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+Project Gutenberg's The Story of the Kearsarge and Alabama, by A. K. Browne
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Story of the Kearsarge and Alabama
+
+Author: A. K. Browne
+
+Release Date: October 6, 2008 [EBook #26783]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Carla Foust and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note
+
+
+A few obvious typographical errors have been corrected, and they are
+listed at the end of this book.
+
+
+
+
+   THE STORY
+
+   OF THE
+
+   KEARSARGE
+
+   AND
+
+   ALABAMA.
+
+   SAN FRANCISCO:
+   HENRY PAYOT & CO., PUBLISHERS.
+
+   1868.
+
+
+
+
+   Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
+
+   EDWARD BOSQUI & CO.,
+
+   In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for
+   the District of California.
+
+   EDWARD BOSQUI & CO., PRINTERS.
+   517 Clay Street, San Francisco.
+
+
+
+
+The Author is induced to publish this narrative of the Kearsarge and
+Alabama, from the want that exists of a popular, detailed, and yet
+concise account of the engagement between the two vessels.
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY.
+
+
+On Sunday, June 12th, 1864, the U. S. Steamer Kearsarge was lying at
+anchor in the Scheldt, off Flushing, Holland. Suddenly appeared the
+cornet at the fore--an unexpected signal, that compelled absent officers
+and men to repair on board. Steam was raised, and immediately after a
+departure made, when all hands being called, the nature of the
+precipitate movement became apparent. Captain Winslow, in a brief
+address, announced the welcome intelligence of the reception of a
+telegram from his Excellency, Mr. Dayton, Minister Resident at Paris, to
+the effect that the notorious Alabama had arrived the day previous at
+Cherbourg, France; hence, the urgency of departure, the probability of
+an encounter, and the confident expectation of her destruction or
+capture. The crew responded by cheers.
+
+The succeeding day witnessed the arrival of the Kearsarge at Dover,
+England, for dispatches, and the day after (Tuesday) her appearance off
+Cherbourg Breakwater. At anchor in the harbor was seen the celebrated
+Alabama--a beautiful specimen of naval architecture, eliciting encomiums
+for evident neatness, good order, and a well-disciplined crew,
+indicative of efficiency in any duty required. The surgeon of the
+Kearsarge proceeded on shore and obtained pratique for boats. Owing to
+the enforcement of the neutral twenty-four hour regulation, to anchor,
+became inexpedient; the result was the establishment of a vigilant
+watch, alternately, at each of the harbor entrances, which continued to
+the moment of the engagement.
+
+On Wednesday, Captain Winslow paid an official visit to the Admiral
+commanding the Maritime District and the U. S. Commercial Agent,
+bringing on his return the unanticipated news that Captain Semmes
+declared his intention to fight. At first, the assertion was hardly
+credited, the policy of the Alabama being regarded as in opposition to a
+conflict, but even the doubters were speedily half convinced when the
+character of the so-called challenge was disclosed, viz.:
+
+                "C. S. S. ALABAMA, Cherbourg, June 14th, 1864.
+
+        "TO A. BONFILS, Esq.,
+                         "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
+     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 will not depart
+     before I am ready to go out.
+
+          "I have the honor to be
+
+                        "Very respectfully,
+                             "Your obedient servant,
+                                  "R. SEMMES,
+                                       "Captain."
+
+This communication was sent by Mr. Bonfils to the U. S. Commercial
+Agent, Mr. Liais, with a request that the latter would furnish a copy to
+Captain Winslow for his guidance. There was no other defiance to combat.
+The letter that passed between the commercial agents, was the challenge
+about which so much has been written. Captain Semmes indirectly informed
+Captain Winslow of his desire for a combat. Captain Winslow made no
+reply, but prepared his ship to meet the opponent, thereby tacitly
+acknowledging the so-called challenge and its acceptance.
+
+Requisite preparations were immediately instituted for battle, with no
+relaxation of the watch. Thursday passed; Friday came, and yet no
+Alabama appeared. According to report, important arrangements were being
+effected; a zeal was displayed in the reception of coals, the
+transmission of valuables on shore, and the sharpening of swords,
+cutlasses, boarding-pikes, and battle-axes. To the observer this
+preparation confirmed the assurance of the certainty of a fight. An
+intended surprise by night was suggested, and measures precautionary
+taken. Dispatches were brought from Mr. Dayton, Minister at Paris, by
+his son, who with difficulty had obtained permission from the Admiral
+commanding to visit the Kearsarge. To preserve a strictly honest
+neutrality, the French authorities had prohibited all communication with
+the respective vessels. Mr. Dayton expressed the opinion that the
+Alabama would not fight, though acknowledging the prevalence of a
+contrary impression at Cherbourg; he departed for the shore with
+intention to proceed immediately to Paris. In taking leave of the
+Admiral, the latter mentioned the fixed determination of Captain Semmes
+to engage with the Kearsarge on the day following (Sunday), and that he
+imparted this intelligence, since no subsequent communication could be
+had with the Kearsarge. Mr. Dayton consequently deferred his departure,
+witnessed the action, telegraphed to Paris the result, and was one of
+the first to repair on board and offer congratulations. He passed a
+portion of Saturday night endeavoring to procure a boat to dispatch to
+the Kearsarge the information acquired, but so securely was the coast
+guarded by the enforcement of the Admiral's orders, that all his efforts
+were useless.
+
+At a supper in Cherbourg on Saturday night, several officers of the
+Alabama met sympathizing French friends--the impending fight being the
+chief topic of conversation. In confidence of an easy victory, they
+boastingly proclaimed the intention either to sink the Federal or gain
+another corsair. They rise with promise to meet the following night to
+renew the festivity as victors, are escorted to the boat, and separate
+with cheers and wishes for a successful return.
+
+Sunday the 19th comes; a fine day, atmosphere somewhat hazy, little sea,
+moderate westerly wind.
+
+At 10 A.M. the crew are inspected at quarters and dispersed to attend
+divine service at 11 o'clock. Seemingly no one thought of the Alabama,
+for so long awaited and not appearing, speculation as to her probable
+advent had ceased. At 10.20 the officer of the deck reports a steamer
+coming from Cherbourg, a frequent occurrence, and consequently creates
+no excitement. Soon, by the aid of a glass, he descries the enemy, and
+shouts: "The Alabama!" Instantly all hands are called and the ship
+cleared for action.
+
+The position of the Kearsarge was off the eastern entrance to the
+harbor, at a distance of nearly three miles, the Alabama approaching
+from the western entrance, escorted by the French iron-clad frigate La
+Couronne, and followed by a fore-and-aft rigged steamer, flying the
+English yacht flag, the Deerhound. The frigate having convoyed the
+Alabama outside the limit of French waters, with characteristic
+neutrality, steamed back into port without delay; the yacht remained in
+proximity to the scene of action. To avoid a question of jurisdiction,
+and to prevent an escape of the Alabama to neutral waters in the event
+of a retreat, the Kearsarge steamed to sea making final preparations,
+the last being the sanding of decks (sufficiently suggestive of sober
+thoughts), followed by the enemy, until a distance of about seven miles
+from the shore was attained, when at 10.50 the Kearsarge wheeled,
+bringing her head in shore, and presented starboard battery, being one
+and a quarter miles from her opponent: the Kearsarge advanced rapidly,
+and at 10.57 received the first broadside of solid shot at a distance of
+eighteen hundred yards from the Alabama. This broadside cut away a
+little of the rigging, but the shot chiefly passed over or fell short.
+With increased speed the Kearsarge advanced, receiving a second and
+part of a third broadside with similar effect. Arrived within nine
+hundred yards of the Alabama, the Kearsarge, fearing a fourth broadside
+with evident raking results, sheered and broke her silence by opening
+with the starboard battery. Each vessel was now pressed under a full
+head of steam, each employing the starboard battery, and to obviate
+passing each other too speedily, and to maintain the bearing of the
+respective broadsides, the circular method of fighting was necessitated,
+each steering around a common center, from a quarter to half a mile
+apart.
+
+The action was now fairly commenced. One of the shot of the first
+broadsides of the Kearsarge carried away the spanker-gaff of the enemy,
+and caused his ensign to come down by the run. This incident was
+received as a favorable omen by the fortunate crew, who cheered
+vociferously and went with increased confidence to their work. Wild and
+rapid was the firing of the Alabama, that of the Kearsarge being
+deliberate, precise, and almost from the commencement productive of
+death, destruction, and dismay. The Kearsarge gunners had been cautioned
+against firing without direct aim, advised to elevate or depress the
+guns with deliberation, and though subjected to an incessant storm of
+shot and shell, proceeded calmly to their duty, and faithfully complied
+with the instructions. The effect upon the enemy was readily perceived;
+nothing restrained the enthusiasm of the crew. Cheer succeeded cheer,
+caps thrown in the air or overboard, jackets discarded, one encouraging
+the other, sanguine of victory, shouting as each projectile took effect:
+"That is a good one;" "that told;" "give her another;" "down boys;"
+"give her another like the last;" and so on, cheering, exulting, joyous
+to the end. After exposure to an uninterrupted cannonading for eighteen
+minutes without casualties, a sixty-eight-pound Blakely shell passed
+through the starboard bulwarks below main rigging, exploded upon the
+quarter-deck, and wounded three of the crew of the after-pivot gun. With
+these exceptions, not an officer or a man of the Kearsarge received the
+slightest injury. The unfortunates were speedily taken below, and so
+quietly was the action performed, that at the termination of the fight a
+large portion of the crew were unaware that any of their comrades were
+wounded. Two shot entered the ports occupied by the thirty-twos, where
+several men were stationed, and yet none were hit. A shell exploded in
+the hammock-netting and set the ship on fire; the alarm calling to
+fire-quarters was sounded, and persons specially detailed for a like
+emergency, promptly extinguished the flames, while the remainder of the
+crew continued at the guns without interruption.
+
+Terrific was the effect of the eleven-inch shell upon the crew of the
+doomed ship: many were torn asunder by shell direct, or horribly
+mutilated by splinters. Her decks were covered with blood and the debris
+of bodies. One gun (after-pivot) had its crew renewed four times,
+fourteen out of nineteen men being disabled during the action. The
+carnage around this gun was more frightful than elsewhere; so great was
+the accumulation of blood and fragments of limbs, that a removal was
+required before the gun could be worked. A man upon the bowsprit is
+struck in the abdomen by a shot, staggers aft holding up his entrails,
+and near the main hatch falls dead. Another is cut in twain, one-half of
+the body going down the engine hatch, the other half remaining on deck.
+A poor wretch paralyzed by fear leaves his station and vainly seeks
+safety by a plea of indisposition; he is ordered to resume his position
+at the gun, and not obeying, is killed by a pistol shot from the officer
+commanding the division.
+
+It is truly wonderful that so few casualties should have occurred on
+board the Kearsarge with so large a percentage to her adversary--the
+first having fired one hundred and seventy-three shot and shell, and the
+second nearly double that number. Probably no future similar combat
+will occasion like results.
