The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-06


poica ~ tho crew OF the Rappahannoc lying at Calais
came here, Her Officers, who have been much Of the
time op Shore have frequently boasted u the prowess OF
the captain and crew. asserted that they coad whip
! any Yankee vessel which dared against thcm.
The kearsarge arrived OF the pert The i4h Of June
Since asst March se has been cruising 10 and about the
Channel looking more particularly FOR the Happahannock
than for Thing else She lay time last
| In Brest watching the Florida.
The Kearsarge her arrival of the port
been inside until after the battle having been lying oil
and on at distance Of from three miles Of the
coast.
Tho Fight took place Sunday the 10th On the 18Th
the day after the the Kearsarge OF the port
Captain Wiosiow received from Mr.. Lais the consular
agent Of the United States here, note containing
tract from letter written by the rebel agent at Cher
bourg, and pnrportng to quote from letter Of Captain
Semmes to the rebel agent Captain Semmes stated that
he considered the presence the Kearsarge vcin
W OF the port an insult to him aud the rebel Gag:
thS he was desirous OF don and intended giving
fight and "begged that the Kearsarge would remain or
tho port where he hoped dctan her longno
| than to morrow or next day at farthest."
To this Boosting irony Captain winsow made
no repy, but prepared his ship for the coming combat
Captain Semmes however did him two days longer
than he promised. 1t would probably have been better
for Captain semmes and his vessel had he even waited
little longer"
Nothing more heard OF the Alabama until Sunday
morning the Ksarsarge in the meantime continuing her
! cruise of the port.
little after ten O'Clock this beautiful bright,
about four OF the port the Alabama was discovered
sieaming towards her through what ia known az the
eastern % passage. The men were immediately beat to
gSafers ana every man sprang TO his place. eager
the commencement Of the fray.
In .-sder to put beyond the shadow OF doubt any
ttnpxr raNf
winslow Immediate; upon discovering the Alabama,
headed his vessel TO sea- ana steamed away from the
miles the Alabama following n her wake, at DISTANCE
Of mil and baf tha S So So go" &c m ssiirucY
Aauntins sency in the breeze Of morning.
After reaching ohing OF about seven mes the Eear.
sarge sackened speed and turned her side toward the
Alabama slowly, allowing the latter approach her.
While bringing her portsde to bear upon the Alabama
for the purpose of fighting the battle on that side the
kearsargc resefving her fire. aud deathke silence pre-
vapg on board, permitted the Alabama 10 approach
within distance Of twelve hundred yards The Kearsarge
had hye guns with which she fought the battle mounted
the port sde crew not being sufficiently large 10
work the whole seven guns upon one side. y
When the Alabama had arrived within the distance
above mentioned she opened the combat with a broad
side fred the Kersarge The Alabama fought seven
OF her guns, two than by the kearsarge
and also on her starboard side. None Of the shots
struck the kearsarge two passing rest
falling short The reverbevatioLs OF the cannon and
the wicked, whzzlng sound which the shot made in
passing through the air however excited the men, who
were anxious to return shot for shot.
Captain Winslow, however, deemed II wise to allow
The Alabama, sti approaching slowly, fred a second
anu third broadside the shots however
effect, before the Kearsarge returned shot.
When the proper distance seemed to be obtained Cap
poured broadsde after broadsde her as rapidly as
the gunners could load and lre
a lively scene was now exhibited.
Tue moment 1t was known that the Alabama leav.
Ing port the people Of the town. who some days had
trance TO the port before the rstgun was red hun
dreds were gazing from the high cliffs sminences
distinctly heard In this town brought all who had been
waiting for certainty, aud crowd Of excursionists
that of the pretes naval Of the age was 10
be thrown in for their amusement. In few minutes
Rc s upon % the aps
we're epgaged in deadly strife.
An the military and naval authorities Of the port were
assembled there with spyglasscs in their hands, and wit
messed the fight with great satisfaction Even with the
naked eye the combat 0oud be distinctly observed for
the day was particularly bright and clear
After the kearsarse opened her batteries upon the
Alapama rapid and continuous fire was k4bt DIP from
both Each vessel OF kent her up
each sailing circle In direction opposite TO the
other, keeping the starboad battery bearing upon her
Spectators describe the mannuvring Of both the yes
sells as beautiful They continued approaching each other
until towards the end Of the fight distance Of but about
Eve hundred yards separated them.
The Alabama fred much more frequently than the
Kearsarge and wasted great deal powder and ball
Generally her shots were evidently badly aimed, wild
aud high Evidently her forte 10 attack aud awe
surrender merchant vessels but from the
FIRST the nrng from her showed that she was not com
petent to grapple with the trained and disciplined
Many of the shots, however, struck and cut the rig
gng o. the Kearsarge, without infictng however, any
serious damage-the shril whistle Of every one as il
sw over their beads exciting the crew Of the
aud rendering thom more than ever determine1 10
conquer.
The aght commenced al twenty minutes past ten
O'Clock, aud lasted Just one hour and Ave minutes.
During this time four shots lodged in the huh OF the
Eight shots a struck her hull one rife shot PISSED
entirely through her smokostack another rifle eheIl
fbrGl tho eli min
the shear plank, bursting and woundng three men,
causing the ony casualties TO the crew Of the kearsarse
during the fight.
oae Of these, a named Dempsey, had his arm
or and the others received fractures OF the legs
Another rifle shell struck under the and lodged
the ruddcr post without exploding; another carried
away the starboard life buoy; another scratched the
Three thirty two.pounders passed the rort eide on
posi,e the wardroom hatch. Another carried away
santng direction upward, passed through the bottom
OF the cutter the port side. Another rile shot
struck the top OF the engine room skylght, cutting
clear Il like saw, aud nnaily passed through
the skylight window. Several struck the starboard
the side TO cover and protect the boilers These,
therefore caused 20 damage shots were continually
seems almost a miracle that moro casualties did not
occur.
The Hrst shot noticed predicting any effect urcn
Alabama her smidships, but in uppcr works,
making perccptibs gap but doing little no serious
nch she'll exploded on tho Alabamas deck near one Of
the divisions kuling hlteen out OF the nineteen men,
and scattering bone, and flesh In s directions, aud cut
ting one pap entirely IN two
One Of the Alabania'e the scurrers literally
| ran b!ocd." Third Iieutepsnt Wilson, also taken
prisoner says he was knccked down four times, but
| esclped without wound.
From the deck Of the Kearsarec il could be plainly
that her cfectivc and destructive Are seriously
nurine the Alabama, and each shot struck her side
loud cheers went up from the crew Of tho Kearssrgc,
more than ever enthusiastic by o speedy proelcc OF
During the entire hght the men (whoee n-st
baptism With Ore this was) acted with The greatest eooi
noss aud determined courage not sngo one ol them
! showing the t.who feather.p
one hundred and seventy four rounds wcre nred dur
ing Eht from The Kearare u s computed tuat
! the Alabama Cred AZ least twice that number
1T quarter res eleven II ses observed that Captain
ccmmes had altered his opinion relation 90 prow
and kll OF his Yankee antagonist and arrived
The conclusion that discretion the batier part OF
vacr Z, had, IN short, as amiabie President tpco
elegantly expressed ~ decided TO "turn tail and ruu.r