Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-07-15
The Combat between the Kearsarge and
Alabama.


CHERBoURG, June 9th.
OS BOARD THE kEARsARGE.
The Alahama came down upon Us at full speed
uuti within distance Of about three quarters
of a mile. when she opened her guns upon Us.
We dii not reply for several minutes. but
ran-ei mp nearer, AMI then opened our star
board battery, fighting SIX guns leaving only
one 32-pounder idle The Alabama fought
seven guns. working them with the greatest
mpiity, sending shot aud shell in a constant
stream over our heals. Both vessels used their
-tarbolrl batteries, the ships being maneuVerei
ia o circle about each other at distance Of from
fye hundred to one thousand yards. Witnesses
on shore say that We made seven complete cir
cles during the action, which lasted little over
one hour.
Our shot. particularly the l-inch shells, made
fearful havoc among the enemy. The first one
killed three men and wounded nearly the whole
guns crew where it exploded. Finally we placed
a shot In the rudier part Of the Alabama, disa-
hhug 90 some extent her steering apparatus. Al
most at the same time another Of our shots en-
terrell her coal bunker, abreast Of her engine,
forcing her bunker m-boari, and showering her
machinery with coal, which prevented her from
making progress for a short time. when she set
her sails % the breeze and tried to run in toward
the French shore.
" were on llt WATCH. anu iN a EANll move
ment headed her of, and got into fighting posi-
ton on her port OF weak side-a very successful
decisive maneuyre On that side she had but
ouc gun, and we gave our broaiside into her
with the greatest precision, doing fearful damage
20 her hull We shot away her flag, but in a
few minutes it was run up again at her mizen
truck. 4 short time longer We kept up our cannon
aie. when she hauled down her flag and we ceas-
cl firing.
In "a few minutes she gave US, very unexpect-
eily. "A couple Of shots more and again we opened
onr batteries upon her. This, however, contin-
uel but a very short time, for she soon showed a
white flag in token Of surrender, and sent boat
On board Of Us 20 ask assistance in saving the
wounded. as she was in a sinking condition. We
Immediately launched two boats 1.-THE other two
having been riddled by shot and sent for the
wounded; but before the boat got alongside, the
once formidable Alabama settled by the stern,
thrust her bow far out Of the water, and then
disappeared beneath the waves, carrying down
no one will ever know how many Of the poor
victims.
Previously to this, after the firing had ceased
and il was evident that the Alabama was sinking
an English steam-yacht. which had been observ-
ing the fight at q distance, came up alongside Of
Us, and asked permission 10 assist in picking up
the wounded OF course it was granted, as an
act Of humanity; but by so doing We were rob
ed of half the fruits Of our hard-earned contest
for the yacht moved up ahead OF US, lowered her
hoat. picked up Semmes and several Of his off,
GERS aud crew, and stood away with all haste for
the English coast Then we saw through the
ruse that Semmes had no doubt planned before
hand for his escape in case of his defeat; but we
could not follow and leave the poor unfortunates
still in the water, so we remained by them until
all were picked up. Thereafter We steamed into
this port, and came to anchor.
We had picked up in our boats 65 Of her crew
and firemen and five officers living and one dead.
OF the men 10 were seriously wounded, two dy-
ing on board Of us We had only three men
severely wounded As soon as We came into
Cherbourg the wounded men we're all sent to the
hospital as our accommodations on board were
not 50 convenient for their proper treatment. We
parocd all the other prisoners except the officers,
Tor we were unable TO keep so many on board,
or send them TO the States
There are about l20 accounted for, leaving
ovor 30 who inevitably went down with her
when she sunk. The officers of the Alabama
say that they numbered on board about $50 all
told, but they give no account of those who
Joined her after she arrived here at CherbOurg.
The number Of these will never be known, but
several of the most experienced gunners Of the
/ English naval reserve went on board the night
before the action on purpose 70 point the guns.
They were old, practiced seamen. who had seen
service in the English navy, and were supposed
to be able to sink the kearsarge or disable her
/ guns in half an hour. Semmes promised them
| that before noon they should be on board Of rs.
During the action we fired l73 shots. The
Alabama certainly fired many more. At the
first part of the action she fired two shots to our
one. But such rapidity Of firing was only &C
complished at the expense of accuracy. Our
shots were fired with astonishing precision, and
wrought fearful havoc on the enemy. We were
struck Il times in our huh, and an equal num-
Der Of times in our rigging.
Two shots struck our chain srmor abreast 'of
our boiler, but did not enter the ship. Another
ls0 pound rified shell struck under the stern,
and glancing down lodged in our rudder-poet,
where it still remains too firmly embedded to be
removed. Fortunately the shell did not ex-
plode. Had it done 50 it would have carried
away our rudder and rendered our ship nearly
unmanagesble. Although it was at the latter
part of the action that we received that shell,
still, had it exploded, the fate Of the Kearsarge
I might have been similar TO that Of the Alabama.
Another shell struck our smoke-pipe abont IL
feet above the deck, and exploded, tearing q
hole three feet in diameter, and covering me and
my men with a shower Of fragments of iron, but
none Of us were much injured.