New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-23
THE KEARsAncE AND ALABAMA.
Captain winsIeu's Detailed Report Of the
Action.
UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP KfA RsABGE.
ENGLISH CHANNEL July 30' 1904.

4 SIR: In obedience to instructions OF the Depart
Elementary report of the action between the hls'r'
sarge and Anbsma -
! On the morning Of the 10Th nit, tho day bong
fine, with hazy atmosphere wind moderate from
tho westward, win little sea, the position Of the
kearsarge at ten o'clock was near tho buoy which
marks tho line of shoals to tn, eastward Of Chow
bourg, and distant about three miles from the east
crn cntrance which bore TO the southwark an west
werd. At twenty minutes after ten o'clock tbs Ala
bama was deserted coming out of the west entrance,
accompanied by the Couronne fron-clsd.) Ihad, in
an interview with the Admiral of Cherbourg, as
sured him that, in tho event Of action occurring
with the Alabama, the position Of the ships should
be so far off shore that questions could be adj
vanccd about the line ofjurisdiction Accordingly,
to perfect this object, and with the double purpose
ofdrawing the Alabama far off shore that, II
disabled, she could not return, directed tho ships
head seaward, and cleared for action; with the bat
| terry pvotcd to starboard. Having attained point
about seven miles from tho Shore the head Of the
IKearsarge was turned short around, and the ship
steered directly for the Alabama, my purposs being
to run her down, or, II circumstances did not war
rant 1t, TO close In with her.
| Hardly had the Kearsage como round before tho
Alabama sheered, presented ber starboard battery
and slowed her engines. On approaching her at long
range Of about mile. she opened her full broadsdc,
the shot cutting some OF our rigging and going over
and alongside of US.
Immediately ordered more speed; but In two
minutes tho Alabama had loaded and again fired
another broadside and following it by third, with
out damaging us except IN Rigging.
We had now arrived within about nine hundred
yards of her, and was apprchensiye that another
broadsde-noary raking as it was--wculd prove
disastrous. Accordingly | ordered the Kcarsagc
sheered, aud opened on tho Alabama The position
Of tho vessels now brtNdside and broadsde; but
| il was soon apparent that Capt. Semmes did not
seek close action. became then fearful lest, after
some fighting, that he would again make for the
shore To defeat this determined to keep full speed
on and with port helm to run under the stern OF
the Alabama and rake her. IL he did not prevent IL
BY steering aud keeping his broadsido TO us. lie
adopted this mode Us a preventive, and as conse:
1uence the Alabama was forced with full head OF
steam into circular track during the engagement.
| Tho effect Of this measure was such that AT the
last of the action, when the Alabama would nave
made Off she was near hYe miles rom the shorei
and had the action continued from the rst In para
lei lines with her head in shore the line Of ursdic
ton would no doubt have been reached The hring
Of the Alabama from tho first was rapid and Wild:
towards the close Of the action her firing became
better Onr men. who had been cautioned against
firing rapdy without direct hiln were much more
deliberaie and the instructions given 10 point the
beav- guns below rather than above tho water line
and clear the deck With lighter ones, was fully OBJ
served.
| | had cndeavored, with port helm, TO Gloss In
with tho Alabama, but II was not until just before
the close Of the action that we were In position to
use grape. This WAS avoided, however, by nor sur
render The effect Of thet training OF our men was
evident nearly every shot from our guns WAS tell.
ing fearfnlly on the Alabama, and on the seventh
rotation In the circular track she winded, setting
foretrysail and two jibs, with head in shore. Her
speed was now retarded, and by winding her port
broadside was presented to VA, with only two guns
bearing, not having been able Gs learned after
wards To shift over but ono. now saw that she was
at our mercy, and a few moro guns well directed
| Eough,down her flag. was unable to ascertain
whether IL had been hauled down or shot away; but
white ag having been displayed over tho stera our
IRE wa reserved. Two minutes had not more than
elapsed before she again opened on us WIN the swo
guns on the port side This drew our fire again.
aud the Kearsarge was Immediately steamed ahead
and laid across her bows for raling. The white
Gag was still flying and our fro was again reser'e cd
shortly after this her boats were seen TO be lower
ING ard an officer in ono of them came alongside
and informed us the ship had surrendered and was
fas, oinking. In twenty minutes from this time
| tho Alabama went down, her mainingst which had
been shot breaking near tho head "a she sunk, and
her bow rising high out Of the water as her stern
rapidly settled.
The fire Of the Alabama although IL Is stated she
discharged three hundred and seventy or more shell
and shot, was not Of serious damage TO the kcar-
sarge. -
Some thirteen or fourteen Of them had taken effect
lin and about the hull and sixteen or seventeen
abont tho Inssts and rigging. The casualties we're
small only three persons having been wounded
yot IL ia matter OF surprise that so few were in
liurel considering the number OF proJectiles that
came aboard. Two shot passed through the ports
lin which tho thiTty-twos were placed, with men
thicklv stationed around them, one taking eject IN
the hammock netting, and the other going through
the port on the opposite side; yet no onc was ht,
the cap:ain Of one of the guns being only knocked
down By the wind Of the shot, as supposed.
Tho io Of tho kearsargc, although only one hun
dred aud scventy-three projectics had been dis
charged, according To the prsoners' accounts, was
terrific. One shot alone had killed and wounded
eighteen men aud disabled gun. Another had en-
tered the coal bunkers, exploding and completely
blocking up the engine ROOM and Capt. Sommes
.tates that shot and shell had taken effect in the
des of his vessel tearing large holes by explosion,
land his men were everywhere knocked down.
OF the casualties IN the Alabama no correct re-
couu, can Ice given. One hundred and fifteen per-
sona reached the shore, either in England or France,
laftcr the action. II is known that the Alabama
carriel crew, officers and men, OF about one hun
Jrsd and fifty, into CherbouIg, and that while IN
,ho Southern ocean her complement was about one
bundled and seventy. but dcseTiiOns had reduced
ria compl.inent The prisoners state that a num-
ibor OF men came on board nj ChcIbourg, and the
night before the action boats were gong to end iro,
and in the morning strange men were Been, who
wcro stationed as captains Of the guns. Among
these there was one Lieut.. (Slnclair VINO joined
her in ChcrbOuTS
THO Alabama had been five days in preparation.
sbe had taken in three hundred and hfty tons OF
coal which brought her down in the water. Tho
Kearsargo had only one hundred and twenty tons
in bnt ns an offset to this her sheet chains were
slowed outside, stopped mp ana down, as an addl'
tonal preventive and protection 10 her more empty
buukcrs.
The number of the crew Of tho Koarsargc, inclu
} ding officers and sick men, was one hundred and