+
+The fight continues. The eleven-inch shell tell with astonishing
+precision; one penetrates a coal bunker, and immediately a dense cloud
+of coal-dust rises and like a pall hovers over the fated ship. Others
+strike near the water-line between the main and mizzen masts, explode
+within board, or passing through burst afar off. Crippled and torn the
+Alabama moves less quickly and begins to settle by the stern, yet
+relaxes not her fire, but returns successive broadsides, ever without
+disastrous effect. Captain Semmes witnesses the dreadful havoc made by
+the shell, especially by those of the after-pivot gun, and offers a
+reward for its silence. Soon his battery is turned upon the particular
+offending gun with endeavor to compel its abandonment; in vain, for its
+work of destruction goes on. Captain Semmes places sharp-shooters in the
+quarter boats to pick off the officers; in vain, for none are injured.
+He views the surrounding devastation--a sinking ship, rudder and
+propeller disabled, a large portion of the crew killed or wounded, while
+his adversary is apparently but slightly damaged. He has completed the
+seventh rotation on the circular tract and is conscious of defeat. He
+seeks to escape by setting all available sail (foretrysail and two
+jibs), leaves the circle and heads for the neutral waters of the French
+coast. The speed of his vessel is lessened; in winding she presents the
+port battery with only two guns bearing, and exhibits gaping sides. The
+Alabama is at the mercy of the Kearsarge. Captain Semmes calls his
+officers aft, briefly states the condition of the two vessels, and
+orders a surrender to prevent a further loss of life.
+
+The colors are struck and the Kearsarge ceases firing. Two of the junior
+officers of the Alabama swear they will never surrender to a "damned
+Yankee," but rather go down in the ship; in a mutinous spirit they rush
+to the two port guns and open fire upon the Kearsarge. Captain Winslow,
+amazed at this unwonted conduct of an enemy who had hauled down his flag
+in token of surrender, exclaimed: "He is playing us a trick, give him
+another broadside." Again the shot and shell go crashing through the
+bulwarks, carrying death and destruction; the Kearsarge is laid across
+the bows for raking and in position to employ grape and canister with
+deadly effect. Over the stern of the Alabama is displayed a white flag,
+her ensign half-masted, union down; Captain Winslow for the second time
+orders a cessation of firing.
+
+Captain Semmes in his report says: "Although we were now but four
+hundred yards from each other, 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 have done this
+intentionally." He had not the generosity to afford the explanation; he
+is silent as to the renewal of the fight after his surrender; an act
+which in christian warfare would, in severe justice, have authorized the
+Kearsarge to continue firing until the Alabama had disappeared beneath
+the waters; nay, even to have refused quarter to the survivors.
+
+Thus ended the fight after a duration of one hour and two minutes.
+
+Boats were now lowered from the humbled Alabama. A master's mate, an
+Englishman, Fullam by name, came alongside the Kearsarge with a few of
+the wounded, reported the disabled and sinking condition of his vessel,
+and asked for assistance.
+
+Captain Winslow demanded: "Does Captain Semmes surrender his ship?"
+"Yes," was the reply. Fullam then solicited permission to return to the
+Alabama with his boat and crew to assist in rescuing the drowning,
+pledging his word of honor that when this act was accomplished, he would
+come on board and surrender himself a prisoner. Unhappily Captain
+Winslow granted the request. With less generosity, he could have
+detained the rebel officer and men, supplied their places in the boat
+from his own ship's company, secured more prisoners, and afforded equal
+aid to the distressed. The generosity was abused as the sequel shows.
+Fullam pulled to the midst of the drowning, rescued several officers,
+proceeded to the Deerhound, cast his boat adrift, and basely violated
+his proffered word of honor.
+
+The Deerhound, after the conclusion of the fight, appears upon the
+scene, and plays an important part. This yacht was built by the Messrs.
+Laird, at the same yard with the Alabama. Coming under the stern from
+the windward, the Deerhound was hailed, and her commander requested by
+Captain Winslow to run down to the Alabama and assist in picking up the
+men of the sinking vessel. Or, as Mr. Lancaster reported: "The fact is,
+that when we passed the Kearsarge the captain cried out,--'For God's
+sake do what you can to save them;' and that was my warrant for
+interfering in any way for the aid and succor of his enemies." The
+Deerhound steamed towards the Alabama, which sank almost immediately
+after, lowered her boats, rescued Captain Semmes, thirteen officers, and
+twenty-six men, leaving the rest of the survivors to the boats of the
+Kearsarge, and departed directly for Southampton. Captain Winslow
+permitted the yacht to secure his prisoners, anticipating their
+subsequent surrender. Again was his confidence in the integrity of a
+neutral misplaced. The assistance of the yacht, it is presumed, was
+solicited in a spirit of chivalry, for the Kearsarge comparatively
+uninjured, with but three wounded, possessed of a full head of steam,
+was in condition to engage a second enemy: instead of remaining at a
+distance of about four hundred yards from the Alabama, and from this
+position sending two boats (others being unserviceable), the Kearsarge
+by steaming close to the settling ship and in midst of the vanquished,
+could have captured all--Semmes, officers, and men.
+
+The Deerhound steams rapidly away. An officer approaches Captain Winslow
+and reports the presence of Captain Semmes and many officers on board
+the English yacht, considering the information authentic as it was
+obtained from certain prisoners; he suggests the propriety of firing a
+shot to bring her to, and asks permission. Captain Winslow chivalrously
+replies in the negative, declaring that no Englishman who flies the
+royal yacht flag, would act so dishonorable a part as to run away with
+his prisoners when he had been asked to save them from drowning.
+Meanwhile the Deerhound increases the distance from the Kearsarge;
+another officer addresses Captain Winslow in language of similar effect,
+but with more positiveness, that Semmes and his officers were on board
+the yacht endeavoring to escape. With undiminished confidence in the
+honor of the English gentleman, with continued chivalric spirit Captain
+Winslow refuses to have a shot fired, not crediting the flight, saying
+that the yacht was "simply coming round," and would not go away without
+communicating. "I could not believe that the commander of that vessel
+could be guilty of so disgraceful an act as taking our prisoners, and
+therefore took no means to prevent it." Without this trust in chivalry,
+Captain Winslow might have arrested the yacht in her flight, if only as
+a prudential motive, reserving final action as to the seizure of the
+passengers when time had been afforded for reflection.
+
+No shot is fired: the Deerhound finally disappears with the great prize,
+Semmes, and thus passed an opportunity of making this brilliant
+engagement one of the most complete and satisfactory in naval history.
+
+Captain Winslow erroneously thought that the Deerhound would not run
+away with the rescued persons: in this opinion he was probably alone. An
+excitement occurred as a consequent; an expression of regret for the
+escape of the yacht and her coveted prize, after being as it were within
+reach of the victors. The bitterness of the regret was manifest. The
+famed Alabama, "a formidable ship, the terror of American commerce,
+well armed, well manned, well handled," was destroyed, "sent to the
+bottom in an hour," but her notorious commander had escaped: the eclat
+of victory seemed already lessened.
+
+At 12.24 the Alabama sank in forty-five fathoms of water, at a distance
+of about four and a half miles from Cherbourg Breakwater, off the west
+entrance. She was severely hulled between the main and mizzen masts, and
+commenced settling by the stern before the termination of the conflict.
+Her crew had jumped into the sea, supporting themselves by portions of
+the wreck, spars, and other accessible objects, the water swept over the
+stern and upper deck, and when thus partially submerged, the mainmast,
+pierced by a shot, broke off near the head, the bow lifted from the
+waves, and then came the end. Suddenly assuming a perpendicular
+position, caused by the falling aft of the battery and stores, straight
+as a plumb-line, stern first, she went down, the jibboom being the last
+to appear above water. Down sank the terror of merchantmen, riddled
+through and through, and as she disappeared to her last resting place,
+not a cheer arose from the victors. To borrow the language of the
+Liverpool _Courrier_: "Down under the French waters, resting on the bed
+of the ocean, lies the gallant Alabama, with all her guns aboard, and
+some of her brave crew, waiting until the sea yields up its dead."
+
+Mounted on the summit of an old church tower, a photographic artist
+obtained a good negative of the contest. An excursion train from Paris
+arrived Sunday morning, bringing hundreds of pleasure-seekers who were
+unexpectedly favored by the spectacle of a sea-fight. The events of the
+day monopolized the conversation of Parisian society for more than a
+week.
+
+This grand artillery duel, or Sunday gladiatorial combat, occurred in
+the presence of more than fifteen thousand spectators, who upon the
+heights of Cherbourg, the breakwater, and rigging of men-of-war,
+witnessed "the last of the Alabama." Among them were the captains and
+crews of two merchant ships burnt by the daring rover a few days before
+her arrival at Cherbourg. Their excitement during the combat was
+intense, and their expressions of joy to the victors at the result, such
+as only those who had suffered from the depredations of the Alabama
+could give utterance to. Many were desirous to go on board the Kearsarge
+to participate in the action, but so strictly was the neutrality law
+observed, no intercourse was allowed.
+
+The Alabama's wounded were brought on board the Kearsarge for surgical
+attendance. Seventy persons, including five officers, were saved by the
+boats. The conduct of Dr. Llewellyn, native of Wales, Assistant Surgeon
+of the Alabama, deserves mention. He was unremitting in attention to the
+wounded during the battle, and after the surrender, superintended their
+removal to the Kearsarge, nobly refusing to leave the ship while one
+remained. This humane duty performed, with inability to swim, he caused
+two empty shell boxes to be attached to his waist, an improvised
+life-preserver, and thus prepared leaped overboard. In the hurried
+adjustment of the shell boxes, sufficient care was not taken to maintain
+the center of gravity, the unfortunate gentleman failed to keep his head
+above water, and before aid could be derived from his struggling
+comrades, he was dead.
+
+At 3.10 P.M. the Kearsarge anchored in Cherbourg harbor; the wounded
+were transferred the same evening to the Hôpital de la Marine, and all
+the prisoners, officers excepted, were paroled and set on shore before
+sunset. The crew of both vessels harmonized after the fight, the
+conquerors sharing their clothes, supper, and grog with the conquered.
+
+The total casualties of the Alabama are not known, estimated at
+forty-seven--a striking contrast to the three of the Kearsarge. Two of
+these three recovered; one, the brave Gowin, died in hospital. The
+behavior of this gallant sailor during and after the battle, as
+described by the Executive Officer and Surgeon, is worthy of the highest
+commendation. Stationed at the after-pivot gun, by the explosion of a
+shell, he was seriously wounded in the left thigh and leg; in the agony
+of pain, and exhausted from the loss of blood, he dragged himself to the
+forward hatch, concealing the severity of injury, that his comrades
+might not leave their stations for his assistance: fainting, he was
+lowered to the care of the surgeon, whom poor Gowin, in acuteness of
+suffering, greeted with a smile, saying: "Doctor, I can fight no more
+and so come to you, but it is all right, I am satisfied, for we are
+whipping the Alabama;" and subsequently: "I will willingly lose my leg
+or my life if it is necessary." Lying upon his mattress he paid strict
+attention to the progress of the fight, as far as could be elicited by
+the sounds on deck--his face beaming with satisfaction whenever the
+cheers of his shipmates were heard; with difficulty he waved his hand
+over his head and joined in each exulting shout with a feeble voice. At
+times he would comfort the other wounded by an earnest assurance that
+"victory is ours!" Directly after the fight he desired the surgeon to
+render him no further attention, for he was "doing well," requesting
+that all his time should be devoted to the "poor fellows of the
+Alabama." In the hospital he was resigned, thankful for being the only
+victim, proud of his ship and shipmates, frequently asserting his
+willingness to die after so glorious a victory. "This man, so
+interesting by his courage and resignation," wrote the French
+surgeon-in-chief, with uniform patience and cheerfulness, enlisted
+general sympathy; all anxiously desired his recovery and sincerely
+regretted his decease. Certainly one of the most interesting events of
+the action is the heroic conduct of the brave Gowin.
