Charles City intelligencer., 1864-07-14
Brilliant Naval Victory.

SINKING OF THE PIRATE CRUISER ALABAMA.
By the arrival of the Arabia at New
York we have intelligence of the sink.
ing of the rebel cruiser Alabama, of
Cherbourg, by the o. S. steam-sloop
Kearsarge. The Alabama lost, 20
men killed and wounded, and 6S cap
tured. Capt Semmes, the Command
er of the Alabama, and 40 officers and
men, were picked up by the English
yacht Deerhound and escaped.
The Navy Department has receiv.
ed the following
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
U. S. STEAMER KEARsARGE, June 10, 1864.
To Hon. Gideon Wells. Secretary Of the Nary:
SIR: have the honor to inform the
Navy Department that the day subse-
quent to the arrival of the Kearsarge
at this port, OH the l4th inst, l receiv.
cd note from Capt Semmes, begging
that the Kearsarge would not depar
as he intended to fight her and woult
not delay her but day or two. Ac.
cording to this notice the Alabama
left the port of Cherbourg this morn.
ing at about $50 o'clock. At 1920
in the afternoon we discovered her
steaming towards us. Fearing the
question of jurisdiction might arise,
we steamed to sea until q distance of
six or seven miles was obtained from
the Cherbourg breakwater, when we
rounded to and commenced steering
for the Alabama. As we approached
her within about 1900 yards, she
opened fire, we receiving two or three
broadsides before shot was returned.
The action continued, the respective
steamers making circle round and
round at distance of about nine hun
dred yards from each other. AT the
expiration of an hour, the Alabama
struck, going down in about twenty
minutes afterwards, and carrying ma
ny persons with her. 1t affords me
great qualification to announce that
all did their duty, exhibiting much
that gave promise at the outset Of
final victory.
l have the honor to be, most respect
fully, your obediant servant,
JOHN A. WINsIow,
Capt. U. S. steamer kearsarge.
The New York Tines correspond
ent says: Notwithstanding reports
sometime since that the Alabama was
SO worn out that she would have to
be abandoned, and would never go on
the ocean again. she made the trip
from the east to Cherbourg in such a
short time that she was thought to be
the Florida, and it was SO telegraphed
on her arrival. Captain Winslow,
with the Kearsarge, then in Holland.
was Immediately sent for by Mr.. Day
ton. He arrived in time.
By the protest of Mr. Dayton, the
French authorities were obliged to
order the Alabama out of port.
Semmes put the best face on the mat
ter, though it is evident be did not
Ike to face war ship He scnt word
to Commander Winslow that he i'm
tended to drive him of, and Winslow
replied, Let him try it," The fight
was SO short and decisive that one
would have thought the Alabama had
changed places with one Of her un-
manned merchantmen victims. 1t is
not true that tho Alabama at any time
attempted to board the Kearsarge.
When the Alabama was disabled in
her machinery, the Kearsargc was
run up close to her and poured a de,
structivc converging broadside, which
tore away whole section of the Ala
bama's side at the water line, and lei
water through in cascades. The Ala.
bama then turned tail and made for
the shore. Commander Winslow hoist.
ed his flag Of victory and pursued.
Finding that the Alabama was sink
ing, he lowered his boats to pick up
the crew.
No one was killed on board the
Kearsarge, and only three Of the crew
were slightly wounded. The vessel
was very little injured.
Mr.. Dayton Informed Commander
Winslow that the prisoners could not
be paroled. but might he transferred
to the st. Louis when she arrived, and
conveyed to the United States.
Commander Winslow claims Capt
Semmes and others taken to South.
ampton, as his prisoners. He had am.
pie means TO pick them up. but the
English yacht actually stole them, as