
 Nathan Ives 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 Dennis McCarty 
 
 « 
 
 u 
 
 John Boyle 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 a 
 
 John C. Woodberry 
 
 « 
 
 u 
 
 George E. Read 
 
 Seaman 
 
 t( 
 
 James Morey 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 u 
 
 Benedict Drury 
 
 Seaman 
 
 u 
 
 William Giles 
 
 (< 
 
 a 
 
 Timothy Hurley 
 
 Ship's Cook 
 
 a 
 
 Michael Conroy 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 u 
 
 Levi W. Nye 
 
 Seaman 
 
 u 
 
 James H. Lee 
 
 u 
 
 a 
 
 John E. Brady 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 u 
 
 Andrew J. Rowley 
 
 Quarter-gunner 
 
 « 
 
 James Bradley 
 
 Seaman 
 
 a 
 
 William Ellis 
 
 Capt. Hold 
 
 u 
 
 Henry Cook 
 
 " After-guard 
 
 u 
 
 Charles A. Read 
 
 Seaman 
 
 u 
 
 Wm. S. Morgan 
 
 u 
 
 a 
 
 Joshua E. Carey 
 
 Sailmaker's mate 
 
 it 
 
 James Magee 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 a 
 
 Benjamin S. Davis 
 
 Officers' Cook 
 
 a 
 
 John F. Bickford 
 
 Coxswain 
 
 a 
 
 William Gurney 
 
 Seaman 
 
 u 
 
 William Smith 
 
 Quartermaster 
 
 u 
 
 Lawrence T. Crowley 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 u 
 
 Hugh McPherson 
 
 Gunner's mate 
 
 u 
 
 Taran Phillips 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 a 
 
 Joachim Pease 
 
 Seaman 
 
 « 
 
 Benj. H. Blaisdell 
 
 1st Class Fireman 
 
 << 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 33 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 KATE. 
 
 NATIVE OF 
 
 Joel B. Blaisdell 
 
 1st Class Fireman 
 
 United States 
 
 Charles Fisher 
 
 Officers' Cook 
 
 « 
 
 James Henson 
 
 Landsman 
 
 u 
 
 Wm. M. Smith 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 William Fisher 
 
 u 
 
 u 
 
 George Bailey 
 
 (i 
 
 u 
 
 Martin Hoyt 
 
 u 
 
 (C 
 
 Mark G. Ham 
 
 Carpenter's-mate 
 
 a 
 
 William H. Bastine 
 
 Landsman 
 
 u 
 
 Leyman P. Spinney 
 
 Coal-Heaver 
 
 « 
 
 George E. Smart 
 
 2d Class Fireman 
 
 a 
 
 Charle A. Poole 
 
 Coal-Heaver 
 
 a 
 
 Timothy Lynch 
 
 a 
 
 « 
 
 Will. H. Donnally 
 
 1st Class Fireman 
 
 a 
 
 Sylvanus P. Brackett 
 
 Coal-Heaver 
 
 (« 
 
 John W. Sanborn 
 
 . u 
 
 a 
 
 Adoniram Littlefield 
 
 C( 
 
 u 
 
 John W. Young 
 
 M *r 
 
 u 
 
 Will. Wainwright 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 Jno. E. Orchon 
 
 2d Class Fireman 
 
 a 
 
 Geo. W. Remick 
 
 1st " " 
 
 41 
 
 Joel L. Sanborn 
 
 u u u 
 
 a 
 
 Jere Young 
 
 U U tl 
 
 u 
 
 William Smith 
 
 u u u 
 
 it 
 
 Stephen Smith 
 
 2d " " 
 
 a 
 
 John F. Stackpole 
 
 u u tt • 
 
 a 
 
 William Stanley 
 
 a a (( 
 
 u 
 
 Lyman II. Hartford 
 
 a a a 
 
 a 
 
 True W. Priest 
 
 1st " " 
 
 u 
 
 Joseph Dugan 
 
 a a u 
 
 u 
 
 John F. Dugan 
 
 Coal-Heaver 
 
 u 
 
 Jas. W. Sheffield 
 
 2d Class Fireman 
 
 u 
 
 Chas. ,T. Young 
 
 Orderly Sergeant 
 
 (( 
 
 Austin Quimley 
 
 Corporal of Marines 
 
 u 
 
 Roscoe G. Dolley 
 
 Private " " 
 
 u 
 
 Patrick Flood 
 
 u a (( 
 
 a 
 
 Henry Hobson 
 
 Corporal " " 
 
 (t 
 
 James Kerrigan 
 
 Private " " 
 
 14 
 
34 
 
 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 RATE. 
 