+
+An incident that ever occasions gratification in its relation, was the
+singular coincidence of the lowering of the rebel colors by an early
+shot from the Kearsarge, and the unfolding of the victorious flag by a
+shot from the last volley of the Alabama, prior to surrender. At the
+main peak of the Kearsarge the colors were stopped, that they might be
+displayed if the ensign was carried away, and to serve as the emblem of
+victory in case of a happy success. It will be remembered that the
+Alabama's colors were brought down by a shot from one of the first
+broadsides of the Kearsarge,--an auspicious omen for the sailor at the
+commencement of battle. A shot from the last broadside of the Alabama
+passed high over the Kearsarge, striking and carrying away the halyards
+of the colors at the main peak, and in so doing, pulled sufficiently to
+break the stop, and thereby unfurled the triumphant flag at the moment
+the rebel ensign was struck in token of submission.
+
+The Alabama was destroyed--the Kearsarge being so little damaged, that
+if required, could have engaged another enemy. It is surprising that the
+Alabama's fire should have produced so moderate an injury, for,
+according to report, over three hundred shot and shell were discharged;
+of these, thirteen took effect in the hull, and fifteen in sails,
+rigging, boats, and smoke-stack. Luckily, a one hundred and ten-pounder
+rifle shell which lodged in the stern post, raising the transom frame,
+and a thirty-two-pounder shell that entered forward of forward-pivot
+port, crushing water-ways, did not explode.
+
+Captain Semmes, in his official report, says: "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 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. The enemy was
+heavier than myself, both in ship, battery, and crew; but I did not know
+until the action was over that she was also iron-clad." The
+chain-plating of the Kearsarge, the "iron-clad" of Captain Semmes,
+consisted of one hundred and twenty fathoms of sheet chains covering a
+space amid-ships of forty-nine and one-half feet in length by sixteen
+feet two inches in depth, stopped up and down to eyebolts with marlines,
+secured by iron-dogs and employed for the purpose of protecting the
+engines when the upper part of the coal bunkers was empty, as happened
+during the action. The chains were concealed by inch deal boards as a
+finish. The chain-plating was struck twice, by a thirty-two pound shot
+in starboard gangway, which cut the chain and bruised planking, and by a
+thirty-two-pounder shell, which broke a link of the chain,
+exploded, and tore away a portion of the deal covering. Had the shot
+been from the one hundred and ten-pounder rifle, the result would have
+been different, though without serious damage, because the shot struck
+five feet above the water line, and if sent through the side would have
+cleared the machinery and boilers. It is proper therefore to assert that
+in the absence of the chain-armor the result would have remained the
+same, notwithstanding the common impression at the time, of an "iron
+clad" contending with a wooden vessel. The chains were attached to the
+ship's side more than a year previous to the fight, while at the Azores;
+in subsequent visits to European ports they had attracted notice and
+caused repeated comment. Strange that Captain Semmes did not know of the
+chain-armor before the fight; supposed rebel spies had been on board,
+there was no attempt at concealment; the same pilot was employed by both
+vessels and visited each during the preparation for battle.
+
+One hundred and sixty-three was the number of the crew of the Kearsarge,
+including officers; that of the Alabama not definitely known, but from
+the most reliable information estimated at nearly the same. The tonnage
+of the former 1031, of the latter 1044. The battery of the Kearsarge
+consisted of seven guns, two eleven-inch pivots, smooth bore, one
+twenty-eight-pounder rifle, and four light thirty-two pounders; that of
+the Alabama of eight guns, one sixty-eight-pounder pivot, smooth bore,
+one one hundred and ten-pounder rifle pivot, and six heavy thirty-two
+pounders. Five guns were fought by the Kearsarge, seven by the Alabama,
+both with the starboard batteries. The Kearsarge had made thirteen and
+one-half knots an hour under steam, the Alabama never exceeded thirteen,
+and at the time of the action was only equal to ten. The vessels were
+not unequally matched in size, speed, crew, and armament, displaying a
+similarity not often witnessed in naval battles. The contest was
+decided by the superiority of the eleven-inch Dahlgrens over the
+Blakely rifle and smooth bore, in connection with the greater coolness
+and accuracy in aim of the gunners of the Kearsarge.
+
+"So ends the story of the Alabama," quoting again from the Liverpool
+_Courrier_, "whose journal would be the most interesting volume of ocean
+literature; whose ubiquity scared the commerce of America from the seas;
+whose destructive powers have ruined property belonging to the northerns
+valued at upwards of three millions of money; whose actions very nearly
+involved these countries in war with the United States. The Americans
+are indignant that the ship was built by British hands, of British oak,
+armed with British guns, and manned by British sailors."
+
+Numerous inaccuracies, suppressions, exaggerations, and discrepancies
+exist in most of the accounts of this renowned naval engagement. The
+first reports published in Europe were characterized by contradictions
+sufficient to confuse any reader. This variance was noted by the London
+_Daily News_ in the following manner: "The sceptic who called history a
+matter-of-fact romance, should have lived in our day, when a naval
+action is fought off Cherbourg on a Sunday, and reported to the London
+and Paris newspapers on the Monday morning, no two reports agreeing in
+any single fact, except in the result. In our enlightened epoch of
+incessant, instantaneous, and universal inter-communication, the
+difficulty of getting at the simple facts of any passing incident, in
+which conflicting sympathies are concerned, increases in proportion to
+the increasing celerity and certainty with which the materials of
+history are gathered. Some allowance, no doubt, may be made for
+eyewitnesses on shore of a naval engagement seven miles out at sea.
+Their 'powerful glasses' are liable to that peculiar inaccuracy of sight
+which distance, excitement, and smoke produce. A French gentleman, for
+instance, who from Cherbourg Breakwater looked on at the American duel
+on Sunday last, wrote a graphic letter to the _Debats_, with a
+postscript to the effect that he had just discovered that the account in
+his letter was entirely wrong."
+
+Here ends the present story of the Kearsarge and Alabama. It is the
+truth told honestly.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's note
+
+
+A few obvious typographical errors have been corrected, and they are
+listed below.
+
+Page 20: "Hopital de la Marine" changed to "Hôpital de la Marine".
+
+Page 24: "which which broke a link" changed to "which broke a link".
+
+Page 27: "postcript to the effect" changed to "postscript to the effect".
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the Kearsarge and Alabama, by 
+A. K. Browne
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA ***
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+    </style>
+  </head>
+<body>
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+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's The Story of the Kearsarge and Alabama, by A. K. Browne
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Story of the Kearsarge and Alabama
+
+Author: A. K. Browne
+
+Release Date: October 6, 2008 [EBook #26783]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Carla Foust and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
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+
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+
+</pre>
+
+<div class="transnote">
+<h3>Transcriber's note</h3>
+
+<p>A few obvious typographical
+errors have been corrected, and they are indicated with
+a <a class="correction" title="like this" href="#tnotes">mouse-hover</a>
+and are listed at the
+<a href="#tnotes">end of this book</a>.
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h1>THE STORY<br />
+
+OF THE<br />
+
+KEARSARGE<br />
+
+AND<br />
+
+ALABAMA.</h1>
+
+<p><br /><br /></p>
+<p class="fm2">SAN FRANCISCO:</p>
+<p class="fm3">HENRY PAYOT &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS.</p>
+
+<p class="fm3">1868.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p class="fm3">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by</p>
+
+<p class="fm3">EDWARD BOSQUI &amp; CO.,</p>
+
+<p class="fm3">In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for
+the District of California.</p>
+
+<p class="fm4">EDWARD BOSQUI &amp; CO., PRINTERS.</p>
+<p class="fm4">517 Clay Street, San Francisco.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p>The Author is induced to publish this narrative of the Kearsarge and
+Alabama, from the want that exists of a popular, detailed, and yet
+concise account of the engagement between the two vessels.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="THE_STORY" id="THE_STORY"></a>THE STORY.</h2>
+
+
+<p>On Sunday, June 12th, 1864, the U. S. Steamer Kearsarge was lying at
+anchor in the Scheldt, off Flushing, Holland. Suddenly appeared the
+cornet at the fore&mdash;an unexpected signal, that compelled absent officers
+and men to repair on board. Steam was raised, and immediately after a
+departure made, when all hands being called, the nature of the
+precipitate movement became apparent. Captain Winslow, in a brief
+address, announced the welcome intelligence of the reception of a
+telegram from his Excellency, Mr. Dayton, Minister Resident at Paris, to
+the effect that the notorious Alabama had arrived the day previous at
+Cherbourg, France; hence, the urgency of departure, the probability of
+an encounter, and the confident expectation of her destruction or
+capture. The crew responded by cheers.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The succeeding day witnessed the arrival of the Kearsarge at Dover,
+England, for dispatches, and the day after (Tuesday) her appearance off
+Cherbourg Breakwater. At anchor in the harbor was seen the celebrated
+Alabama&mdash;a beautiful specimen of naval architecture, eliciting encomiums
+for evident neatness, good order, and a well-disciplined crew,
+indicative of efficiency in any duty required. The surgeon of the
+Kearsarge proceeded on shore and obtained pratique for boats. Owing to
+the enforcement of the neutral twenty-four hour regulation, to anchor,
+became inexpedient; the result was the establishment of a vigilant
+watch, alternately, at each of the harbor entrances, which continued to
+the moment of the engagement.</p>
+
+<p>On Wednesday, Captain Winslow paid an official visit to the Admiral
+commanding the Maritime District and the U. S. Commercial Agent,
+bringing on his return the unanticipated news that Captain Semmes
+declared his intention to fight. At first, the assertion was hardly
+credited, the policy of the Alabama being regarded as in opposition to a
+conflict, but even the doubters were speedily half convinced when the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>character of the so-called challenge was disclosed, viz.:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i2">"<span class="smcap">C. S. S. Alabama</span>, Cherbourg, June 14th, 1864.<br /></span>
+</div></div></div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">To A. Bonfils</span>, Esq.,<br /></p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i18">"Cherbourg&mdash;<br /></span>
+</div></div></div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>"<i>Sir</i>: 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 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 will not depart before I am ready to go out.</p>
+
+<p>
+"I have the honor to be
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i18">"Very respectfully,<br /></span>
+<span class="i20">"Your obedient servant,<br /></span>
+<span class="i22">"R. SEMMES,<br /></span>
+<span class="i24">"Captain."<br /></span>
+</div></div></div>
+
+
+<p>This communication was sent by Mr. Bonfils to the U. S. Commercial
+Agent, Mr. Liais, with a request that the latter would furnish a copy to
+Captain Winslow for his guidance. There was no other defiance to combat.
