The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-07-11

The Alabama Sunk by the kearsage Es-
cape of Capt. Srmmes~-Euit Accounts Uf
the Fighs--rhe Danish Qu.stion--A a General
: War Imminent, sc.

received. The mos, important Intelligence in
them, to readers this side OF the Atlantic IL the
sinking of the g steam corvette Alabama by the
Federal gnneoat Kearsage. Ia Cherbourg bay, on
Sunday, the 18Th ait. The Alabama reached Cher.
bOurg on Saturday, the 1lth of June, from Cape
Town, with thirty prisoners, tbs crews o! two mer
chsnt vessels which she had captured snd de-
stroyed or the passage, and which she landed ian
mrdiately upon arriving. She entered the har5or
for the purpose Of making repairs, as she was In
an unseawouhy condition. While there. IL ap
pears that the Captain OF the kearsagc challenged
Semmes Tor fight between the twu~vessels- the
challenge WAS accepted. and on tue 18Th the Ala
bama steamed out 10 attack the Yankee boat. At
the same time, The Deer Hound, steam pleasure
yacht, owned by John Lane ascr, an Eng 'ish gen
tIeman, steamed out with Mr. I. and his family 10
see the fight MI furnishes the London Times
with the following: -
Xft0r Mt or THE Fidar BETWEEN THE ALABAMA AND
KRARsAdE.
To the Editor Of The London Times:
Herewith send you u copy of nay log respecting
Che engagement between the Confederate steamer
Alabama and the Federal steamer Keaisige
S,lnday, June 70, y A. M.--Got up steam and pro
ceeded out OF Cherb0urg harbor 10 ID -obsefvt d
the Alabama steaming out of the hatbor towards
the Federal steamer kcarSagc. lt3o the hiabA
ma commenced firing With her staIbnafd battery,
the distance between the contendihs vessels being
about one mile The kearsage immediately re-
piled with her starboard guns L very sharp, spir
itad flung was then kept up, shot soneti lines being
varied by shells. IN the maE'sIvring both vessels
made seven complete circles Al distance ot flon
d quarter 10 half 4 mile.
AT twelve "a slight iniermission was observe In
the AIabama's s firing, the Alabama making head
sal, and shaping her course for the iand distant
about nlne miles. At half-past twciV@ observed
h.,J Had md in n G Stnfa
We immedi ately made towards her, and on passing
the Kearsage were requested 10 assist IN saving
the Alabama's crew At ten minutes TO one, when
within distance of two huudped yards. the Ala
ban,a sunk. We then lowered our two boats, and,
with the assistance OF the Aiabamas whale boat
and dingy, succeeded In saving about forty men,
Including Captain Semmes and thirteen Officers -
Al p we steered foe southampton.
may state that, before leaving, the keafsage
was apparently mucn d. abled, The Aabama's
oss far as at pfl sent aSceriained III Killed anu
wounded, &c, was as follows, VIZ: one oincer and
one man drowned, six men killed, and one officer
and sixteen men wounded. Capt SeinmPs received
n slight wound in the right hand. The heaTsage's
boats were, after some delay, lowered, and, with
the assistance Of French pilot boat, succeeded Ill
picking up the remaining suIViv0Is
Steam Yacht Deerhound, of Cowes, June 10.
MIR Mason, the representative Of the Confcde
rate Government at London, has ;nt copy of
Captain Semmes's o!i;cii report to the Loudcn
TImes. Capt Semmes siys that in an hour aud
ten minutes the Aiabanit was found to be In
sinking state, the enemy's shells having exploded
on her sides aud between decks. For a few min
ntel he had hopes OF reaching the French coast;
but the ship filled rapidly, and the furnace fires
were exiinguished. Capt Semmes says
now hauled down colors to prevent the fur
ther destruction of life, and dispatched boat 10
inform the enemy of our condition. Although we
were now but four hundred yards from each other
the enemy fred at me five times after colors had
h,en struck. IL is charitable 10 suppose that
shin Of war Of Christian nation could not have
done this Intentionally.