 NATIVE OP 
 
 John McAleen 
 
 Private of Marines 
 
 United States 
 
 George A. Raymond 
 
 u u u 
 
 u 
 
 James Tucker 
 
 u u « 
 
 a 
 
 Isaac Thornton 
 
 u u a 
 
 u 
 
 Wm, Y. Evans 
 
 Nurse 
 
 u 
 
 Wm. B. Poole 
 
 Quartermaster 
 
 it 
 
 F. J. Veannoh 
 
 Capt. Afterguard 
 
 » 
 
 Charles Hill 
 
 Landsman 
 
 a 
 
 Henry Jameson 
 
 1st Class Fireman 
 
 if 
 
 John G. Batchelder 
 
 Private of Marines 
 
 u 
 
 Jno. Dwyer. 
 
 1st Class Fireman 
 
 u 
 
 Thomas Salmon 
 
 2d " 
 
 u 
 
 Patrick 0. Conner 
 
 u u u 
 
 u 
 
 Geo. H. Harrison 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 u 
 
 Geo. Andrew 
 
 u a 
 
 K 
 
 Charles Moore 
 
 Seaman 
 
 U 
 
 Geo. A. Whipple 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 a 
 
 Edward Wallace 
 
 Seaman 
 
 u 
 
 Thomas Marsh 
 
 Coal-Heaver 
 
 u 
 
 Thomas Buckley 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 u 
 
 Edward Wilt 
 
 Capt. Top 
 
 u 
 
 George H. Kinne 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 ({ 
 
 Augustus Johnson 
 
 Seaman 
 
 (( 
 
 Jeremiah Horrigan 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 Wm. O'Halloran 
 
 « 
 
 u 
 
 Wm. Turner 
 
 << 
 
 it 
 
 Joshua Collins 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 a 
 
 James McBeath 
 
 u u 
 
 (( 
 
 John Pope 
 
 Coal-Heaver 
 
 u 
 
 Charles Mattison 
 
 Ordinary seaman 
 
 u 
 
 George Baker 
 
 Seaman 
 
 « 
 
 Timothy G. Cauty 
 
 u 
 
 id 
 
 John Shields 
 
 it 
 
 «( 
 
 Thomas Alloway 
 
 a 
 
 (( 
 
 Phillip Weeks 
 
 (C 
 
 u 
 
 William Barnes 
 
 Landsman 
 
 u 
 
 Wm. Alsdorf 
 
 « 
 
 Holland 
 
 Clement Antoine 
 
 Coal-Heaver 
 
 Western Islands 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 35 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 NATIVE OF 
 
 Jose Dabney 
 
 "Landsman 
 
 Western Islands 
 
 Benj. Button 
 
 Coal-Heaver 
 
 Malay " 
 
 Jean Briset 
 
 u 
 
 France 
 
 Vanburn Francois 
 
 Landsman 
 
 Holland 
 
 Peter Ludy 
 
 Seaman 
 
 u 
 
 George JSnglish 
 
 a 
 
 England 
 
 Jonathan Brien 
 
 Landsman 
 
 u 
 
 Manuel J. Gallardo 
 
 2d Class Boy 
 
 Spain 
 
 John M. Sonius 
 
 1st " " 
 
 Holland 
 
 It thus appears that out of one hundred and sixty- 
 three (163) officers and crew of the sloop-of-war Kear- 
 sarge, there are only eleven (11) persons foreign born. 
 
 The following is the Surgeon's report of casualties 
 amongst the crew of the Kearsarge during the action : 
 
 "U. S. S. S. Kearsarge, 
 
 " Cherbourg, France, 
 
 " Afternoon, June 19, 1864. 
 
 " Sir — I report the following casualties resulting 
 from the engagement this morning with the steamer 
 ' Alabama.' 
 
 John W. Dempsey, Quarter-gunner. Compound com- 
 minuted fracture of right arm, lower third, and fore-arm. 
 Arm amputated. 
 
 William Gowen, Ordinary seaman. Compound frac- 
 ture of left thigh and leg. Seriously wounded. 
 
