The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-07-15

mouth harbor. The spectacle presented dur
ing the contest is described by those who wit
messed it from the Deerhound as magnificent.
The presence of the Deerhound on the scene
was providential circumstance, as in all prob
ability the men saved by her would otherwise
have been drowned.
The Star stated that the chain plating of the
Kearsage caused the shell fired at her waist to
strike the side and rebound, exploding HARM
lessly in the water.
From the London News, June 21.
The following is statement of one of the
petty officers of the Alabama: "The Alabama
arrived at Cherbourg on the 18th inst, seventy
days from Cape Town. The Kearsage arrived
off CherbOurg on the 18th inst. Challenges to
fight were reciprOcated by the commanders of
the Alabama and Kearsage. The former hav-
ing taken in coal and undergone some reftting,
steered out of Cherbourg at A. M. on Satur-
day. She was escorted by the French iron-clad
Couronne which was appointed to see the Ala
bama clear of the limits of the port of Cher
bOurg. The engagement took place about
twelve miles from the port. The first shot was
fired by the Alabama at the Kearsage at 1890
A. NJ The latter had chain cable traced along
the Alabama. The Alabama was about 200
yards from the Kearsage when she fired the
first shot. Being the faster ship, she was able
to steam around her antagonist in continually
narrowing circles when within five hundred
yards OF the Kearsage the rudder and screw Of
the Alabama were shot away, and she was rem
dered helpless; her cOlors were shot away.
The action lasted from 1880 A. NJ until noon.
At the conclusion of the action nine badly
wounded men of the Alabama went on board
the Kearsage. The crew of the Alabama, when
she went into action, were 140 men, all told.
After the action the kearsage appeared in dis
abled condition. Four men were killed and
ten wounded on board the Alabama.
Capt. Scmmes is at Kelways Hotel, and the
other officers and men are about the town get.
ting clothes and necessaries; they are taken
charge of at the Sailors Home here. Captain
Semmes and Chief Officer Lee went this after
noon to Emmanuels, the tailor in the High
street, to make purchases. The Captains hand
was bandaged, owing to a wound received in
action. The shop was crowded with people,
endeavoring to catch glimpse at the Confed-
crate commander.
Messrs. Emmanuel tapped several bottles of
port, and treated their customer. his Lieuten-
ant. and those who came to see them with
much hospitality. Capt. Semmes anxiously
asked what the people of England thought of
the South, said that slavery existed there but
in name, and that the North and South would
never again be united. He said, moreover,
that he had endeavored to do his duty to his
country. When he left the shop crowd had
collected round the door who made way for
him and treated him with much respect. He
seemed to be labOring under mental anguish
and to feel most acutely the complete defeat
he had experienced, and the deaths and suffer-
ings which that defeat had caused.
Capt Semmes is a thin, wiry- built man, with
and doto nod doir uo 10 o1Oy1f
years of age, with small red pointed face,
and beard and moustache in the American
style. He had on q very old naval officers
cap, and an English naval-L -Lieutenant's jacket.
He declined to see any strangers at his hotel.
His First Lieutenant is fine looking young
man. In answer to questions, Capt. Semmes
said that he lett all the property he possessed,
and upwards of sixty chronometers which he
had taken from captured federal merchantmen,
in Cherbourg, previous to going out to fight
the Kearsage. He says he was completely de-
ceived as to the strength and armament of the
Federal ship. What he recollected of the
Kearsage was, that she was an ordinary slOop-
of-war. If he had known that she was an IRON
clad, and much more heavily armed than the
Alabama, he would not have fought, as it was
madness to do so. He said that the fight be-
tween the Alabama and Kearsage has taught
another lesson in naval warfare, that of the
uselessness of ordinary ships of war like the
Alabama, encountering an iron-clsd and heav-
lily armed ship like the Kearsage He does
not know the extent of damage he did to the
enemy's ship; all he knows is that he lost his
own. It appears that Semmes and a number
of his officers and crew escaped from the
Alabama just as she was going down, and that
Mr.. Lancaster, the owner of the steam yatch
Deerhouud, was desired by the commander of
the kearsage to save as many OF the officers
and crew of the Confederate vessel as possible.
Capt. Semmes was in the water half an hour,
and was nearly exhausted when picked up. 1t
appears he begged Mr.. Lancaster to get away
as soon as possible, to prevent him and those
who were with him from being taken prison
ers, and the Deerhound, being fast yatch,
was enabled to get out of reach of the Fed
eral man -of-war. Mr. Lancaster describes the
fight as a magnificent sight. He saw holes
through the Alabama, made by the tremen-
dOus shot of the Kearsage.
From the London News, June 81.
When the battle was at an end, the Deer
hound steamed over to the Kearsage, and Mr.
Lancaster was asked by the Federal ship to try
and pick up the scores of the Alabamas crew
and officers who we're floating and swimming
about He lowered bis yacht boats, and one
OF them. commanded by man named Adams,
was steering his boat into q group of q dozen
struggling persons, when he passed drown
ing man at some short distance with an officers
that's Semmes," and the drowning man
called ont, I'm the Captain-eave me; can.
ap aos keep up any longer" Adams went and
araggeo MN into the boat. Semmes then said,
Tor Gods sake don't put me on board the
hASeaTesge, ASasg but put me on board your yacht"
Adams promised to do 80. and laid Semmes on
the bottom and covered him with a sail to con-
ceal him from the Kearsage's boats, which
were evidently anxiously searching for him.
When ADAMS saved boat load. he took them
on board the yacht, and Semmes was at once
placed below. As soon as all who were seen
in the water were picked up, Mr.. lancaster
was anxious to get away, and began to steam
ont to sea. He expected he should have been
brought to by q shot from the Kearsage. bnt
she was too disabled, IL appears to 20 after the
! Deerhound to overhaul her, and thus Semmes
escaped being made prisoner. al
From Galignsnrs Messenger, June %. al'e
| You are aware that the Alabama put in here
| a few davs back, coming from the Chinese
Seas Capt. Semmes, her commander, was in
F.! want of wood, provisions and coal. He had