+The letter that passed between the commercial agents, was the challenge
+about which so much has been written. Captain Semmes indirectly informed
+Captain Winslow of his desire for a combat. Captain Winslow made no
+reply, but prepared his ship to meet the opponent, thereby tacitly
+acknowledging the so-called challenge and its acceptance.</p>
+
+<p>Requisite preparations were immediately insti<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>tuted for battle, with no
+relaxation of the watch. Thursday passed; Friday came, and yet no
+Alabama appeared. According to report, important arrangements were being
+effected; a zeal was displayed in the reception of coals, the
+transmission of valuables on shore, and the sharpening of swords,
+cutlasses, boarding-pikes, and battle-axes. To the observer this
+preparation confirmed the assurance of the certainty of a fight. An
+intended surprise by night was suggested, and measures precautionary
+taken. Dispatches were brought from Mr. Dayton, Minister at Paris, by
+his son, who with difficulty had obtained permission from the Admiral
+commanding to visit the Kearsarge. To preserve a strictly honest
+neutrality, the French authorities had prohibited all communication with
+the respective vessels. Mr. Dayton expressed the opinion that the
+Alabama would not fight, though acknowledging the prevalence of a
+contrary impression at Cherbourg; he departed for the shore with
+intention to proceed immediately to Paris. In taking leave of the
+Admiral, the latter mentioned the fixed determination of Captain Semmes
+to engage with the Kearsarge on the day following (Sunday), and that he
+imparted this intelligence, since no subsequent communication could be
+had with the Kearsarge. Mr. Dayton consequently deferred his departure,
+witnessed the action, tele<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>graphed to Paris the result, and was one of
+the first to repair on board and offer congratulations. He passed a
+portion of Saturday night endeavoring to procure a boat to dispatch to
+the Kearsarge the information acquired, but so securely was the coast
+guarded by the enforcement of the Admiral's orders, that all his efforts
+were useless.</p>
+
+<p>At a supper in Cherbourg on Saturday night, several officers of the
+Alabama met sympathizing French friends&mdash;the impending fight being the
+chief topic of conversation. In confidence of an easy victory, they
+boastingly proclaimed the intention either to sink the Federal or gain
+another corsair. They rise with promise to meet the following night to
+renew the festivity as victors, are escorted to the boat, and separate
+with cheers and wishes for a successful return.</p>
+
+<p>Sunday the 19th comes; a fine day, atmosphere somewhat hazy, little sea,
+moderate westerly wind.</p>
+
+<p>At 10 <span class="lowercase smcap">A.M.</span> the crew are inspected at quarters and dispersed to attend
+divine service at 11 o'clock. Seemingly no one thought of the Alabama,
+for so long awaited and not appearing, speculation as to her probable
+advent had ceased. At 10.20 the officer of the deck reports a steamer
+coming from Cherbourg, a frequent occurrence, and consequently creates
+no excitement. Soon, by the aid of a glass, he descries the enemy, and
+shouts: "The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> Alabama!" Instantly all hands are called and the ship
+cleared for action.</p>
+
+<p>The position of the Kearsarge was off the eastern entrance to the
+harbor, at a distance of nearly three miles, the Alabama approaching
+from the western entrance, escorted by the French iron-clad frigate La
+Couronne, and followed by a fore-and-aft rigged steamer, flying the
+English yacht flag, the Deerhound. The frigate having convoyed the
+Alabama outside the limit of French waters, with characteristic
+neutrality, steamed back into port without delay; the yacht remained in
+proximity to the scene of action. To avoid a question of jurisdiction,
+and to prevent an escape of the Alabama to neutral waters in the event
+of a retreat, the Kearsarge steamed to sea making final preparations,
+the last being the sanding of decks (sufficiently suggestive of sober
+thoughts), followed by the enemy, until a distance of about seven miles
+from the shore was attained, when at 10.50 the Kearsarge wheeled,
+bringing her head in shore, and presented starboard battery, being one
+and a quarter miles from her opponent: the Kearsarge advanced rapidly,
+and at 10.57 received the first broadside of solid shot at a distance of
+eighteen hundred yards from the Alabama. This broadside cut away a
+little of the rigging, but the shot chiefly passed over or fell short.
+With increased speed the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> Kearsarge advanced, receiving a second and
+part of a third broadside with similar effect. Arrived within nine
+hundred yards of the Alabama, the Kearsarge, fearing a fourth broadside
+with evident raking results, sheered and broke her silence by opening
+with the starboard battery. Each vessel was now pressed under a full
+head of steam, each employing the starboard battery, and to obviate
+passing each other too speedily, and to maintain the bearing of the
+respective broadsides, the circular method of fighting was necessitated,
+each steering around a common center, from a quarter to half a mile
+apart.</p>
+
+<p>The action was now fairly commenced. One of the shot of the first
+broadsides of the Kearsarge carried away the spanker-gaff of the enemy,
+and caused his ensign to come down by the run. This incident was
+received as a favorable omen by the fortunate crew, who cheered
+vociferously and went with increased confidence to their work. Wild and
+rapid was the firing of the Alabama, that of the Kearsarge being
+deliberate, precise, and almost from the commencement productive of
+death, destruction, and dismay. The Kearsarge gunners had been cautioned
+against firing without direct aim, advised to elevate or depress the
+guns with deliberation, and though subjected to an incessant storm of
+shot and shell, proceeded calmly to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> duty, and faithfully complied
+with the instructions. The effect upon the enemy was readily perceived;
+nothing restrained the enthusiasm of the crew. Cheer succeeded cheer,
+caps thrown in the air or overboard, jackets discarded, one encouraging
+the other, sanguine of victory, shouting as each projectile took effect:
+"That is a good one;" "that told;" "give her another;" "down boys;"
+"give her another like the last;" and so on, cheering, exulting, joyous
+to the end. After exposure to an uninterrupted cannonading for eighteen
+minutes without casualties, a sixty-eight-pound Blakely shell passed
+through the starboard bulwarks below main rigging, exploded upon the
+quarter-deck, and wounded three of the crew of the after-pivot gun. With
+these exceptions, not an officer or a man of the Kearsarge received the
+slightest injury. The unfortunates were speedily taken below, and so
+quietly was the action performed, that at the termination of the fight a
+large portion of the crew were unaware that any of their comrades were
+wounded. Two shot entered the ports occupied by the thirty-twos, where
+several men were stationed, and yet none were hit. A shell exploded in
+the hammock-netting and set the ship on fire; the alarm calling to
+fire-quarters was sounded, and persons specially detailed for a like
+emergency, promptly extinguished the flames, while the re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>mainder of the
+crew continued at the guns without interruption.</p>
+
+<p>Terrific was the effect of the eleven-inch shell upon the crew of the
+doomed ship: many were torn asunder by shell direct, or horribly
+mutilated by splinters. Her decks were covered with blood and the debris
+of bodies. One gun (after-pivot) had its crew renewed four times,
+fourteen out of nineteen men being disabled during the action. The
+carnage around this gun was more frightful than elsewhere; so great was
+the accumulation of blood and fragments of limbs, that a removal was
+required before the gun could be worked. A man upon the bowsprit is
+struck in the abdomen by a shot, staggers aft holding up his entrails,
+and near the main hatch falls dead. Another is cut in twain, one-half of
+the body going down the engine hatch, the other half remaining on deck.
+A poor wretch paralyzed by fear leaves his station and vainly seeks
+safety by a plea of indisposition; he is ordered to resume his position
+at the gun, and not obeying, is killed by a pistol shot from the officer
+commanding the division.</p>
+
+<p>It is truly wonderful that so few casualties should have occurred on
+board the Kearsarge with so large a percentage to her adversary&mdash;the
+first having fired one hundred and seventy-three shot and shell, and the
+second nearly double that num<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>ber. Probably no future similar combat
+will occasion like results.</p>
+
+<p>The fight continues. The eleven-inch shell tell with astonishing
+precision; one penetrates a coal bunker, and immediately a dense cloud
+of coal-dust rises and like a pall hovers over the fated ship. Others
+strike near the water-line between the main and mizzen masts, explode
+within board, or passing through burst afar off. Crippled and torn the
+Alabama moves less quickly and begins to settle by the stern, yet
+relaxes not her fire, but returns successive broadsides, ever without
+disastrous effect. Captain Semmes witnesses the dreadful havoc made by
+the shell, especially by those of the after-pivot gun, and offers a
+reward for its silence. Soon his battery is turned upon the particular
+offending gun with endeavor to compel its abandonment; in vain, for its
+work of destruction goes on. Captain Semmes places sharp-shooters in the
+quarter boats to pick off the officers; in vain, for none are injured.
+He views the surrounding devastation&mdash;a sinking ship, rudder and
+propeller disabled, a large portion of the crew killed or wounded, while
+his adversary is apparently but slightly damaged. He has completed the
+seventh rotation on the circular tract and is conscious of defeat. He
+seeks to escape by setting all available sail (foretrysail and two
+jibs), leaves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> the circle and heads for the neutral waters of the French
+coast. The speed of his vessel is lessened; in winding she presents the
+port battery with only two guns bearing, and exhibits gaping sides. The
+Alabama is at the mercy of the Kearsarge. Captain Semmes calls his
+officers aft, briefly states the condition of the two vessels, and
+orders a surrender to prevent a further loss of life.</p>
+
+<p>The colors are struck and the Kearsarge ceases firing. Two of the junior
+officers of the Alabama swear they will never surrender to a "damned
+Yankee," but rather go down in the ship; in a mutinous spirit they rush
+to the two port guns and open fire upon the Kearsarge. Captain Winslow,
+amazed at this unwonted conduct of an enemy who had hauled down his flag
+in token of surrender, exclaimed: "He is playing us a trick, give him
+another broadside." Again the shot and shell go crashing through the
+bulwarks, carrying death and destruction; the Kearsarge is laid across
+the bows for raking and in position to employ grape and canister with
+deadly effect. Over the stern of the Alabama is displayed a white flag,
+her ensign half-masted, union down; Captain Winslow for the second time
+orders a cessation of firing.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Semmes in his report says: "Although we were now but four
+hundred yards from each other, the enemy fired upon me five times after
+my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> colors had been struck. It is charitable to suppose that a
+ship-of-war of a christian nation could not have done this
+intentionally." He had not the generosity to afford the explanation; he
+is silent as to the renewal of the fight after his surrender; an act
+which in christian warfare would, in severe justice, have authorized the
+Kearsarge to continue firing until the Alabama had disappeared beneath
+the waters; nay, even to have refused quarter to the survivors.</p>
+
+<p>Thus ended the fight after a duration of one hour and two minutes.</p>
+
+<p>Boats were now lowered from the humbled Alabama. A master's mate, an
+Englishman, Fullam by name, came alongside the Kearsarge with a few of
+the wounded, reported the disabled and sinking condition of his vessel,
+and asked for assistance.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Winslow demanded: "Does Captain Semmes surrender his ship?"
+"Yes," was the reply. Fullam then solicited permission to return to the
+Alabama with his boat and crew to assist in rescuing the drowning,
+pledging his word of honor that when this act was accomplished, he would
+come on board and surrender himself a prisoner. Unhappily Captain
+Winslow granted the request. With less generosity, he could have
+detained the rebel officer and men, supplied their places in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> boat
+from his own ship's company, secured more prisoners, and afforded equal
+aid to the distressed. The generosity was abused as the sequel shows.
