Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-07-21
oapsaLn ss,n.ns.,s Official Es.port to Elr. MASON

SOUTHAMPTON, June 81, 1864.
Sir have the honor 20 inform you that in accordance
With MY lot>nti0n as previously announced to yen,
EamCd ont OF the harbor of ChertOarg between nine
a ten oclTck the morning of the 9th OF June for
iH purpose o engaging the enemy steamer Kearsatge
which hal been lying of and on the port Tor several
digs previously Alter ciearingjthe haroor deserted
~ ,lGUay, with his head Of shore, at distance OF
agU EiiIes. We were three quarters of an hour
ii. d. n.vg up with him. | bad piVoted my guns TO
80 board AID made all my preparations for engaging
lie s1emJ Gu that side When within about mile ans
qca:tI Of The enemy he suddenly wheeled, and bring
BIS head shore, presented bis starb0ard battery
he. Bg Ibis tiue we were distant about one mile
Fem each other, when opened on him with sold shot,
Which he rayiad in a few MINUTES, and tie engage
meEt became active On both sides.
lie fnCn.y pr ssug his ship under full head OF
steam, aod prevent passing each other too speed
y, oEd 10 keep respective brOadsides bearing, it
became Necessary to fight in circle the two ships
s.san.uE around cGIElnon centre, and preserving
distance from each ether OF from quarter TO half mile.
u itn we got within good she'll range opened upon
iD with sLli; goiae fifteen minutes after the
meiccntnt OF The action our Epanker gaft was shot
away, aua Cur ensign came down by the run. This
vas lmne aclY replaced By another at the nizzanmast
head. ;lG 6rug became very hot, and the enc
myH shot aud shtll began to tell upon Our hull,
knocking Gown, killing and disabling number Of men
IN different parts Of the ship.
P5rceiv}rg that cur SHE'LL though apparently explod
icg against tie eUemys sides, dong him but little
. onward aIesDated with shot and shell.
After the lapse Of about one hour and ten minutes
our ship asc:rai0Cd to be in sinking condition,
nc enemy she'll having exploded in our sides and be.
tween decEe opening large apertures through which
lh2 water rushed With great rapidly.
For some few minutes had hopes OF being able to
reach tle French coast, for which purpose gave the
sap all steam and set such of the fore and aft sails as
were available The ship filed so rapidly, however,
ttat bOTe We had made much progress the fires were
Xngushed in the furnaces, and We were evidently on
The point OF sinking. Inow hauled down my colors to
prevent tie further destruction of life, and dispatched
bat to Inform TIE enemy OF our condition.
Although We were now but four hundred Yards
from each other, the enemy fred upon me FIVE times
uter my cojors had been struck. 1t is charitable
suppose Il at ship OF Wer of Christian ration could
Lot have done tbs Intentionally.
We turne3 all our exertiors towards saving the
wounded and such of the boys of the ship who were
Unable TO swim. These dispatched to my quarter
boats the Gully boats remaining to meha waist boats
having been torn TO pieces.
Some twenty minutes alter my furnace fires had been
expguisheG, Gud the snip beings the point of set
tir- every man, in obedience previous order which
had tetr given tie crew, jumrtd overheard and en-
deavOred TO save himself
There 70 appearance OF any boat coming 10 ne
from the enemy after my ship down. Fortunate
II, however, the steam yacht Deerhound, owned fy a
gentleman CT Lancashire, England, Mr.. John Laacas-
ter who himsglt board, steamed up In the midst
Of ny drowning men and rescued number Of both
cheers and men from the water. was fortunate
enough myself thus escape tothe shelter of the leu
trl d}g together with about forty Others, all told
4 bout tpis lime the KeaEaGrge sent one, and then
.arGIy, another boat.
Accompanying You will find lists of the killed and
wcuudcd, and Of those who were picked up by the
DeerhoQnd the remainder, there is to believe
were picked up by the enemy and by couple O
French pilot boats, which also fortunately nea
the scene Of actiOG.
At the end OF the engagement it was discovered b.
those Of cur officers who went alongside the enemy
ebD with the wounded that her mldshp section or
both sides was thoroughly iron coated, this having
been GOGG with chain constructed for the purpose
placed pTpendculary from the rail to the water
edge, the whole covered over by thin outer plank
ing, which gave no indication of the armor beneath
/ his paukng had been ripped of in every directlo
by shot and SHE'LL the chain broken and irdented
many places, and forced partly into the ships side.
She most GfecuaUy guarded however, in this sec
ton from penetration. The enemy was much damage
In other parts but 10 what extent it is now impCssbl
TO tell it is believed he was badly crippled
My officers and men behaved steadily and CALAMITY
and though they have lost their ship they have not los
honor.
Where all behaved SO we'll it would be invidious t
particulariza but cannot deny myself the pleasure
saying that Mr. Kel my first lieutenant, deserves gea
credit Tor the line condition in which the ship went int
action with regard to ner battery, magazine and she
rooms and that be rendered great assistance by hi
GOODNESS and judgment the fight proceeded
The enemy was heavier than myself both in shir
battery and crew but did not know until the actio
was over that she iroa-clad.
Our total loss in killed and wounded is thirty to wit
zine killed, tWenty-one wounded.
have the honor to be, very respectfully your obed
ent servant, E. SEMMEs, Captain
1t is little ineXplicabIe why there should be such
scEtcy OF osanburgs N the when there 80 muC