The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-05
Inc kearsarge and Alabama.

Aetter from Lieutenant.Comma
er Thornton of the Kearsarge.
A correspondent of the BOSTON .Zouruoz
says:
The following extracts from letter lust
received by a friend, from Lieutenant
Commander Thornton of the Kearsaroe
will be read with interest, both by reason
of the heroism and inventive skill of this
young officer, and for the new particulars
about the fight and other information e
contains. The fight occurred, it will be
remembered, on Sunday, June 10, and the
letter was dated on Thursday, June %.
though it was not completed till two DAYS
later.
1t may not be improper to add that
Lieutenant Commander Thornton is a New
Hampshire man by birth, being the only
son of the Hon. James B. Thornton, for
merly Charge d,Affairs at Lima, Peru,
where he died just as he had embarked to
return, and where his body now sleeps;
and the only descendant of Judge Matthew
Thornton, one of the three signers of the
Declaration of independence for New
Hampshire.
Commander Thornton was flag lieutcn-
ant and executive officer of Admiral Far
ragut on beard the Hartford when she as
cended the Mississippi and stcrmed the
forts below New Orleans, and then the
city itself 1t was there that his inventive
genius suggested the use of the ships chain
cables for the protection of the sides of the
ship, for which, as well as for his efficiency
| and bravery in these actions, he received
| the highest recommendation of the Admit
| raj. He had narrow escape with life,
shell exploding on deck and tearing his
! clothes from his body. Afterward, being
in command of gunboat, he pursued the
Florida, then called the Ovieto, under the
very guns of Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay,
and succeeded in lodging a shot in her,
and was about annihilating her, as he be-
lieved, when he was signalled by supe-
rior officer in the distance to retire, which
| he did with deep regret, and only in Obe-
dience to orders. Hence his far from
atfectiOnate remembrance of this pirate
craft.
| KEARSARGE, CHERBOURG, June %, 1864.
| We have had great victory, and
the whole of Europe is ringing with it. Con-
gratulatOry letters are pouring in upon us from
| all quarters, and bouquets of flowers, with Of
fers OF boxes at the opera, and thousands Of
dCICuIlOuS UcSluc. LII lU6 ulQSC OF IL all nave
been necessarily and even furiously occupied in
getting the ship fully re.established in its for
mer good order and condition.
You will learn all about the fight and the de-
struction of the Alabama in the papers. / be-
lieve am awarded all the credit l could wish
for the part bore in the battle; but military
pride and promotion have ceased in o great
measure to be motive with me. I have en-
deavored to do my duty to my country and the .
service, both in battle and in the long, labor-
Gus and careful preparation for it. have sue
ceeded and | am satisfied. felt no excitement
in the fight but l watched its progress with
professional interest and felt perfectly satisfied
with the result. That is all.
Very different were my feelings in former
battles on the Mississippi and the Gulf. Then
felt all the excitement and all the enthusiasm
OF the scene, the desire to do and dare in con-
tempt of danger and death Perhaps if we had
been obliged to board the Alabama the rush
OF conflict would have revived the Old feelings,
but doubtit However, must not mourn if
l have been enabled to do nv duty credtably.
My old and hOnored commander, Admiral
Rowan, will be pleased, and that is one gratifi-
cation to me, and perhaps many another friend
will be also.
By the way we have news that the Niagara
departed for these waters on the I'd of this
month, and we are expecting her daily. Now
that the Alabama has been destroyed, the Geor-
gia run into port and sold, the Rappahannock
permanently SEIZED by the French Govern
ment and only the Florida left of all the rebel
navy, perhaps the Kearsarge may be relieved
by the Niagara and be allowed to return home.
| can really see no further necessity for her
presence in the channel now, although the
'secesh" avow, with many strong Oaths that
they will fit out another Alabama in six weeks
and sink the kearsarge. But [ rather think
they have got enough for the present long
to see the Old Niagara stick her long nose tow
ard the g. breakwater;" but suppose we must
q pruica bofO bo lIu
does come. But do not think we shall see
any more fighting, unless we can pick up the
Florida. L have sort of grudge against my
old foe, but am willing that she should be
taken by any other fortunate ship.
The shores of the old Channel have rurg
with the sound of naval artillery for centuries
and yet an hours sharp fighting sets the French
to jabbering, and John Bull to using worse
language. The Alabama happened TO have
battery of English manufacture, while our own
was purely American. In calibre and mathe-
NAUTICAL force they were about equals. but the
disproportion of effect was wonderful. The
English will not ascribe it to superior training
and discipline on our side, which is the true
cause but persist in trying to find fault Win
the fairness of the battle, while nothing could
be fairer. The two ships were alike IN SIZE
the Alabama mounting one gun IN Inc broad
side more than the Kearsarge, whHe inc Rear
q. sarge had two II inch pivot guns Where the
Alabama had one S-inch and one l2o-pounder
Blskely rified gun.
There was difference of only sixty pounds
in the weight of iron thrown at tt, single broad
shins were Proting by former experience
we had g bighted" our sheet cables over the
side for the better protection of our boilers.
This had been done year and a half before the
action was a aware of this but under
his shin with similar defence. Our chain was
struck twice by the heaviest projectiles and un-
ouestionably saved us from damage. But the
Alabama's men fired hurriedly, and almost al
ways above our ship, while our men. trained
to GOODNESS and deliberation, fired slowly into
the Alabama.
Provost Marshal General Fry has issued an
order directing that when skilled mechanics
and artisans employed in the Government ser