+Fullam pulled to the midst of the drowning, rescued several officers,
+proceeded to the Deerhound, cast his boat adrift, and basely violated
+his proffered word of honor.</p>
+
+<p>The Deerhound, after the conclusion of the fight, appears upon the
+scene, and plays an important part. This yacht was built by the Messrs.
+Laird, at the same yard with the Alabama. Coming under the stern from
+the windward, the Deerhound was hailed, and her commander requested by
+Captain Winslow to run down to the Alabama and assist in picking up the
+men of the sinking vessel. Or, as Mr. Lancaster reported: "The fact is,
+that when we passed the Kearsarge the captain cried out,&mdash;'For God's
+sake do what you can to save them;' and that was my warrant for
+interfering in any way for the aid and succor of his enemies." The
+Deerhound steamed towards the Alabama, which sank almost immediately
+after, lowered her boats, rescued Captain Semmes, thirteen officers, and
+twenty-six men, leaving the rest of the survivors to the boats of the
+Kearsarge, and departed directly for Southampton. Captain Winslow
+permitted the yacht to secure his prisoners, anticipating their
+subsequent surrender. Again was his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> confidence in the integrity of a
+neutral misplaced. The assistance of the yacht, it is presumed, was
+solicited in a spirit of chivalry, for the Kearsarge comparatively
+uninjured, with but three wounded, possessed of a full head of steam,
+was in condition to engage a second enemy: instead of remaining at a
+distance of about four hundred yards from the Alabama, and from this
+position sending two boats (others being unserviceable), the Kearsarge
+by steaming close to the settling ship and in midst of the vanquished,
+could have captured all&mdash;Semmes, officers, and men.</p>
+
+<p>The Deerhound steams rapidly away. An officer approaches Captain Winslow
+and reports the presence of Captain Semmes and many officers on board
+the English yacht, considering the information authentic as it was
+obtained from certain prisoners; he suggests the propriety of firing a
+shot to bring her to, and asks permission. Captain Winslow chivalrously
+replies in the negative, declaring that no Englishman who flies the
+royal yacht flag, would act so dishonorable a part as to run away with
+his prisoners when he had been asked to save them from drowning.
+Meanwhile the Deerhound increases the distance from the Kearsarge;
+another officer addresses Captain Winslow in language of similar effect,
+but with more positiveness, that Semmes and his officers were on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> board
+the yacht endeavoring to escape. With undiminished confidence in the
+honor of the English gentleman, with continued chivalric spirit Captain
+Winslow refuses to have a shot fired, not crediting the flight, saying
+that the yacht was "simply coming round," and would not go away without
+communicating. "I could not believe that the commander of that vessel
+could be guilty of so disgraceful an act as taking our prisoners, and
+therefore took no means to prevent it." Without this trust in chivalry,
+Captain Winslow might have arrested the yacht in her flight, if only as
+a prudential motive, reserving final action as to the seizure of the
+passengers when time had been afforded for reflection.</p>
+
+<p>No shot is fired: the Deerhound finally disappears with the great prize,
+Semmes, and thus passed an opportunity of making this brilliant
+engagement one of the most complete and satisfactory in naval history.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Winslow erroneously thought that the Deerhound would not run
+away with the rescued persons: in this opinion he was probably alone. An
+excitement occurred as a consequent; an expression of regret for the
+escape of the yacht and her coveted prize, after being as it were within
+reach of the victors. The bitterness of the regret was manifest. The
+famed Alabama, "a formid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>able ship, the terror of American commerce,
+well armed, well manned, well handled," was destroyed, "sent to the
+bottom in an hour," but her notorious commander had escaped: the eclat
+of victory seemed already lessened.</p>
+
+<p>At 12.24 the Alabama sank in forty-five fathoms of water, at a distance
+of about four and a half miles from Cherbourg Breakwater, off the west
+entrance. She was severely hulled between the main and mizzen masts, and
+commenced settling by the stern before the termination of the conflict.
+Her crew had jumped into the sea, supporting themselves by portions of
+the wreck, spars, and other accessible objects, the water swept over the
+stern and upper deck, and when thus partially submerged, the mainmast,
+pierced by a shot, broke off near the head, the bow lifted from the
+waves, and then came the end. Suddenly assuming a perpendicular
+position, caused by the falling aft of the battery and stores, straight
+as a plumb-line, stern first, she went down, the jibboom being the last
+to appear above water. Down sank the terror of merchantmen, riddled
+through and through, and as she disappeared to her last resting place,
+not a cheer arose from the victors. To borrow the language of the
+Liverpool <i>Courrier</i>: "Down under the French waters, resting on the bed
+of the ocean, lies the gallant Alabama, with all her guns aboard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> and
+some of her brave crew, waiting until the sea yields up its dead."</p>
+
+<p>Mounted on the summit of an old church tower, a photographic artist
+obtained a good negative of the contest. An excursion train from Paris
+arrived Sunday morning, bringing hundreds of pleasure-seekers who were
+unexpectedly favored by the spectacle of a sea-fight. The events of the
+day monopolized the conversation of Parisian society for more than a
+week.</p>
+
+<p>This grand artillery duel, or Sunday gladiatorial combat, occurred in
+the presence of more than fifteen thousand spectators, who upon the
+heights of Cherbourg, the breakwater, and rigging of men-of-war,
+witnessed "the last of the Alabama." Among them were the captains and
+crews of two merchant ships burnt by the daring rover a few days before
+her arrival at Cherbourg. Their excitement during the combat was
+intense, and their expressions of joy to the victors at the result, such
+as only those who had suffered from the depredations of the Alabama
+could give utterance to. Many were desirous to go on board the Kearsarge
+to participate in the action, but so strictly was the neutrality law
+observed, no intercourse was allowed.</p>
+
+<p>The Alabama's wounded were brought on board the Kearsarge for surgical
+attendance. Seventy persons, including five officers, were saved by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> the
+boats. The conduct of Dr. Llewellyn, native of Wales, Assistant Surgeon
+of the Alabama, deserves mention. He was unremitting in attention to the
+wounded during the battle, and after the surrender, superintended their
+removal to the Kearsarge, nobly refusing to leave the ship while one
+remained. This humane duty performed, with inability to swim, he caused
+two empty shell boxes to be attached to his waist, an improvised
+life-preserver, and thus prepared leaped overboard. In the hurried
+adjustment of the shell boxes, sufficient care was not taken to maintain
+the center of gravity, the unfortunate gentleman failed to keep his head
+above water, and before aid could be derived from his struggling
+comrades, he was dead.</p>
+
+<p>At 3.10 <span class="lowercase smcap">P.M.</span> the Kearsarge anchored in Cherbourg harbor; the wounded
+were transferred the same evening to the
+<a name="corr1" id="corr1"></a><a class="correction" href="#cn1" title="changed from 'Hopital'">H&ocirc;pital</a>
+la Marine, and all
+the prisoners, officers excepted, were paroled and set on shore before
+sunset. The crew of both vessels harmonized after the fight, the
+conquerors sharing their clothes, supper, and grog with the conquered.</p>
+
+<p>The total casualties of the Alabama are not known, estimated at
+forty-seven&mdash;a striking contrast to the three of the Kearsarge. Two of
+these three recovered; one, the brave Gowin, died in hospital. The
+behavior of this gallant sailor dur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>ing and after the battle, as
+described by the Executive Officer and Surgeon, is worthy of the highest
+commendation. Stationed at the after-pivot gun, by the explosion of a
+shell, he was seriously wounded in the left thigh and leg; in the agony
+of pain, and exhausted from the loss of blood, he dragged himself to the
+forward hatch, concealing the severity of injury, that his comrades
+might not leave their stations for his assistance: fainting, he was
+lowered to the care of the surgeon, whom poor Gowin, in acuteness of
+suffering, greeted with a smile, saying: "Doctor, I can fight no more
+and so come to you, but it is all right, I am satisfied, for we are
+whipping the Alabama;" and subsequently: "I will willingly lose my leg
+or my life if it is necessary." Lying upon his mattress he paid strict
+attention to the progress of the fight, as far as could be elicited by
+the sounds on deck&mdash;his face beaming with satisfaction whenever the
+cheers of his shipmates were heard; with difficulty he waved his hand
+over his head and joined in each exulting shout with a feeble voice. At
+times he would comfort the other wounded by an earnest assurance that
+"victory is ours!" Directly after the fight he desired the surgeon to
+render him no further attention, for he was "doing well," requesting
+that all his time should be devoted to the "poor fellows of the
+Alabama." In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> the hospital he was resigned, thankful for being the only
+victim, proud of his ship and shipmates, frequently asserting his
+willingness to die after so glorious a victory. "This man, so
+interesting by his courage and resignation," wrote the French
+surgeon-in-chief, with uniform patience and cheerfulness, enlisted
+general sympathy; all anxiously desired his recovery and sincerely
+regretted his decease. Certainly one of the most interesting events of
+the action is the heroic conduct of the brave Gowin.</p>
+
+<p>An incident that ever occasions gratification in its relation, was the
+singular coincidence of the lowering of the rebel colors by an early
+shot from the Kearsarge, and the unfolding of the victorious flag by a
+shot from the last volley of the Alabama, prior to surrender. At the
+main peak of the Kearsarge the colors were stopped, that they might be
+displayed if the ensign was carried away, and to serve as the emblem of
+victory in case of a happy success. It will be remembered that the
+Alabama's colors were brought down by a shot from one of the first
+broadsides of the Kearsarge,&mdash;an auspicious omen for the sailor at the
+commencement of battle. A shot from the last broadside of the Alabama
+passed high over the Kearsarge, striking and carrying away the halyards
+of the colors at the main peak, and in so doing, pulled sufficiently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> to
+break the stop, and thereby unfurled the triumphant flag at the moment
+the rebel ensign was struck in token of submission.</p>
+
+<p>The Alabama was destroyed&mdash;the Kearsarge being so little damaged, that
+if required, could have engaged another enemy. It is surprising that the
+Alabama's fire should have produced so moderate an injury, for,
+according to report, over three hundred shot and shell were discharged;
+of these, thirteen took effect in the hull, and fifteen in sails,
+rigging, boats, and smoke-stack. Luckily, a one hundred and ten-pounder
+rifle shell which lodged in the stern post, raising the transom frame,
+and a thirty-two-pounder shell that entered forward of forward-pivot
+port, crushing water-ways, did not explode.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Semmes, in his official report, says: "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 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. The enemy was
+heavier than myself, both in ship, battery, and crew; but I did not know
+until the action was over that she was also iron-clad." The
+chain-plating of the Kearsarge,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> the "iron-clad" of Captain Semmes,
+consisted of one hundred and twenty fathoms of sheet chains covering a
+space amid-ships of forty-nine and one-half feet in length by sixteen
+feet two inches in depth, stopped up and down to eyebolts with marlines,
+secured by iron-dogs and employed for the purpose of protecting the
+engines when the upper part of the coal bunkers was empty, as happened
+during the action. The chains were concealed by inch deal boards as a
+finish. The chain-plating was struck twice, by a thirty-two pound shot
+in starboard gangway, which cut the chain and bruised planking, and by a
+thirty-two-pounder shell,
+<a name="corr2" id="corr2"></a><a class="correction" href="#cn2" title="changed from 'which which'">which</a>
+broke a link of the chain,
+exploded, and tore away a portion of the deal covering. Had the shot
+been from the one hundred and ten-pounder rifle, the result would have
+been different, though without serious damage, because the shot struck
+five feet above the water line, and if sent through the side would have
+cleared the machinery and boilers. It is proper therefore to assert that
+in the absence of the chain-armor the result would have remained the
+same, notwithstanding the common impression at the time, of an "iron
+clad" contending with a wooden vessel. The chains were attached to the
+ship's side more than a year previous to the fight, while at the Azores;
+in subsequent visits to European<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> ports they had attracted notice and
+caused repeated comment. Strange that Captain Semmes did not know of the
+chain-armor before the fight; supposed rebel spies had been on board,
+there was no attempt at concealment; the same pilot was employed by both
+vessels and visited each during the preparation for battle.</p>
+
+<p>One hundred and sixty-three was the number of the crew of the Kearsarge,
+including officers; that of the Alabama not definitely known, but from
+the most reliable information estimated at nearly the same. The tonnage
+of the former 1031, of the latter 1044. The battery of the Kearsarge
+consisted of seven guns, two eleven-inch pivots, smooth bore, one
+twenty-eight-pounder rifle, and four light thirty-two pounders; that of
+the Alabama of eight guns, one sixty-eight-pounder pivot, smooth bore,
+one one hundred and ten-pounder rifle pivot, and six heavy thirty-two
+pounders. Five guns were fought by the Kearsarge, seven by the Alabama,
+both with the starboard batteries. The Kearsarge had made thirteen and
+one-half knots an hour under steam, the Alabama never exceeded thirteen,
+and at the time of the action was only equal to ten. The vessels were
+not unequally matched in size, speed, crew, and armament, displaying a
+similarity not often witnessed in naval battles. The contest was
+decided<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> by the superiority of the eleven-inch Dahlgrens over the
+Blakely rifle and smooth bore, in connection with the greater coolness
+and accuracy in aim of the gunners of the Kearsarge.</p>
+
+<p>"So ends the story of the Alabama," quoting again from the Liverpool
+<i>Courrier</i>, "whose journal would be the most interesting volume of ocean
+literature; whose ubiquity scared the commerce of America from the seas;
+whose destructive powers have ruined property belonging to the northerns
+valued at upwards of three millions of money; whose actions very nearly
+involved these countries in war with the United States. The Americans
+are indignant that the ship was built by British hands, of British oak,
+armed with British guns, and manned by British sailors."</p>
+
+<p>Numerous inaccuracies, suppressions, exaggerations, and discrepancies
+exist in most of the accounts of this renowned naval engagement. The
+first reports published in Europe were characterized by contradictions
+sufficient to confuse any reader. This variance was noted by the London
+<i>Daily News</i> in the following manner: "The sceptic who called history a
+matter-of-fact romance, should have lived in our day, when a naval
+action is fought off Cherbourg on a Sunday, and reported to the London
+and Paris newspapers on the Monday morning, no two reports agreeing in
+any single<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> fact, except in the result. In our enlightened epoch of
+incessant, instantaneous, and universal inter-communication, the
+difficulty of getting at the simple facts of any passing incident, in
+which conflicting sympathies are concerned, increases in proportion to
+the increasing celerity and certainty with which the materials of
+history are gathered. Some allowance, no doubt, may be made for
+eyewitnesses on shore of a naval engagement seven miles out at sea.