 James McBeath, Ordinary seaman. Compound frac- 
 ture of left leg. Severely wounded. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 John M. Browne, 
 " Captain John A. Winslow, Surgeon U. S. Navy. 
 
 " Comd'g U. S. S. S. Kearsarge, Cherbourg." 
 
36 . THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 All these men were wounded by the same shot, a 68- 
 pounder, which passed through the "starboard bulwarks 
 below main-rigging, narrowly escaping the after 11- 
 inch pivot-gun. The fuses employed by the Alabama 
 were villainously bad, several shells having lodged in' 
 the Kearsarge without taking effect. Had the* 7-inch 
 rifle shot exploded which entered the vessel at the star- 
 board 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 operation of cutting out a 32-pouncler shell (time 
 fuse) from the rail close forward of the fore pivot 11-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 a 11-inch shell from the Kearsarge fell upon 
 the deck of the Alabama, and was immediately taken 
 up and thrown overboard. Probably 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 — 5-second 
 fuses take effect somewhat rapidly ; the shot weighs 
 considerably more than a hundred-weight, and is uncom- 
 fortably difficult to lay hold of. Worse than all for the 
 probabilities of the story, fifteen pounds of nowdpr— , 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 37 
 
 never more nor less — were used to every shot fired from 
 the 11-inch pivots, the Kearsarge only opening fire from 
 them when within eight hundred yards of the Alabama. 
 With 15 pounds of powder and fifteen degrees of eleva- 
 tion, I have myself seen these 11-inch Dahlgrens 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 : prob- 
 ably the story was made for them. 
 
 THE REPORTED FIRING UPON THE ALABAMA AFTER HER 
 SURRENDER. 
 
 Captain Semmes makes the following statement in his 
 official report : 
 
 "Although we were now but 400 yards from each 
 other, the enemy fired upon me five times after my 
 colours had been struck. It is charitable to suppose 
 that a ship of war of a Christian nation could not have 
 done this intentionally." 
 
 A very nice appeal after the massacre of Fort Pillow, 
 especially when coming from a man who has spent the 
 previous two years of his life in destroying unresisting 
 merchantmen. 
 
 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 known on 
 board the Federal ship, nor that the colours were haul^i 
 
38 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 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 wounded of the two vessels were transferred 
 shortly after the action to the Naval Hospital at Cher- 
 bourg. I 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 them, stating at the outset that I 
 was an Englishman like themselves, and the information 
 seemed to . open their hearts to me. They represented 
 themselves as very comfortable at the hospital, that 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 39 
 
 every thing they asked for was given to them, and that 
 they were surprised at the kindness of the Kearsarge men 
 who came to visit the establishment, when they were as- 
 sured 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 with- 
 out knowing what I'm fighting for.' 7 " That's me too,' 7 
 said another poor Englishman alongside of him. 
 
 The paroled prisoners (four officers) on shore at Cher- 
 bourg, 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 (curi- 
 ously 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 Surgeon. 
 
 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, " 
 
 Samuel Williams, " Welshman. 
 
 Patrick Bradley, " Englishman. 
 
40 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 John Orrigin, Fireman, Irishman. 
 
 George Freemantle, Seaman, Englishman. 
 
 Edgar Tripp, " " 
 
 John Neil, 
 
 Thomas Winter, Fireman, " 
 
 Martin King, Seaman. 
 
 Joseph Pearson, " " 
 
 James Hicks, Capt. Hold, " 
 
 R. Parkinson, Wardroom Steward, " 
 
 John Emory, Seaman, " 
 
 Thomas L. Parker, boy, " 
 
 Peter Hughes, Capt. Top, " 
 
 (All the above belonged to the Alabama when she 
 first sailed from the Mersey, and* John Neil, John ' 
 Emory, and Peter Hughes belong to the " Royal Naval 
 Reserve.") 
 
 Seamen. — William Clark, David Leggett, Samuel 
 Henry, John Russell, John Smith, Henry McCoy, Ed- 
 ward Bussell, James Ochure, John Casen, Henry Higgin, 
 Frank Hammond, Michael Shields, David Thurston, 
 George Peasey, Henry Yates. . 
 
 Ordinary Seamen. — Henry Godsen, David Williams, 
 Henry Hestlake, Thomas Watson, John Johnson, Match 
 Maddock, Richard Evans, William Miller, George Cou- 
 sey, Thomas Brandon. 
 
