Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-08-19
Cnrrespondente.
L. S. s. KEARsARGE,
OF Chcrbourg, July -, ca.


FRIEND SAWYER:
The actica between the Alabama and
the United States Steamer Sloop OF War
Kearsarge, which took place off this port
on the 18th inst, is OF so much import
ance, in National poip. Of view, to two
OF the most powerful nations OF the earth.
and affects 50 materially the prospects of
those cugsgod i'll the most gigantic rebel
lion which has occurred since Hell organ.
ixed against Heaven, that the most I'M
portant circumstances and incidents OF
the battle may prove interesting TO the
reading public.
rac career Of the Alabama previous to
her entry into the port OF Chefbourg need
not be recounted to any portion OF the
American people. 1t is probable that the
history OF the kcarsarge is not SO we'll
knowu; aud as her career is not stained
BY iligi,imate pluuder, as her officers are
not disgracrd by suicidal traitorism, and
her crew are not hired aliens tor the COM
mission Of robbery upon the high seas
under lying colors, aud the destruction of
deceived enemies ia the name OF per6dious
Albion. it is also probable that her history
will not be perused with that avidity with
which the record of the notorious outlaw
is devourcd. 1t is sufficient then to know
that the kearsarge was butt at Kittery'
Maine. Her armament consists of .
eleven Inch Dahgrcn smooth bores, l
thirty FOUNDER Dahlgren rife, 4 thirty
tso FOUNDER smooth bores. She was
launched ia about sixty.6ve days from
the Ia, ing of her keel. On the 24th day
Of January 1862, she went into commits
sion under the command Of Capt. Charles
w. Pickering, and on the following 5,h
day Of FEBRUARY set sail for the notorious
steamer Sumter, then reported repairing
at the port of Cadiz. Touching at Ma:
deira GU her way across, the X. arrived
at Cadiz on the following 4th day OF
March alter very stormy passage. In
the Gaif Stream she lost two boats. At
Cadiz she learned that the Sumter, after
making sufficient repairs to make herself
sea.worthy, was ordered out Of dock by
the Spanish authorities, but not comply
i0g with the order with sufh ,ient prompt.
ness aud courtesy to satisfy Spanish dig
atty, she was unceremoniously aoated out
Of dock aud compelled to leave Spanish
waters. With that uufailing instinct
which leads the cub to seek the protec-
tssa Of its aged predecessor, the Sumter
sought protectioa under the English flag
which flies from the bluff rock of Gibral.
tar. 1t is to be remembered that Capt.
Semmes was IN command, and it will be
seen below whether that hero's "recolec.
ti0ss OF the Kearsarge" were likely to be
correct or nOt.
Captain Pickering steamed through the
shipping in Gibraltar Bay and ssueily
dropped his anchor within cables length
OF the enemy's vessel. Captain Semmes
could be seen distinctly. He was walking
the quarter deck. the following Sunday
morning. in u state Of apparent uneasi-
ness. His anno.an was SO uncontroila.
ble that he complained to Governor Cod
riueton OF the discourtesy shown by the
Kearsarge, and Capt Pickering was
thsrsupon ordered to display that courte-
sy in the future, which the neutrality Of
English ports required. Immediately
after we dropped anchor. Eugland's july,
brave tars. broke forth in the song Of
"Dixie's Land" The Kearsarge was
naturally very much excited. but after
getting little cooler, her crew was per.
mitted to enjoy. the "Star Spangled Ban.
neg" the "Ked, White and Blue," aud
"Xherica." The steeied hearts of the
6umter's officers must have melted, for
tears moiste1ed the brown cheeks of the
Union jacks" and the Sumter was after
wards silent as the night closing over her.
The Kearsage was destined to relieve
the Tuscarora in watching that craft, and
the vigilance with which this duty was
performed by Capt. Pickering may be