Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-11-24
Speech of Commodore winslow
BANQUET GIVEN MN IN BOSTON.
How the Kesrsarge watched the
Florida, and Georgia, and ..,-
caught the Alabama. 80. -,

uhutId Oi DObtuu lu uoupf OF commodore WINS
low, was attended by three hundred gentlemen,
George b. Upton presiding. The journal says
4" la the rear Of the President were two beau
tiful American fags, handsomely festOoned, sur
mounted with National shield. Directly uppJ-
site was another beautiful iestoon Of flags, n the
centre of which was q gilt eagle, aud over it the
motto on Il shield, "llOnOr and Gratitude to the
Defenders Of our Country. AT one end OF the
hall, over the door, were shields, with the names
Washington, WiusloW, Stringbnm. an anchor
forming the centre OF the name win4lOw. At
tho opposite end of the hall Wero the names
Foote, Thornton, Liucsln.
"Tbe tables were most prOfusey aud beauii-
fully decorated with rich bouquets, which hllOd
the air with THAR fragrance. The confectionery
table ornaments were very numerous. Among
III EN- Was n Monitor with her guns frownins
from out Of q bed OF flowers, "a curiously wrought
vessel of vegetables, beautifully decorated aud
surrounded by eagles ship of the liue service,
under full sail, aud various others The Amer
eau flag was conspicuous on all the ornaments,
snd added to the beauty OF the oruAmentation. 49,
The bill OF fare was very iastefully gotten uP,
aud bore o spirited engraving OF the fight he
tween the Kearsarge aud Alabama, with the
Rebel ship sinking below the waves"
An address Of welcome was delivered by Mr..
Upton, who concluded az follows:
"On behalf Of this assembage welcome your
return to these shores-[ cheersl not as your
Pilgrim ancestors came, to a iben oheerles4 aud
barren coast, but TO this pesple warmed with
hearts grateful for your services. On their he
half propose this sentiment Captain Winslow,
the officers and the crow Of tho United States
steamer kearsarge-No more noble action lives
in the annals Of the navy than the destruction VI
the steamer Alabama. We pledge you aud them
our thanks and our gratitude Enthusiastic
applause, the company rising and giving uine
more cbeers."1
Commodore winslow responded as follows;
COMMODORE wISsLow's sPEEcH.
Nr. PresidsRi and GenHemea-I Am deeply
grateful for the manner in which you have re-
ferred to the services OF the Kearsarge, and |
feel assured that every officer and man beOng-
ing to that vessel fully united with me in thank
ing you for this welcome. There ia nothing in
the world 80 pleasant and 80 gratifying to a
mans feelings as to know, when he has perform
ed his duty oonscieHtiously, especially if II be
for tie benefit Of his oOuntrymen anil Of the bu
man race, that his net meets with its deserved
reward nj the hAnds OF his couhtrymen. Zap
plause. When consider the engagement Cf the
kearsarge with the Alabama, aud recur to the
services which at prior time, on the Mississippi
aud at other points, it has rendered, look upon
that action AZ light matter, comparatively (;
for what can be compared to tho hard service
rendered TO our country on the blockad in mid
winter Why, the fight between the kearsarge
aud the Alabama w0s nothing in comparson.-
Indeed, we are always prepared to go into
tlon, and II is nothing in itself, provided, Indeed
We go into II fully determined 10 do our duty in
whatever position God has placed us. APP
pliuse. believe, indeed, that considerations.
ly performed my duty. tried to do it, and
believe, also, that ali the officers aud men united
with mc in that effort. [Applause.l
REBEL sYMPArnIzERs IN FRANCE
Therefore tho fight with the Alabama WAS n
matter OF small moment. IL was, Indeed, over
in an hour but agree with the President that
Il was Of vast consequence TO the old country
When we entered Brest, which we did because
| We had heard that the Florida WAS there. We
found Gil around US nothing else but Secession
feeling. 1t is true that, as matter of etiquette,
the Admiral ofthe port extended to me q compli
mentary dinner. and must say that. as far as
his own feelings were concerned, believe him
to be ON the Union side, but also believe him
TO he an exception. We were met everywhere
by tue secessiou influence. Why, the French
people believed that the Southern people were
fighting against an immense North. who mad
tleir heel upon their necks and were trying 10
keep them down. They knew nothing of the
question of Slavery at all; they knew nothing Of
the questions at issue. Il was simply with them
h5ht Of the minority against the majority. IL
you know anything Of Frsnchmen, IT. indeed,
you know anything of human nature, you viii
! know that men will always be for tho minority.
| Applause. We found, say, the Secession it,
fiuenoe ut work everywhere around US. re-.
| eeiVed letter after letter frUm the American Min
lister, telling me was doing this thing and that
thing contrary to the neutrality Of France |
was told that | could not 20 out until twenty.four
hours after the Florida had sailed, or else must
20 out before her. We had been condensing
water, aud it was telegraphed that We had steam
up, ready to 60 after the Florida Down came
/ a letter from the American Minister, stating that
ho understood we were all ready to run after the
Florida. replied that it vas very poor eoonO'
my to keep steam up, inasmueh as I knew the
Florida could not 80 to sea in thirty days
daughter.
FaR KRARsAR0E PUTTING TO BEA IN 4 GALE.
While lu this situation we received u tel egram
from the American Minister that the GeoIga
had passed the Tagus and was on her way up
the Channel And must ssy never knew any
thing like the weather. IL seemed to me that
the very teInpesls were let loose, and left the
port Of Dresl At a time when the Admiral had
drawn the chains across the inner Channel, and
had given orders that no vessel should go out
but told them the Kearsarge must 80 Out.-
Applause. The pilot would not 60 out, bul
came OIL board when We were about n mile out
to get his money. gave il to him aud took the
ship out myself. Loud applause So heavJ
wus the gale that the vessel sooOped the waite
up under he stem like spoon. Well we passe
the British Channel and not being able TO lind
out where the Georgia was, we enleredthe har
bt + OF Queenstown. Here We met the came Sc
oession influence; and although We had nothing
else but heavy gale Of wind, | was Immediate
ly waited on by an cllicer from the Admiral
''5ir, you must leave the port in twenty y-fou
hours." | went to see the Admiral, and afte
fighting him for three or four hours about inter
national law, he turned round and said, "Wou
you dine with me tu- might? =" al thank you
SIR" l replied, al require twenly-iour hour,
notice. LGrrat merliment
ORDERED our OF BREsT.
Well, gentlemen, we returned to Brest, and il
a short time we were rdered out, and we had Il
blockade Brest in that inclement season of thI
year, aud believe that the past season has no
been equalled for many years for its nolemenoy
They had taken away my pilot, and had t.
pilot The vessel myself, and it anybody wauts T.
know what the blockade Of Brest Is, all can M.
lie, lrettr him 10 Admiral COllingwoOd, who give
n very full account Of it, While we wero a
Brest received letter after letter from our Cou
sui there, from our COnsul Rt Paris, from Ou
Consul ut flavre, aud from our Consul, Mr.
Morse, ut London, aud various other Cons us
that the Georgia was at Cheib1urg, and was ar
ranging combination with the Florida to tgb
the Kearsarge | never cav more depression Ui
feeling than was eyinced iu those letters. Whel
l wroie TO those COnsuis, said, "Cheer up
have written 10 the Commanders Of both th
Georgia and the Florida, notwithstanding thei
liiel guns, if they want to come together vii
permit the@, apd psyer fro gun until ihel
II. III. t..s..a 4