+Their 'powerful glasses' are liable to that peculiar inaccuracy of sight
+which distance, excitement, and smoke produce. A French gentleman, for
+instance, who from Cherbourg Breakwater looked on at the American duel
+on Sunday last, wrote a graphic letter to the <i>Debats</i>, with a
+<a name="corr3" id="corr3"></a><a class="correction" href="#cn3" title="changed from 'postcript'">postscript</a>
+to the effect that he had just discovered that the account in
+his letter was entirely wrong."</p>
+
+<p>Here ends the present story of the Kearsarge and Alabama. It is the
+truth told honestly.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<div class="transnote">
+<h3><a name="tnotes" id="tnotes"></a>
+Transcriber's note</h3>
+
+<p>A few obvious typographical errors have been corrected, and they are
+listed below.</p>
+
+<p>Page 20: "Hopital de la Marine" changed to
+"<a name="cn1" id="cn1"></a><a href="#corr1">Hôpital</a> de la Marine".</p>
+
+<p>Page 24: "which which broke a link" changed to
+"<a name="cn2" id="cn2"></a><a href="#corr2">which</a> broke a link".</p>
+
+<p>Page 27: "postcript to the effect" changed to
+"<a name="cn3" id="cn3"></a><a href="#corr3">postscript</a> to the effect".</p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the Kearsarge and Alabama, by 
+A. K. Browne
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+Project Gutenberg's The Story of the Kearsarge and Alabama, by A. K. Browne
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Story of the Kearsarge and Alabama
+
+Author: A. K. Browne
+
+Release Date: October 6, 2008 [EBook #26783]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Carla Foust and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note
+
+
+A few obvious typographical errors have been corrected, and they are
+listed at the end of this book.
+
+
+
+
+   THE STORY
+
+   OF THE
+
+   KEARSARGE
+
+   AND
+
+   ALABAMA.
+
+   SAN FRANCISCO:
+   HENRY PAYOT & CO., PUBLISHERS.
+
+   1868.
+
+
+
+
+   Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
+
+   EDWARD BOSQUI & CO.,
+
+   In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for
+   the District of California.
+
+   EDWARD BOSQUI & CO., PRINTERS.
+   517 Clay Street, San Francisco.
+
+
+
+
+The Author is induced to publish this narrative of the Kearsarge and
+Alabama, from the want that exists of a popular, detailed, and yet
+concise account of the engagement between the two vessels.
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY.
+
+
+On Sunday, June 12th, 1864, the U. S. Steamer Kearsarge was lying at
+anchor in the Scheldt, off Flushing, Holland. Suddenly appeared the
+cornet at the fore--an unexpected signal, that compelled absent officers
+and men to repair on board. Steam was raised, and immediately after a
+departure made, when all hands being called, the nature of the
+precipitate movement became apparent. Captain Winslow, in a brief
+address, announced the welcome intelligence of the reception of a
+telegram from his Excellency, Mr. Dayton, Minister Resident at Paris, to
+the effect that the notorious Alabama had arrived the day previous at
+Cherbourg, France; hence, the urgency of departure, the probability of
+an encounter, and the confident expectation of her destruction or
+capture. The crew responded by cheers.
+
+The succeeding day witnessed the arrival of the Kearsarge at Dover,
+England, for dispatches, and the day after (Tuesday) her appearance off
+Cherbourg Breakwater. At anchor in the harbor was seen the celebrated
+Alabama--a beautiful specimen of naval architecture, eliciting encomiums
+for evident neatness, good order, and a well-disciplined crew,
+indicative of efficiency in any duty required. The surgeon of the
+Kearsarge proceeded on shore and obtained pratique for boats. Owing to
+the enforcement of the neutral twenty-four hour regulation, to anchor,
+became inexpedient; the result was the establishment of a vigilant
+watch, alternately, at each of the harbor entrances, which continued to
+the moment of the engagement.
+
+On Wednesday, Captain Winslow paid an official visit to the Admiral
+commanding the Maritime District and the U. S. Commercial Agent,
+bringing on his return the unanticipated news that Captain Semmes
+declared his intention to fight. At first, the assertion was hardly
+credited, the policy of the Alabama being regarded as in opposition to a
+conflict, but even the doubters were speedily half convinced when the
+character of the so-called challenge was disclosed, viz.:
+
+                "C. S. S. ALABAMA, Cherbourg, June 14th, 1864.
+
+        "TO A. BONFILS, Esq.,
+                         "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
+     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 will not depart
+     before I am ready to go out.
+
+          "I have the honor to be
+
+                        "Very respectfully,
+                             "Your obedient servant,
+                                  "R. SEMMES,
+                                       "Captain."
+
+This communication was sent by Mr. Bonfils to the U. S. Commercial
+Agent, Mr. Liais, with a request that the latter would furnish a copy to
+Captain Winslow for his guidance. There was no other defiance to combat.
+The letter that passed between the commercial agents, was the challenge
+about which so much has been written. Captain Semmes indirectly informed
+Captain Winslow of his desire for a combat. Captain Winslow made no
+reply, but prepared his ship to meet the opponent, thereby tacitly
+acknowledging the so-called challenge and its acceptance.
+
+Requisite preparations were immediately instituted for battle, with no
+relaxation of the watch. Thursday passed; Friday came, and yet no
+Alabama appeared. According to report, important arrangements were being
+effected; a zeal was displayed in the reception of coals, the
+transmission of valuables on shore, and the sharpening of swords,
+cutlasses, boarding-pikes, and battle-axes. To the observer this
+preparation confirmed the assurance of the certainty of a fight. An
+intended surprise by night was suggested, and measures precautionary
+taken. Dispatches were brought from Mr. Dayton, Minister at Paris, by
+his son, who with difficulty had obtained permission from the Admiral
+commanding to visit the Kearsarge. To preserve a strictly honest
+neutrality, the French authorities had prohibited all communication with
+the respective vessels. Mr. Dayton expressed the opinion that the
+Alabama would not fight, though acknowledging the prevalence of a
+contrary impression at Cherbourg; he departed for the shore with
+intention to proceed immediately to Paris. In taking leave of the
+Admiral, the latter mentioned the fixed determination of Captain Semmes
+to engage with the Kearsarge on the day following (Sunday), and that he
+imparted this intelligence, since no subsequent communication could be
+had with the Kearsarge. Mr. Dayton consequently deferred his departure,
+witnessed the action, telegraphed to Paris the result, and was one of
+the first to repair on board and offer congratulations. He passed a
+portion of Saturday night endeavoring to procure a boat to dispatch to
+the Kearsarge the information acquired, but so securely was the coast
+guarded by the enforcement of the Admiral's orders, that all his efforts
+were useless.
+
+At a supper in Cherbourg on Saturday night, several officers of the
+Alabama met sympathizing French friends--the impending fight being the
+chief topic of conversation. In confidence of an easy victory, they
+boastingly proclaimed the intention either to sink the Federal or gain
+another corsair. They rise with promise to meet the following night to
+renew the festivity as victors, are escorted to the boat, and separate
+with cheers and wishes for a successful return.
+
+Sunday the 19th comes; a fine day, atmosphere somewhat hazy, little sea,
+moderate westerly wind.
+
+At 10 A.M. the crew are inspected at quarters and dispersed to attend
+divine service at 11 o'clock. Seemingly no one thought of the Alabama,
+for so long awaited and not appearing, speculation as to her probable
+advent had ceased. At 10.20 the officer of the deck reports a steamer
+coming from Cherbourg, a frequent occurrence, and consequently creates
+no excitement. Soon, by the aid of a glass, he descries the enemy, and
+shouts: "The Alabama!" Instantly all hands are called and the ship
+cleared for action.
