The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-24 00:00:00

THE ALABAMA AND KEARSARGE.

The following account of the naval engagement
of Sunday last will be read with interest •
I returned late last night from Cherbourg, where
I bad been a witness to the fight between the
Kearsarge and Alabama. I regret to see that Nome
of the London papers are perverting and falsifying
the facts, so as to do great injustice to the gallant
officers and men of the Keanarge.
The fight began about 11 a.m., and ended a few
minutes after 12, lasting a little more than an hour.
The Alabama fired about 17 shots at the Kearsarge
before the latter fired a gun. The Kearsarge fired
173 shots. She was struck in the hull seven or
eight times, but has sustained DO important damage
at all, and is perfectly ready for active service. She
bas a crew of about 165 men, that of the
Alabama being about 147. The Alabama had eight
guns, the Kearaarge only seven. The firing of
the Alabama was very inaccurate, that of
the Kearsarge was excellent. A large pivot gun
was particularly effective. The Kearsarge is spoken
of as being iron-clad ; she was no more iron-clad
than the Alabama might have been bad they taken
the precaution. She simply bad a double row of
chains hanging over her sides to protect her ma-
chinery. Two shots from the Alabama struck these
chains, and fell harmlessly into the water.
The Kearsarge picked up 63 men, one dead body,
and two men who have since died on board. She
also took five officers. Captain Winslow would
now have all the officers and men of the
Alabama as prisoners had he not placed too
much confidence in the honour of an Eagliahman who
carried the flag of the Royal Yacht Squadron. The
Club will be indelibly disgraced unless they take
measures to repudiate and condemn the conduct of '
Mr. John Lancaster, owner of the yacht Deerhound.
I have no doubt that this yacht was in the harbour
of Cherbourg to assist the Alabama by every means
in her power ; that abe did so I know ; her move-
menubefore the action prove it. When the Alabama
went down, the yacht, being near, was bailed by Cap-
tain Winslow and requested to aid in picking up the
men in the water. The request was complied with,
and the Deerhound, after having rescued as sup-
posed about twenty persona, including Captain
Semmes and First Lieutenant Kell, imme-
diately left, rimming towards England. Captain
Winslow says the reason he did not pursue her or
fire into her was that be could not believe anyone
carrying the flag of the Royal Yacht Squadron could
act so dishonourable a part as to carry off his pri-
soners whom be had requested him to save from
feelings of humanity.
Captain Winslow considers Semmes and his
officers bound upon their honour to give themselves
up as his prisoners of war. About fiveminutes before
the Alabama went down a boat from her oseseto the
Kearsarge with an offizer, whosurrenderedtbevessed,
and then asked rrmiseion to return with his boat,
to assist in picking up the men. This was granted,
when the officer left,and after rescuing a number—
principally officers, I understand—he west on
beard the English yacht and escaped. Please
excuse the hurried style of this letter, but I was
anxious that while Captain Semmes and his party
are being feted for their glorious conduct, you
might be apprised of these positive facts.
P.S. The Alabama hauled down her colours
and ran up a white flag at least ten minutes, I
should think, before she went down. Prisoners
taken from the Alabama state that about three
o'clock in the morning before the engagement teak
place, the chronometers in theAlabann were trans.
?erred to the English yacht Deerhound, then lying
in the harbour, not far from the Alabama. The
Deerhound was, in fact, acting as tender to the
Alabama before the action.