The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-07-15

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board the Alabama during the action was
shown by the gunners who had been train
ed on board the Excellent in Portsmouth
har0or. The spectacle presented during
the combat Is described by those who wit
messed it from the Deerhound as magnii
cent. The presence of the Deerhound on
the scene was providential circumstance
as in all probability the men saved by her
would otherwise have been drowned.
From the London Globe.
It appears that Capt. Semmes accepted
the challenge of the Kea-sage to fight, al
though aware that his adversary carried
so more mel than his own vessel, and
was a larger ship, with heavier guns
Capt. Semmes was not, however aware
that the Kearsage was chain>plated under
her outside planking. Shortly after the
action commenced, shot from the Kear-
sage killed three men on board the Alab-
anna, cutting them to pieces, and second
! shot wounded three more men and killed
another, and third shot carried away
the blade of the Alabama's fan and part
of the rudder on her deck, disabling a gun
and causing much damage. Below and
away, and the tireroom was filled with
| water
The Alabama fought under sail, first US
ing her starboard battery and afterwards
her port battery. She continued the en-
gaCement until the muzzles of her guns
were under water, and one part Of her
deck was covered with dead and wound
ed. When found in sinking state the
Alabama ceased fighting, and lowered her
boats, in which the dead and wounded
were placed. Shortly afterwards the Al
ALBANIA sank, the officers and crew jump-
ing into the sea, when the Kearsage's
boats came up to assist in saving the crew.
The officer in command Of the boats in
CURED for "Semmes,' and was told that
he was drowned, whereas he had already
been picked up by the yacht Deerhound
and slowed away, the yacht having then
steamed off with all speed, expecting the
kearsage would attempt to capture those
on board.
The engagement is described by the
owner of the yacht Deerhound as most
brilliant affair, the fighting being severe
and at short distance. The Alabama
guns were served most rapidly, but doing
less execution. The Kearsage, however,
is said to have sustained much damage,
her sides being torn open, showing the
chain plating.
The officers of the Alabama estimate
their loss in killed and wounded at from
80 to 40 men.
semmes' Official Report of the Fight.
New York, July s.
Semmes in his official report of the
fight with the Kearsage says: "When
about mile distant he opened with solid
shot. The Kearsage replied. and in a
few minutes the engagement became gem
eral. The two ships steamed around a
common centre, preserving a distance
from each other of one-fourth to e-half
mile When within good range he OPP
ened with shell. In ten or fifteen mimi
tes the Alsbama's spankergatl was shot
away and her ens Ga came down. This
was Immediately replaced by another at
the mizzen>mast.
I" The firing now became hot, and the
enemy's shot and she'll soon began 20 tell
on our hull, knocking down, killing, or
disabling number of men in different
parts of the ship,
Perceiving that our shell, though hit
ting, did but little execution, resort was
had to solid shot, a!ternated with she'll
After about an hour and forty minu-
les our ship was ascertained to be in a
sinking condition, the enemy's she'll hay
decks opening large apeItures, through
which the water rushed with great rapid
ity for some minutes. | had hopes of be-
ing able to reach the French coast, for
which purpose gave the ship all steam,
and set such of the fore and aft sails as
were available. The ship filed so rapii>
ly, however, that, before we had made
much progress, the fires were extinguish-
ed in the furnaces, and we were evidently
on the point Of sinking.
now hauled down my colors to pre-
vent the further destru elton of life, and
dispatched a boa. to inform the enemy OF
our condition"
lie says that the Kearsage fired upon
him five tmes after his colors we're struck
The remainder of the report is devoted
to a statement of how he was picked up
and made his escape under neutral flag.
His officers, when they went to the Kear-
sage, found that she had been furnished
with a chain armor, concealed with plank
ing; that the plauking was torn off by
his shells, thus exposing to view the ar
NOR. He also says: The enemy was
heavier than myself, both in ship, battery,
&C., but did not know till the action
was over that she was iron-clad."
The armor consisted, it proves, of a
double row of chains slung along the side
OF the Kearsage; and, from all accounts,
the Kearsage could have withstood the
wild firing of the Alabama whole day,
whereas the firing of the Keavsage, accord
ing 10 Semmes, was so hot and accurate,
that, in ten or fifteen minutes after the
commencement of the action, his flag was
shot away, his hull torn, and his men
Knocked down, killed, and disabled in all
directions.
THE PREsIDENc1.- The following vote
for President was taken among the passen-
gers on board the steamer MontGomery,
DURING a pleasure excursion from CHICAGO