+
+The position of the Kearsarge was off the eastern entrance to the
+harbor, at a distance of nearly three miles, the Alabama approaching
+from the western entrance, escorted by the French iron-clad frigate La
+Couronne, and followed by a fore-and-aft rigged steamer, flying the
+English yacht flag, the Deerhound. The frigate having convoyed the
+Alabama outside the limit of French waters, with characteristic
+neutrality, steamed back into port without delay; the yacht remained in
+proximity to the scene of action. To avoid a question of jurisdiction,
+and to prevent an escape of the Alabama to neutral waters in the event
+of a retreat, the Kearsarge steamed to sea making final preparations,
+the last being the sanding of decks (sufficiently suggestive of sober
+thoughts), followed by the enemy, until a distance of about seven miles
+from the shore was attained, when at 10.50 the Kearsarge wheeled,
+bringing her head in shore, and presented starboard battery, being one
+and a quarter miles from her opponent: the Kearsarge advanced rapidly,
+and at 10.57 received the first broadside of solid shot at a distance of
+eighteen hundred yards from the Alabama. This broadside cut away a
+little of the rigging, but the shot chiefly passed over or fell short.
+With increased speed the Kearsarge advanced, receiving a second and
+part of a third broadside with similar effect. Arrived within nine
+hundred yards of the Alabama, the Kearsarge, fearing a fourth broadside
+with evident raking results, sheered and broke her silence by opening
+with the starboard battery. Each vessel was now pressed under a full
+head of steam, each employing the starboard battery, and to obviate
+passing each other too speedily, and to maintain the bearing of the
+respective broadsides, the circular method of fighting was necessitated,
+each steering around a common center, from a quarter to half a mile
+apart.
+
+The action was now fairly commenced. One of the shot of the first
+broadsides of the Kearsarge carried away the spanker-gaff of the enemy,
+and caused his ensign to come down by the run. This incident was
+received as a favorable omen by the fortunate crew, who cheered
+vociferously and went with increased confidence to their work. Wild and
+rapid was the firing of the Alabama, that of the Kearsarge being
+deliberate, precise, and almost from the commencement productive of
+death, destruction, and dismay. The Kearsarge gunners had been cautioned
+against firing without direct aim, advised to elevate or depress the
+guns with deliberation, and though subjected to an incessant storm of
+shot and shell, proceeded calmly to their duty, and faithfully complied
+with the instructions. The effect upon the enemy was readily perceived;
+nothing restrained the enthusiasm of the crew. Cheer succeeded cheer,
+caps thrown in the air or overboard, jackets discarded, one encouraging
+the other, sanguine of victory, shouting as each projectile took effect:
+"That is a good one;" "that told;" "give her another;" "down boys;"
+"give her another like the last;" and so on, cheering, exulting, joyous
+to the end. After exposure to an uninterrupted cannonading for eighteen
+minutes without casualties, a sixty-eight-pound Blakely shell passed
+through the starboard bulwarks below main rigging, exploded upon the
+quarter-deck, and wounded three of the crew of the after-pivot gun. With
+these exceptions, not an officer or a man of the Kearsarge received the
+slightest injury. The unfortunates were speedily taken below, and so
+quietly was the action performed, that at the termination of the fight a
+large portion of the crew were unaware that any of their comrades were
+wounded. Two shot entered the ports occupied by the thirty-twos, where
+several men were stationed, and yet none were hit. A shell exploded in
+the hammock-netting and set the ship on fire; the alarm calling to
+fire-quarters was sounded, and persons specially detailed for a like
+emergency, promptly extinguished the flames, while the remainder of the
+crew continued at the guns without interruption.
+
+Terrific was the effect of the eleven-inch shell upon the crew of the
+doomed ship: many were torn asunder by shell direct, or horribly
+mutilated by splinters. Her decks were covered with blood and the debris
+of bodies. One gun (after-pivot) had its crew renewed four times,
+fourteen out of nineteen men being disabled during the action. The
+carnage around this gun was more frightful than elsewhere; so great was
+the accumulation of blood and fragments of limbs, that a removal was
+required before the gun could be worked. A man upon the bowsprit is
+struck in the abdomen by a shot, staggers aft holding up his entrails,
+and near the main hatch falls dead. Another is cut in twain, one-half of
+the body going down the engine hatch, the other half remaining on deck.
+A poor wretch paralyzed by fear leaves his station and vainly seeks
+safety by a plea of indisposition; he is ordered to resume his position
+at the gun, and not obeying, is killed by a pistol shot from the officer
+commanding the division.
+
+It is truly wonderful that so few casualties should have occurred on
+board the Kearsarge with so large a percentage to her adversary--the
+first having fired one hundred and seventy-three shot and shell, and the
+second nearly double that number. Probably no future similar combat
+will occasion like results.
+
+The fight continues. The eleven-inch shell tell with astonishing
+precision; one penetrates a coal bunker, and immediately a dense cloud
+of coal-dust rises and like a pall hovers over the fated ship. Others
+strike near the water-line between the main and mizzen masts, explode
+within board, or passing through burst afar off. Crippled and torn the
+Alabama moves less quickly and begins to settle by the stern, yet
+relaxes not her fire, but returns successive broadsides, ever without
+disastrous effect. Captain Semmes witnesses the dreadful havoc made by
+the shell, especially by those of the after-pivot gun, and offers a
+reward for its silence. Soon his battery is turned upon the particular
+offending gun with endeavor to compel its abandonment; in vain, for its
+work of destruction goes on. Captain Semmes places sharp-shooters in the
+quarter boats to pick off the officers; in vain, for none are injured.
+He views the surrounding devastation--a sinking ship, rudder and
+propeller disabled, a large portion of the crew killed or wounded, while
+his adversary is apparently but slightly damaged. He has completed the
+seventh rotation on the circular tract and is conscious of defeat. He
+seeks to escape by setting all available sail (foretrysail and two
+jibs), leaves the circle and heads for the neutral waters of the French
+coast. The speed of his vessel is lessened; in winding she presents the
+port battery with only two guns bearing, and exhibits gaping sides. The
+Alabama is at the mercy of the Kearsarge. Captain Semmes calls his
+officers aft, briefly states the condition of the two vessels, and
+orders a surrender to prevent a further loss of life.
+
+The colors are struck and the Kearsarge ceases firing. Two of the junior
+officers of the Alabama swear they will never surrender to a "damned
+Yankee," but rather go down in the ship; in a mutinous spirit they rush
+to the two port guns and open fire upon the Kearsarge. Captain Winslow,
+amazed at this unwonted conduct of an enemy who had hauled down his flag
+in token of surrender, exclaimed: "He is playing us a trick, give him
+another broadside." Again the shot and shell go crashing through the
+bulwarks, carrying death and destruction; the Kearsarge is laid across
+the bows for raking and in position to employ grape and canister with
+deadly effect. Over the stern of the Alabama is displayed a white flag,
+her ensign half-masted, union down; Captain Winslow for the second time
+orders a cessation of firing.
+
+Captain Semmes in his report says: "Although we were now but four
+hundred yards from each other, 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 have done this
+intentionally." He had not the generosity to afford the explanation; he
+is silent as to the renewal of the fight after his surrender; an act
+which in christian warfare would, in severe justice, have authorized the
+Kearsarge to continue firing until the Alabama had disappeared beneath
+the waters; nay, even to have refused quarter to the survivors.
+
+Thus ended the fight after a duration of one hour and two minutes.
+
+Boats were now lowered from the humbled Alabama. A master's mate, an
+Englishman, Fullam by name, came alongside the Kearsarge with a few of
+the wounded, reported the disabled and sinking condition of his vessel,
+and asked for assistance.
+
+Captain Winslow demanded: "Does Captain Semmes surrender his ship?"
+"Yes," was the reply. Fullam then solicited permission to return to the
+Alabama with his boat and crew to assist in rescuing the drowning,
+pledging his word of honor that when this act was accomplished, he would
+come on board and surrender himself a prisoner. Unhappily Captain
+Winslow granted the request. With less generosity, he could have
+detained the rebel officer and men, supplied their places in the boat
+from his own ship's company, secured more prisoners, and afforded equal
+aid to the distressed. The generosity was abused as the sequel shows.
+Fullam pulled to the midst of the drowning, rescued several officers,
+proceeded to the Deerhound, cast his boat adrift, and basely violated
+his proffered word of honor.
+
+The Deerhound, after the conclusion of the fight, appears upon the
+scene, and plays an important part. This yacht was built by the Messrs.
+Laird, at the same yard with the Alabama. Coming under the stern from
+the windward, the Deerhound was hailed, and her commander requested by
+Captain Winslow to run down to the Alabama and assist in picking up the
+men of the sinking vessel. Or, as Mr. Lancaster reported: "The fact is,
+that when we passed the Kearsarge the captain cried out,--'For God's
+sake do what you can to save them;' and that was my warrant for
+interfering in any way for the aid and succor of his enemies." The
+Deerhound steamed towards the Alabama, which sank almost immediately
+after, lowered her boats, rescued Captain Semmes, thirteen officers, and
+twenty-six men, leaving the rest of the survivors to the boats of the
+Kearsarge, and departed directly for Southampton. Captain Winslow
+permitted the yacht to secure his prisoners, anticipating their
+subsequent surrender. Again was his confidence in the integrity of a
+neutral misplaced. The assistance of the yacht, it is presumed, was
+solicited in a spirit of chivalry, for the Kearsarge comparatively
+uninjured, with but three wounded, possessed of a full head of steam,
+was in condition to engage a second enemy: instead of remaining at a
+distance of about four hundred yards from the Alabama, and from this
+position sending two boats (others being unserviceable), the Kearsarge
+by steaming close to the settling ship and in midst of the vanquished,
+could have captured all--Semmes, officers, and men.
+
+The Deerhound steams rapidly away. An officer approaches Captain Winslow
+and reports the presence of Captain Semmes and many officers on board
+the English yacht, considering the information authentic as it was
+obtained from certain prisoners; he suggests the propriety of firing a
+shot to bring her to, and asks permission. Captain Winslow chivalrously
+replies in the negative, declaring that no Englishman who flies the
+royal yacht flag, would act so dishonorable a part as to run away with
+his prisoners when he had been asked to save them from drowning.
+Meanwhile the Deerhound increases the distance from the Kearsarge;
+another officer addresses Captain Winslow in language of similar effect,
+but with more positiveness, that Semmes and his officers were on board
+the yacht endeavoring to escape. With undiminished confidence in the
+honor of the English gentleman, with continued chivalric spirit Captain
+Winslow refuses to have a shot fired, not crediting the flight, saying
+that the yacht was "simply coming round," and would not go away without
+communicating. "I could not believe that the commander of that vessel
+could be guilty of so disgraceful an act as taking our prisoners, and
+therefore took no means to prevent it." Without this trust in chivalry,
+Captain Winslow might have arrested the yacht in her flight, if only as
+a prudential motive, reserving final action as to the seizure of the
+passengers when time had been afforded for reflection.
+
+No shot is fired: the Deerhound finally disappears with the great prize,
+Semmes, and thus passed an opportunity of making this brilliant
+engagement one of the most complete and satisfactory in naval history.
+
+Captain Winslow erroneously thought that the Deerhound would not run
+away with the rescued persons: in this opinion he was probably alone. An
+excitement occurred as a consequent; an expression of regret for the
+escape of the yacht and her coveted prize, after being as it were within
+reach of the victors. The bitterness of the regret was manifest. The
+famed Alabama, "a formidable ship, the terror of American commerce,
+well armed, well manned, well handled," was destroyed, "sent to the
+bottom in an hour," but her notorious commander had escaped: the eclat
+of victory seemed already lessened.