 Coxswains. — William McKenzie, James Broderick, 
 William Wilson. 
 
 Edward Rawes, Master-at-Arms. 
 Henry Tucker, Officers' Copk. 
 
Wounded. 
 
 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 41 
 
 William Barnes, Quarter-gunner. 
 
 Jacob Yerbor, Seaman, 
 
 Robert Wright, Capt. M. Top, 
 
 Wm. McGuire, Capt. F. Top, 
 
 Wm. McGinley, Coxswain, 
 
 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 have been killed 
 or drowned : 
 
 David Herbert Llewellyn, Surgeon, Welshman. 
 
 William Robinson, Carpenter. 
 
 James King, Master-at-Arms, Savannah Pilot. 
 
 Peter Duncan, Fireman, Englishman. 
 
 Andrew Shillings, Scotchman. 
 
 Charles Puist, Coal-passer, German. 
 
 Frederick Johns, Purser's Steward, Englishman. 
 
 Samuel Henry, Se*aman, " 
 
 John Roberts, " Welshman. 
 
 Peter Henry, " Irishman. 
 
 George Appleby, Yeoman, Englishman. 
 
42 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 A. G. Bartelli, Seaman, Portuguese. 
 
 Henry Fisher, " Englishman. 
 
 The above all belonged to the original crew of the 
 Alabama. 
 
 The Deerhound carried off, acording to her own ac- 
 count, forty-one ; the names of the following are known : 
 
 Raphael Semmes, Captain. 
 
 John M. Kell, First Lieutenant. 
 
 Arthur Sinclair, Jun., Second Lieutenant. 
 
 R. K. Howell, Lieutenant of Marines. 
 (This person is brother-in-law of Mr. Jefferson Davis.) 
 
 W. H. Sinclair, Midshipman. 
 
 J. S. Bullock, Acting Master. 
 
 E. A. Maffit, Midshipman. 
 
 E. M. Anderson, " 
 
 M. O'Brien, Third Assistant Surgeon. 
 
 George T. Fullam, Master's Mate, Englishman. 
 
 James Evans, " 
 
 Max Meulnier, " 
 
 J. Schrader, " 
 
 W. B. Smith, Captain's Clerk. 
 
 J. 0. Cuddy, Gunner. 
 
 J. G. Dent, Quartermaster. 
 
 James McFadgen, Fireman, Englishman. 
 
 Orran Duffy, Fireman, Irishman. 
 
 W. Crawford, Englishman. 
 
 Brent Johnson, Second Boat Mate, " 
 
 William Nevins, " 
 
 William Hearn, Seaman, 
 ffhe last four belong to the " Royal Naval Reserve." 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 43 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF THE ENGLISH YACHT DEERHOUND. 
 
 That an English yacht, one belonging to the Koyal 
 Yacht Squadron, and flying the White Ensign, too, 
 during the conflict, should haye assisted the Confederate 
 prisoners to escape after they had formally surrendered 
 themselves, according to their own statement, by firing a 
 lee-gun, striking their colours, 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 national honour. The move- 
 ments 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 
 lying not far distant from the Alabama. Captain 
 Winslow however, could not believe that a gentleman 
 who 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 Deerhound 
 was at Cherbourg for the express purpose of rendering 
 every assistance possible to the corsair ; and we may be 
 permitted to doubt whether Mr. Lancaster, the friend of 
 Mr. Laird, and a member of the Mersey Yacht Club, 
 would have carried Captain Winslow and his officers to 
 Southampton if the result of the struggle had been 
 reversed, and the Alabama had sent the Kearsarge to 
 the bottom. 
 
44 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 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 come over from England 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, Cherbourg, and Paris. If this 
 be the fact, how did the men reach Cherbourg ? On the 
 14th of June, Captain Semmes sends his challenge to the 
 Kearsarge through Monsieur Bonfils, stating it to be his 
 intention to fight her "as soon as I can make the 
 necessary arrangements." Two full days elapse, during 
 which he takes on board 150 tons additional of coal, and 
 places for security in the Custom House the following 
 valuables : 
 
 38 kilo. 700 gr. of Gold coin, 
 
 6 gr. of Jewelery and set Diamonds, 
 2 Gold Watches. 
 
 What then became of the pillage of a hundred 
 merchantmen, the chronometers, etc., which the Times 
 describes as the " spolia opima of a whole mercantile 
 fleet ?' J Those could not be landed on French soil, and 
 were not : did they go to the bottom with the ship her- 
 self, or are they saved ? 
 
