Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-07-14
RUTLAND HERALD.
De.,rucsion Of the Alabama
THURSDAY, JULY 7, 1854.

N unchecked career of devastation on
,ur ocean commerce. Cornered at last I
" one of our gunboats, 1t was COMPEL a
a TO battle and the result is victory n
,oual to decisive victory over rebel
.rmy. We say compelled 10 battle, for .
,uch according TO the latest particulars
received, appears to have been the case s
The NewYork Commercials Paris cores
pondent says Semmes was ordered to
leave Cherbourg by the French Govern
ment on the demand of Mr., Dayton, who
based his demand on the fact that the
Alabama did not come into port through
stress of weather, but for repairs, which
would take months to complete. Semmes
finding it impossible to stay, and know
ing that the Kearsarge was waiting for |
him, sent her commander challenge, |
which was promptly accepted. This
agrees substantially with the account OF
the New York Times Paris correspond
ent, who says that the result OF Mr..
Dayton's protest was that Semmes re-
ceived a notice from the Maritime Pre-
feet to leave as soon as he had proyis-
Toned and coaled, and not to wait for
repairs, as he had expected 20 do. AS
soon as this order was sent to Semmes,
MIR. Dayton sent his son, Mr.. William
DAYTON, Jr., with instructions to Capt.
Winslow to make preparations for
fight for that Semmes had been ordered
out and would be obliged to go,
The English accounts of the battle be-
tween the Alabama and Kearsarge do
rot agree in all particulars, and some of
them are evidently colored by rebel sym
patty. a...........
The following is from the account Of
the London Star, which may be presum-
ed to possess as much fairness as any:
Gan being in readiness at about ten
A. NJ on Sunday, the Alabama got up
steam and proceeded out of Cherbourg
to meet the sarge-mon9uyering so
as to prevent her enemy from discharg-
inc broadside effectively, and ten min
utes alter eleven commenced the battle
by firing her starboard broadside at
about a mile distance. To the disap-
pointment Of the officers in the Alabama,
the shell fred at the waist of the Kear-
sarge was observed to strike the side
and rebound, exploding harmlessly in
the water This is said to have been
caus ID by her having chain plating out
side her planking. After a few rounds
of very smart firing, during which the
crew of the Alabama declared they fired
three times for the enemy's once, a shot
struck the screw and carried away one
of the blades, another rendered the ship
unmanageabe as to its steering-wheth-
er from the rudder itself being destroyed
or the steering gear carried away is not
known. The rigging was also much
cut up, and some OF sails fell on the
yards. Three shells had burst between
decks and the bulkheads were all carried
away. Finally, a shell entered the coal
bunkers and set the fuel on fire. At this
time the vessel had sunk SO far that the
water was reaching the engine fires
Captain Semmes then directed the first
lieutenant, Mr. Kell, to go below and re-
port the state of the ship. That officer
soon returned, saying she was in sink
Ing state, and the captain decided on
striking his flag. The flag had been al
ready three times shot away, but replac-
ed.
A large number of the crew rushed
aft conjuring the captain not to str''-
and expressing their re'" --.ne,
in her and die -.->"ness 10 SINK
- ~ With honor; and one of
.ne seanien named Smith, cutlass in
hand, stood by the flag and declared he
would not allow it to be lowered. The
captain leveled his revolver, and insisted
on its being hauled down, which was
done, and white flag hoisted. Mean
time the whaleboat and dingy, the only
two boats uninjured, were lowered ano
the wounded men placed in them.
When Mr.. Fulham reached the Kear
sarge he had his sword by his side, an'
let it fall into the water lest he shoul'
have to surrender it. He went on boar
the Kearsarge, and was asked by Cap
tain Winslow if he had come to surren
der the ship. He said he had no sue
orders, but was sent to ask for assist
ance, as they were sinking fast. TIL
Kearsarge then ceased firing and lowere
her DOdUS, Wullc MI. Il uiiohi iSNoiaN
towards the Alabama, which sank e1
he could reach her, and, after picking u
a few of the swimmers, he contrived
reach the Deerhound, where he foun
Captain Semmes, twelve other officer
and about twenty eight men. Whe
the ship was perceived to be sinking, o.
ders were given to cast loose all spar
&c, and when the vessel sunk the Sc
presented almost the appearance OF
pavement of human heads, seventy I
which were above the water within
small space. Nearly all the lives We
saved, and many men generously shou
ed to the boats to leave them for sho
time, and save those in more imminel
danger. The first inquiry from the boa
of the Kearsarge was for Capt Semme
They were answered that he had gol
down, and he succeeded in reaching OF
Of the boats of the Deerhound, whi'
got up steam as quickly as possible
avoid any attempt on the part of Ca
tain Winslow to make prisoners of tho
she had saved