Some twenty minutes aitef my furnace ires had
been extinguished, aud the ship being on the poiut
of sinking, each man, In obeyancc 10 a previous
order which had been given TO the crew, jumped
overheard and endeavored 10 save himself
There was no appearance Of any boats coming
from the enemy after The ship went down. was
fortunate myself In escaping TO the shelter OF the
neutral flag on board Mr. Lancaster's yacht Deer
hound together with forty Others
NEWSPAPER REPORTS CONCERNING TIE FIGHr-6H-
LAsrRy OF THE ALABaMA's cREw-HOw CAPTAIN
sEMMEs WAS X RsscUED-f HAULING DOWN or IHg
coSFRnBRATE FLAG, ETC
The Engsh and French newspapers have varf-
ous and lengthy accounts OF the fight From the
London Times's Southampton correspondent we
take the following:
A, length the Aiabama's fudder was disabled by
one of her opponents heavy shells, and they hoist
ed saiIs but IL was soon reported to Capt. Senmes
by one of his officers that his ship was sinking.
With grea, bravery the guns were kept ported
itl the muzzles were actually under water and the
las, shot from the doomed ship was fired as she WAS
settling down
yy,,en her stern was completely under water,
CAPTAIN Semmcs gave orders for his men to save
themselves as best they could, and every oae jump
cd Into the sea and swan to the boats whicn had
out OFF To their rescue.
IF cd npIp
by Cspta.n Semmes TO be placed In the Aiabam3's
boats and taken on board the Kearsage, which was
as faI as possible obeyed.
Cant Semmes aud his First Lieutenant, Mr. u
Ke,I. are staying at kelwavie Hotel. in Qucen's
terrace where the gallant commalder Is Under the
care of Or Ware, medical gentleman OF this town;
his right hand being slightly splintered by shot
When the men came 0n board The DeeihiuHd
thev had nothing on but their drawers and shirts,
having been stripped to hit; and one OF the men,
with sailors devotedness, insisted on seeing his
captain, who was then lying In lNr Iancaster's
cabin In very exhausted c0adiu0n, as he had
hepn entrusted by Capt Semmes with the ships
pai ers. and to no one else would he give them up
The men were all very anxious about their Cap
tain, and were rejoice to hnd that ne mad been
saved They appeared to be set OF first rate
fellows and act well together In perfect union under
the most trying circumstances.
Mr. Lancaster Is clearly Of opinion that IL was
the Kearsage's eleven inch shells winch gave her
the advantage, and that after what he has wit
messed on this occasion wooden ships stand no
chance whatever ag iinst shells. Both ships hred
well into each otner's hull, and the yards and
masts were not much damaged. The mainmast of
the Alabama had been struck by shot, and as the
vessel was shaking broke OIL ana tell into the sea,
throwing some men who were In the inaihtop into
the water. Some tremend us gaps were visible In
ihe buwaFks of the kearsaRe, and II was believed
that some Of her hosts were disabled. She ap-
peared 10 be temporarily plated with iron chains,
&c As FAR as could be seen, everything appeared
10 be well planned and ready ON board the Kear
sage for action. Great pluck was shown on both
sides during the action. On boat the Alabama
all the hamm0ck Ks were let loose, anu arrangements
had been made for sinking her rather than thai
she should be captured.
Astar ss is known, not re ic Of the Alabama
Is tn the possession of her successful rival Whep
she was sinking Capt Semmes dropped his own
sword into the sea 90 prevent the possibility 3s is'
getting into their hands, and the gunner made a
hole In one Of the Aiabama's boats and sunk her
for tire same reason.
Before leaving the Deerhound, Capt Semmes
presented to MI Lancastsrs son one Of his oicer's
swords and a pistol, in remembrance Of the occur
renee, and the kind treatment he and his men hae
received on board the yacht.
Mr. Mason, the Confederate agent, Capt Bullock,
and the Rev Mr. Tremlett arrived az O'Clock this
afternoon from London, and proceeded 70 keiway's
Hotel to meet Capt 4emmes.
The shell that did the mischief to the AlahsEs
struck her just above the water line, knocstn tns
her bunkers to pieces, the water almost immeda
ateiy putting out her iires
When the battle was at an end the Dcerhornd
steamed oyer to the Kcarsage, and Mr Lancaster
was asked by the officers Of the Federal ship 10
try and pick up the scores OF the Aiabama's crew
and officers who were foailag and s<immihg
about. ia lowered bis yacht boats, and one oi
them, commanded by MIN named Adams, wiis
steesia9 his boat Into group OF dozen struggling
persona when he passed a drowning Inaa at sduie
.h<Axf lsetp Arnlt4 xS1i<v -. p