Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-08-26
GnrrcSponAeMtc
The Fight between the Kear-
sarge and the Alabama.
ENGLISH CHANEL July 21st. lSGl.

Inc flSnC between the Rear-
sarge and the Alabama.
ENGLISH CHANNEL July 21st. 1854.
E Captain WInslow, being an old friend
of Raphael Semmes, favored the latter
gentleman by waiting five instead OF two
days, for the appearance Of the Al
ALBANIA, but at this date tho record be-
comes exciting and important. Subioinct
is the log Of the kearsarge on that day.
"June 10. 1854. From to m, moderate
breeze from tho Nd. weather b. c. At 10 in
spected crew ut quarters At 1870 discovered
the Alabama .teaming out from the port Of Cb.r-
bourr, accompanied by q French iron clad steam
er, and tore-and.aft rugged steamer showing
the white English snsign and yacht flag Beat
to general quarters and cleared the ship for act
ion Steamed ahead standihg OF shore. At
1850, being distant from the land about two
leagues, altered our course and approached ths
Alabama. At 1857, the Alabama o1mneae ID
the action with her starboatd broadsids at 1900
yards range. At H. we returned her fire, aHd
samo fairly into action which we Continued until
meridian when observing signs of distress in the
enemy, together with cessation Of her FIRE, our
fire was with held. At l2lJ, boat with an
officer from the Alabama came along De and sur
rendered his vessel with tho information that she
was rapidly sinking, and a request or assistance
Sent the launch and II Cutter, the other boats
bea. disabled by the fie Of the enemy. The
English yacht before mentioned coming within
hail was requo.te by Captain Winaow to render
assistance in saving the lives Of the officers aHi
crew OF the surrendered vessel At II u, the
Alabama went down in forty fI hons Of water,
leaving most of her crew struggl nS in the wat
or. Seventy persons were rescued by the boats.
Two pilot boats and the yacht also assisted. One
pilot boat came alongside US. but the other re-
turned to the port. Tho yacht steamed rapidly
away to the Nd. without reporting TIC naE.ser oI
our prisoners she had pickle: up.
JAMES K. WHEELtR.
Acts. Master"
Perhaps these simple facts may not
prove fully satisfactory. The y. Grel
three rounds before she was replied to-
At this point in the contest the X sheer
ed to the port and made directly Tor the
Alabama, until at distance Of about 100
yards, when she presented and delivered
her starboerd battery. The effect which
particular shots pr dueed upon the Al
ALBANIA is not knJwn, but that she was
ridded through aud through is admitted
by her officers aud men. One II in. shell!
struck Lieut.. Wilson's gun aal put
to,s du comJat nearly the whole of lis
crew and knocked him down. That was
bis fate four times during the fight, bat
he miraculoI.y escaped without II wound.
One of his men was cut entirely il two,
portion Of his body being thrown into
the engine room, aud flesh, bones, and
cutrais were flung in every direction. =
Blood literally ran down the sosPpcrs.
aud Wilson says his gun was blocEci By
limb. and bodies Another / inca saeit
cut through the Alabama's upper works
amidships 80 that she presented the ap-
pearance OF being nearly cut in two
Other shots entered her coal bunkers an.
buried some of the stokers beneath tt
The .nemy shook before our broad,i!es IL
if trembling at an earthquake, and her
men and officers were several times pros
tratei by conclusion produced by the
shells OF the kearsarge. His h4g wa
shot away several times. Towards the
end Of the combat the Alabama hoistcd
sail and 8tccrcd for the French coast, bar
the kearsarsc easiiy overlook her and
forced her to strike, by delivering several
terrific shots which caused her to settle
with great rapidity. The csew Of the
Kearsarge frequently cheered, for ami4
the rain of shell and shot they were tG.!
of life and confident of victory. Per
hans no naval battle WAS ever b f1gc
fought so remarkable in everything which
distinguishes great conflicts u2oa tAe sea,
Certainly there have been few SO prcs-
nant with valuable instruction to naval
men. France aud England received with
the protoundest interest the lesson which
taught them that they together, were no
longer masters of the ocean. An All
niraitv yacht visited the kearsarge at
CherboGrg. 1t contained a Captain and
other officers, who were charged with the
duty of exa mining that ship and report
M to the English admiralty upon her
armament, her build, and her condition.
The Admiral of the Port Of Cherbourg
visited the SHIP in behalf Of the Emperor,
and his Imperial Ilighness has alrcady
order.d hc batteries of sercral Of his
iron clq.is 10 be chan ed. 1t is known by
all naval men that Dahlgrens theory
tavors less velocity and heavy metal, The
iron.clads Of Europe-the Warrior, the
Black Prince, the Gloire, the Magenta,
the Solferiuo etc. are armed with breech :
Iloaders of about 100 bbs, calibre, rifle
ore while the best and favorite English
smooth bore is the old fashioned IS pound
|