+
+At 12.24 the Alabama sank in forty-five fathoms of water, at a distance
+of about four and a half miles from Cherbourg Breakwater, off the west
+entrance. She was severely hulled between the main and mizzen masts, and
+commenced settling by the stern before the termination of the conflict.
+Her crew had jumped into the sea, supporting themselves by portions of
+the wreck, spars, and other accessible objects, the water swept over the
+stern and upper deck, and when thus partially submerged, the mainmast,
+pierced by a shot, broke off near the head, the bow lifted from the
+waves, and then came the end. Suddenly assuming a perpendicular
+position, caused by the falling aft of the battery and stores, straight
+as a plumb-line, stern first, she went down, the jibboom being the last
+to appear above water. Down sank the terror of merchantmen, riddled
+through and through, and as she disappeared to her last resting place,
+not a cheer arose from the victors. To borrow the language of the
+Liverpool _Courrier_: "Down under the French waters, resting on the bed
+of the ocean, lies the gallant Alabama, with all her guns aboard, and
+some of her brave crew, waiting until the sea yields up its dead."
+
+Mounted on the summit of an old church tower, a photographic artist
+obtained a good negative of the contest. An excursion train from Paris
+arrived Sunday morning, bringing hundreds of pleasure-seekers who were
+unexpectedly favored by the spectacle of a sea-fight. The events of the
+day monopolized the conversation of Parisian society for more than a
+week.
+
+This grand artillery duel, or Sunday gladiatorial combat, occurred in
+the presence of more than fifteen thousand spectators, who upon the
+heights of Cherbourg, the breakwater, and rigging of men-of-war,
+witnessed "the last of the Alabama." Among them were the captains and
+crews of two merchant ships burnt by the daring rover a few days before
+her arrival at Cherbourg. Their excitement during the combat was
+intense, and their expressions of joy to the victors at the result, such
+as only those who had suffered from the depredations of the Alabama
+could give utterance to. Many were desirous to go on board the Kearsarge
+to participate in the action, but so strictly was the neutrality law
+observed, no intercourse was allowed.
+
+The Alabama's wounded were brought on board the Kearsarge for surgical
+attendance. Seventy persons, including five officers, were saved by the
+boats. The conduct of Dr. Llewellyn, native of Wales, Assistant Surgeon
+of the Alabama, deserves mention. He was unremitting in attention to the
+wounded during the battle, and after the surrender, superintended their
+removal to the Kearsarge, nobly refusing to leave the ship while one
+remained. This humane duty performed, with inability to swim, he caused
+two empty shell boxes to be attached to his waist, an improvised
+life-preserver, and thus prepared leaped overboard. In the hurried
+adjustment of the shell boxes, sufficient care was not taken to maintain
+the center of gravity, the unfortunate gentleman failed to keep his head
+above water, and before aid could be derived from his struggling
+comrades, he was dead.
+
+At 3.10 P.M. the Kearsarge anchored in Cherbourg harbor; the wounded
+were transferred the same evening to the Hopital de la Marine, and all
+the prisoners, officers excepted, were paroled and set on shore before
+sunset. The crew of both vessels harmonized after the fight, the
+conquerors sharing their clothes, supper, and grog with the conquered.
+
+The total casualties of the Alabama are not known, estimated at
+forty-seven--a striking contrast to the three of the Kearsarge. Two of
+these three recovered; one, the brave Gowin, died in hospital. The
+behavior of this gallant sailor during and after the battle, as
+described by the Executive Officer and Surgeon, is worthy of the highest
+commendation. Stationed at the after-pivot gun, by the explosion of a
+shell, he was seriously wounded in the left thigh and leg; in the agony
+of pain, and exhausted from the loss of blood, he dragged himself to the
+forward hatch, concealing the severity of injury, that his comrades
+might not leave their stations for his assistance: fainting, he was
+lowered to the care of the surgeon, whom poor Gowin, in acuteness of
+suffering, greeted with a smile, saying: "Doctor, I can fight no more
+and so come to you, but it is all right, I am satisfied, for we are
+whipping the Alabama;" and subsequently: "I will willingly lose my leg
+or my life if it is necessary." Lying upon his mattress he paid strict
+attention to the progress of the fight, as far as could be elicited by
+the sounds on deck--his face beaming with satisfaction whenever the
+cheers of his shipmates were heard; with difficulty he waved his hand
+over his head and joined in each exulting shout with a feeble voice. At
+times he would comfort the other wounded by an earnest assurance that
+"victory is ours!" Directly after the fight he desired the surgeon to
+render him no further attention, for he was "doing well," requesting
+that all his time should be devoted to the "poor fellows of the
+Alabama." In the hospital he was resigned, thankful for being the only
+victim, proud of his ship and shipmates, frequently asserting his
+willingness to die after so glorious a victory. "This man, so
+interesting by his courage and resignation," wrote the French
+surgeon-in-chief, with uniform patience and cheerfulness, enlisted
+general sympathy; all anxiously desired his recovery and sincerely
+regretted his decease. Certainly one of the most interesting events of
+the action is the heroic conduct of the brave Gowin.
+
+An incident that ever occasions gratification in its relation, was the
+singular coincidence of the lowering of the rebel colors by an early
+shot from the Kearsarge, and the unfolding of the victorious flag by a
+shot from the last volley of the Alabama, prior to surrender. At the
+main peak of the Kearsarge the colors were stopped, that they might be
+displayed if the ensign was carried away, and to serve as the emblem of
+victory in case of a happy success. It will be remembered that the
+Alabama's colors were brought down by a shot from one of the first
+broadsides of the Kearsarge,--an auspicious omen for the sailor at the
+commencement of battle. A shot from the last broadside of the Alabama
+passed high over the Kearsarge, striking and carrying away the halyards
+of the colors at the main peak, and in so doing, pulled sufficiently to
+break the stop, and thereby unfurled the triumphant flag at the moment
+the rebel ensign was struck in token of submission.
+
+The Alabama was destroyed--the Kearsarge being so little damaged, that
+if required, could have engaged another enemy. It is surprising that the
+Alabama's fire should have produced so moderate an injury, for,
+according to report, over three hundred shot and shell were discharged;
+of these, thirteen took effect in the hull, and fifteen in sails,
+rigging, boats, and smoke-stack. Luckily, a one hundred and ten-pounder
+rifle shell which lodged in the stern post, raising the transom frame,
+and a thirty-two-pounder shell that entered forward of forward-pivot
+port, crushing water-ways, did not explode.
+
+Captain Semmes, in his official report, says: "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 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. The enemy was
+heavier than myself, both in ship, battery, and crew; but I did not know
+until the action was over that she was also iron-clad." The
+chain-plating of the Kearsarge, the "iron-clad" of Captain Semmes,
+consisted of one hundred and twenty fathoms of sheet chains covering a
+space amid-ships of forty-nine and one-half feet in length by sixteen
+feet two inches in depth, stopped up and down to eyebolts with marlines,
+secured by iron-dogs and employed for the purpose of protecting the
+engines when the upper part of the coal bunkers was empty, as happened
+during the action. The chains were concealed by inch deal boards as a
+finish. The chain-plating was struck twice, by a thirty-two pound shot
+in starboard gangway, which cut the chain and bruised planking, and by a
+thirty-two-pounder shell, which broke a link of the chain,
+exploded, and tore away a portion of the deal covering. Had the shot
+been from the one hundred and ten-pounder rifle, the result would have
+been different, though without serious damage, because the shot struck
+five feet above the water line, and if sent through the side would have
+cleared the machinery and boilers. It is proper therefore to assert that
+in the absence of the chain-armor the result would have remained the
+same, notwithstanding the common impression at the time, of an "iron
+clad" contending with a wooden vessel. The chains were attached to the
+ship's side more than a year previous to the fight, while at the Azores;
+in subsequent visits to European ports they had attracted notice and
+caused repeated comment. Strange that Captain Semmes did not know of the
+chain-armor before the fight; supposed rebel spies had been on board,
+there was no attempt at concealment; the same pilot was employed by both
+vessels and visited each during the preparation for battle.
+
+One hundred and sixty-three was the number of the crew of the Kearsarge,
+including officers; that of the Alabama not definitely known, but from
+the most reliable information estimated at nearly the same. The tonnage
+of the former 1031, of the latter 1044. The battery of the Kearsarge
+consisted of seven guns, two eleven-inch pivots, smooth bore, one
+twenty-eight-pounder rifle, and four light thirty-two pounders; that of
+the Alabama of eight guns, one sixty-eight-pounder pivot, smooth bore,
+one one hundred and ten-pounder rifle pivot, and six heavy thirty-two
+pounders. Five guns were fought by the Kearsarge, seven by the Alabama,
+both with the starboard batteries. The Kearsarge had made thirteen and
+one-half knots an hour under steam, the Alabama never exceeded thirteen,
+and at the time of the action was only equal to ten. The vessels were
+not unequally matched in size, speed, crew, and armament, displaying a
+similarity not often witnessed in naval battles. The contest was
+decided by the superiority of the eleven-inch Dahlgrens over the
+Blakely rifle and smooth bore, in connection with the greater coolness
+and accuracy in aim of the gunners of the Kearsarge.
+
+"So ends the story of the Alabama," quoting again from the Liverpool
+_Courrier_, "whose journal would be the most interesting volume of ocean
+literature; whose ubiquity scared the commerce of America from the seas;
+whose destructive powers have ruined property belonging to the northerns
+valued at upwards of three millions of money; whose actions very nearly
+involved these countries in war with the United States. The Americans
+are indignant that the ship was built by British hands, of British oak,
+armed with British guns, and manned by British sailors."
+
+Numerous inaccuracies, suppressions, exaggerations, and discrepancies
+exist in most of the accounts of this renowned naval engagement. The
+first reports published in Europe were characterized by contradictions
+sufficient to confuse any reader. This variance was noted by the London
+_Daily News_ in the following manner: "The sceptic who called history a
+matter-of-fact romance, should have lived in our day, when a naval
+action is fought off Cherbourg on a Sunday, and reported to the London
+and Paris newspapers on the Monday morning, no two reports agreeing in
+any single fact, except in the result. In our enlightened epoch of
+incessant, instantaneous, and universal inter-communication, the
+difficulty of getting at the simple facts of any passing incident, in
+which conflicting sympathies are concerned, increases in proportion to
+the increasing celerity and certainty with which the materials of
+history are gathered. Some allowance, no doubt, may be made for
+eyewitnesses on shore of a naval engagement seven miles out at sea.
+Their 'powerful glasses' are liable to that peculiar inaccuracy of sight
+which distance, excitement, and smoke produce. A French gentleman, for
+instance, who from Cherbourg Breakwater looked on at the American duel
+on Sunday last, wrote a graphic letter to the _Debats_, with a
+postscript to the effect that he had just discovered that the account in
+his letter was entirely wrong."
+
+Here ends the present story of the Kearsarge and Alabama. It is the
+truth told honestly.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's note
+
+
+A few obvious typographical errors have been corrected, and they are
+listed below.
+
+Page 20: "Hopital de la Marine" changed to "Hopital de la Marine".
+
+Page 24: "which which broke a link" changed to "which broke a link".
+
+Page 27: "postcript to the effect" changed to "postscript to the effect".
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the Kearsarge and Alabama, by
+A. K. Browne
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