Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-07-22

us at present to be as likely to be correct
as any:
Alabama. Kcarsage.
: ~ I5J po1"1s'' % .Iasa. 5lpsasa.r,. i insh
j "A rifed. "a Lowitssr.
The following sketch is given Of the
gallant commander of the Kearsage, who
has so nobIy earned that promotion to the
rank Of Commodore, for which the Secre-
tary of the Navy has promptly reccom-
mended him:
Captain John a. Winslow entered
the navy on the lst of January, 1927,
having been appointed from North Caro-
lima, although citizen cf Massachusetts.
He joined the sloop ot.war Falmouth,
then attached to the West India squad
ron, where he remained until 1881, when
he Was sent to the New York Naval
School for u few months, when he was
warranted as passed midshipman, bear
ing date April %, 1892, He was then
ordered for duty at Boston. In 1886 he
was on the coast of Brazil in the sloop
E.ie. Three years after he was at the
rendezvous at Boston. On the 9Th OF
December, 1889, he was promoted to be
lieutenant. In ISL he was attached
to the steamer Missouri. In 1919 he
was attached to the sloop Saratoga, on
the home squadron from that time until
80 b,n th,, ba
was ordered to the frigatc ST. Lawrence,
flagship. where he remained long cruise
On the l4th of September, 1855, he
was commissioned a commander and or
dered to the RENDEZVOUS at Boston. L.
1859 he was relieved and awaited orders
La 1861 he was appointed lighthouse in
spector. In 1862 he was ordered to the
Mississippi hotiIa, and subsequently he
was ordered to Portsmouth to command
tie Kearsage, which position he has filed
with credit and honor in the past as well
as in the action with tae Alabama. He
has been at sea one year and ten months
in the kearsage, being astotal Of nearly
eighteen years. For over eight years he
performed shore duty, and for eleven
years he vas unemployed. lie has been
oyec thirty-scycn years in the service o.
his country and his last act will ever be
remembered in naval history"
10 this we may add that Captain
Winsiow is native Of North Carolina
from which State he was appointed, but
hat for some years past Roxbury has
been his place Of residence.
The circumstances under which thc
Alabama was led to encounter the kear
sage are thus stated by tae Paris cores
pouacut Of the New York Times:
I'VE were not little astonished to
find that the Alabama was in the port Of
Cherbourg, and that she had made the
run from the East in the remarkably
short time, for vessel in her condition,
Of hundred days. So impossible did it
seem, that when she entered the port o!
Cherbourg last Friday week, both the
American Nce-Consu at that place and
,he Maritime ptefect telegrlphel to Paris
that it was the Florida.
Immediately the American Minister
at Paris teegraphed to Ca tain Winalow
Of the Kearsaga, then y,lug in one OF the
potts Of Holland, aud to the old sailing
rigate St, LOUIS, supposed to be at Ca
dz, to repair Immediately to Cherbourg
to latch the pirate il possible. The
Kearsagc arrived at once, but the St.
Louis had not yet had time to arrive at
the moment of the fight. The American
Minister also protested at once to the
French government against the admission
of the Alabama, and reminded the For
cign Secretary of his previous promise in
regard to this vessel. The Ancric IN
Minister could with more justice protest
enersetically in view of the fact that tAe
Alabama did not come into a French port
under stress Of weather she seemed to
have struck straight line from the Cape
to Cherbourg; she did not turn to the
right or left she did not attempt to 60
into either the ports of Eng gland, or OF
Holland or OF Belgium, or Of Spain, or
OF Portugal, as she mi sht have done with
the same facility. Mr.. Dayton, therefore
made most apt and most forcible point
in declaring to the Foreign Minister that
by his indus sence, the rebels were using
French ports exactly as if they were their
own, taat they paid no regard to the
stress of weather clause, and that such
had been the hospitality shown them in
France that they were fast learning to
make it their only rendezvous.
The result OF this protest was tina:
Semmcs, after the thing had gone through
the circumlocution Office" received Il
notice from the Maritime Prefect to leave
as soon as he had proyisioncd and coaled'
and not wait for repairs, as he had ex-
pccted to do.
As soon as this order was sent to Sem
mes, Mr.. Dayton sent his son, MIR, VIM
Dayton, Jr., with instructions to Capt.
Winslow to make preparations for fight
for that Semmes had been ordered out
and would be obliged to 60.
Capt. Scmmes, finding that he had nc
alternative, determined to put the best
face on the matter, and to make as much
lr |, L.. Ia hpr