Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-08-16
The Naval Duel off Cherbourg.

By the kind permission OF the Secretary Of ING N''''
We are enabled to place before the reader, 10 day
most interesting account of the naval duel between VIC
Alabama and Ksarssge. Il is an unofficial doccrmsn'
from the pen of prominent naval cheer, now IN The
ssrviee of the apartment abr al forming the OILY
authentic history o. scenes and incidents connected
vih that event which has yet found its way into print
The testimony which the writer bears to the dresdess
shirt auimAtng the gallant fellows who fcugat tie Ala
bapa-so their daring before the fight and their IN
Welding fOrtilude ser-tO their bravery as sailors and
their bearing as mems most gratifying Bow far tire
sympathy which the exploit, and what surrounded H.
has aroused for the that occasOned may CO. or
how useful is may prove, few can speculate with
keener comprehension Of TIE whole case than the gen.
lsman who has written that communication. What lie
AVS. therefore, touching the amount Ct sympathy
springng from the sinking Alabaml may b accepted
as an opinion entitled to confidence.
Though this letter plainly exhibits the cOntss. be
tween the ships very unequal one there are other
els in cu possession which still further establish that
iusoaalty Tue Chief Engineer Of the Alabama count
ed IN the STA board side OF that ship, below the sPsr
deck, seventeen large holes made ~ IL Inch Shells
Four STRUCK AtGund the after pivot and one struck IN
der water 10 the she'll rosm, throwing up as much wa
ter az to fill The glns Tnere you lave marked proof
not only of he power Of she guns bu Of the excellence
of the practices. Aplr from the fact that the Ala
bamas powder had lost efficacy in strength or that tic
Ksarsa,e rad more effective ordnance Gf all descrip
lions. there is the important Circumstance in favor OF
The latter ship of much large: Practice. Fjr obvious
reasons the Alabama had very little Of suol practice
She had no we'll rdsred dock yards to fall back OF,
~, rs ~ ;,,s
dicious waste" of powder or shell Add to ths draw
olsk, which was, after all, covered b. the prove Of
those who fought her, the fact tha fOrtynine feet o.
the Ksarsage WAS encsssd iN sheet chains purchased
n England for the purpose. Thus, with a small ship
stripped at all points for fair fight without any OF The
discreet ar oss Of modern scientific naval profc Os"
or al opportunity to get them, aud without the sk.A
acquired by constant tain;ng the Alabama, with Der
weary crsW and voyigl-W0rn tmbers and impaired
ammunition, vent out 70 a.Osps the insulting defiance
of foe expressly and usually we'll Ua1e up for .hs
struggle.
Everything connected with the combat, from the 60
csptance of the challenge the gathering again Of The
scattered but ulcer queTed bcers ard crew, lie emf
nently oaivarc. With ell the odds against hsr It ia
the conviction Of impaIt, and competent JUDGES Il at
the puIk aad uGshrinlrg perseverance Of the Alabama
would have every other obstacle had
milton been Potsns tto3e used it had every
reason to expect. The jlries that sunk the Ala
bama," writes distinguished naval officer who wit
messed tn conf ct would have sunk any chip in the
uorld AID, even with toe iron casing of the Keasssge,
am of opinion that had the powder Of the Asbam not
beeu damaged boih chips WOuldhs gone to the bot
tom" Il proof Of this, may mention that M. Fec.
man, of the Albania, while prisoner on board the
KsaFsage couated the shot thai struok her, nearly
As he could and he estimates the number below the rail
at sevea and abo1i IT, with eight or ten in the
rigging, smoke ack e." "ElOuyh to have destroyed
her but for the causes stated.
/. PARIS, June 2s 1854.
AZ was on board the Alabama when sbe
got ader way for her last as when got uudef
Eag for her frat cruise and witnessed the bsts in sd
varied sceues, an account from me will know be
interesting you, 80, perhaps, than the strictly
ofca reports which you will receive from Others.
SHALL therefore, relate 70 you all saw with the iT.
pres ions made upon my mind in as detsied manner
as / car.
B Before begin my story, however, let me comfort,
your mind with an assuraaos that while We have los.
our ship aud thereby undoubtedly sustained heavy
bIoE vet an convinced that We have gained 10 pres-
tige and honor to degree in very great measure 10
compensate ~. The French are brave, heroic peO-
e and such an appeal has been made 70 this great
moving principle Of their nation, has awakened amongst
the masses Of the French people amount Of sympathy
and admiration for our people which BY other posi-
BILE means could have obtained and thus cut OF
very great misfortune good will, assure you, result
for Nth all the good Will Of the Emperor to act as our
Fsnd be has uld uSttdy be,n restrained by want Of
ssmpltheio feeling The part of the nation at large
feeling which this most heroic battle has kndlsd al
over the Lar
will now tell you all saw IN detail: 0nF aday l7th,
beard that S.Rnes had cen. letter to WinsloW, ac
coping the tffr of battle, which be had irsulsipgy
made Lin, by steamng around his ship aud then GU OF
The hafbor-Whch is sOl natural one, bns projected
by bTsakw4ter which the ia in sight from
the town and hsrbOr. Ny son had ben ordered 10
join his ship aod in the midst Of getting him ready
60 leave on Monday. hurried to my room, packed up