 Captain Semmes' preparations are apparently completed 
 on the 16th, but still he lingers behind the famous break- 
 water, much to the surprise of his men. The Deerhound 
 arrives at length, and the preparations are rapidly 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE KE^RSARGE. 45 
 
 k 
 
 completed. How unfortunate that Mr. Lancaster did not 
 favour the Times with a copy of his log-book from the 
 12 th to the 19 th of 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 purposeless — 
 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 "apparently much-disabled" 
 Kearsarge (Mr. Lancaster's own words) to save two- 
 thirds of the Alabama's drowning crew struggling in the 
 water. 
 
 An English gentleman's yacht playing tender to a 
 corsair ! No one will ever believe that Deerhound to be 
 thorough-bred. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Such 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 beneath 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 vessels 
 
46 THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE. 
 
 were, as nearly as possible, equals in size, speed, armament 
 and crew, and the contest was decided by the superiority 
 of the 11-inch Dahlgren guns of the Kearsarge, over the 
 Blakely rifle and the vaunted 68-pounder of the Ala- 
 bama, in conjunction with the 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 
 merchant service. 
 
 The French at Cherbourg were by no means dilatory 
 in recognizing the value of these Dahlgren guns. Officers 
 of all grades, naval and military alike, crowded the ves- 
 sel during her stay at their port ; and they were all eyes 
 for the massive pivots and for nothing else. Guns, car- 
 riages, even rammers and sponges, were carefully meas- 
 ured ; and, if the pieces can be made in France, many 
 months will not elapse before their muzzles will be grin- 
 ning through the port-holes of French ships-of-war. 
 
 We have no such gun in Europe as this 11-inch Dahl- 
 gren, but it is considered behind the age in America. 
 The 68-pounder is regarded by us as a heavy piece ; in 
 the United States it is the minimum for large vessels ; 
 whilst some ships, the " New Ironsides," " Niagara," 
 " Vanderbilt," etc., carry the 11-inch in broadside. It is 
 considered far too light, however, for the sea-going iron- 
 clads, although throwing a solid shot of 160 pounds ; yet 
 it has made a wonderful stir on both sides of the Chan- 
 
THE ALABAMA AND THE HEARS ARGE. 47 
 
 nel. What, then, will be thought of the 15-inch gun, 
 throwing a shot of 480 pounds, or of the 200-pound 
 Parrot, with its range of five miles ? 
 
 We are arming our ironclads with 9-inch smooth-bores 
 and 100-pounder rifles, whilst the Americans are con- 
 structing their armour-ships to resist the impact of 11 
 and 15-inch shot. By next June, the United States will 
 have in commission the following ironclads : 
 
 Dunderberg, 5,090 tons, 
 
 Dictator, 3,033 " 
 
 Kalamazoo, 3,200 " 
 
 Passaconaway, 3,200 " 
 
 Puritan, . 3,265 " 
 
 Quinsigamond, 3,200 " 
 
 Roanoke, 3,435 " 
 
 Shakamaxon, 3,200 " 
 
 These, too, without counting six others of " second 
 class," all alike armed with the tremendous 15-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 hun- 
 dred vessels and upwards, seventy-three of which are 
 ironclads. 
 
 This is, indeed, an immense fleet for one nation, but 
 we may, at all events, rejoice that it will be used to de- 
 fend — in the words of the wisest and noblest of English 
 statesmen — " the democratic principle, or, if that term is 
 offensive, popular sovereignty." 
 
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APPENDIX. 
 
 iLETTER OF CAPTAlft JOHN A. WINSLOW. 
 
 " U. S. S. S. ' Kearsarge,' Off Dover, 
 
 July 13, 1864. 
 "My Dear Sir — I have read the proof-sheet of your pam- 
 phlet, entitled ' The Alabama and the Kearsarge. An Account 
 of the Naval Engagement in the British Channel on Sunday, 
 June 19, 1864.' I can fully endorse the pamphlet as giving a 
 fair, unvarnished statement of all the facts both prior and subse- 
 quent to the engagement. 
 
 "With my best wishes, I remain, with feelings of obligation, 
 very truly yours, John A. Winslow. 
 
 " Fred'k M. Edge, Esq., 
 " London." 
 
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