Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-07-21
CHERBouRo. juno "a. I
In Roam TILE KRAnaAnaR

bic 70 receive from participant oeScrip-
tion Of our combat with the Alabama. send
it to you a. witnessed frotn our own decks.
q Our ship, the Kesrsafge, was lying at
Flushing Holland, when we received tel
egrsm from Minister Dayton, lParis,) sta
ting that the Alabama bad arrived at Cher
boutg. We Immediately put to sea with all
haste, and came down here, taking the Ala
bama quite by surprise by the suddeness Of
our appearance upon her track. tWeifre-
t'msined outside this port, but conimdnica
ted with the consular agent here, and
through him we received sort of challenge
from Semmes, who stated that If We re-
maned Of the port he would come out and
/ fght US. Also that he would rot detain US
long. ra, sa. -.si..,'a .'..'7A
I'VE cruised off the port five days, until
the 10th Of June, when our perseverance, in
guarding the port was rewarded and we sew
the much vaunted starry ensign floating on
the breeze as the Alabama came boldly out
under the escort Of the French iron clad
la Couronne. I" The latter retired into
rort after seeing the cembatants outside Of
French waters. - HiiH - atA va" '.4
The Alabama came down upon us at full
speed until within distance of about three
quarters of mile, when she opened her
guns upon us. We did not reply for sew
eral minutes, but ranged up nearer, and
then opened our starboard battery, fighting
six guns, and leaving only one S2-pounder
idle. The Alabama fought seven guns,
working them with the greatest rapidity,
sending shot and shell in constant stream
over our heads. Both vessels used their
starboard batteries, the ships being ma.
neuvered in d circle about each other at q
dista hce of from five hundred to one thous.
and yards Witnesses on shore say that we
made seven complete circles during the &C.
ton, which lasted little over one hour
! Our shot, particularly the l1-inch shells,
made fearful havoc among the enemy. The
| first one killed three men and wounded
nearly the whole guns crew when it explo.
ded Finally, We placed shot in the rudder-
part of the Alabama, disabling to some ex-
tent her steering apparatus. Almost at the
same time another OF our shots entered her
al-bunkcr abreast of her engine, forcing
the bunker inboard, and showering the
machinery with coal, which prevented her
from making progress for short time, when
she set her sails to the breeze and tried to
run in toward the French shore. piaa, ,n. -
| We were, on the watch, and by rapid
movement headed her off, and got into fight
ing position on her port or weak side, a
very successful and decisive thaneuyer. On
that side she had but one gun, and we gave
our brJadside into her with the greatest
precision, doing fearful damage to her hull.
We shot away her flag, but in few minutes
it was run up again at her mizzen. A short
! time longer We kept up our cannonadc, when
she hauled down her flag, and We ceased
firing .i.a l.
4 In few minutes she gave US, very unex-
pectedly, couple of shots more, and again
we opened our batteries upon her This,
however, continued hut short time, for
she soon showed white flag, in token OF a
surrender, and sent a boat on board of us to
ask assistance in saving the wounded, as she
Was in sinking condition. We immedi-
ately launched two boats, the other two hav-
ing been riddled by shot and sent for the
wounded, but before the boats got alongside
the once1formidable Alabama settled by the
stern, thrust her how far out of water, and
then disappeared beneath the waves, carry.
ing down no one will ever know how many
OF thelpoer victims. % .s.."'.' '"
Previously to this, after the firing had
ceased, and it was evident that the Alabama
a was sinking, an English m-yacht, which
had been observing the fight at a distance,
came DIP alongside of us and asked permis
sion to assist in picking up the wounded
OF course, it was granted, as an act OF hu
manity, but by so doing we were robbed OI
half the fruits OF our hard-earned contest
:, for the yacht moved up ahead Of us, lower
. ed her boat, picked up Semmes aud severa
of his officers and crew, and then stood
away with all haste for the English coast
Then we saw through the ruse that Semme
! had no doubt planned beforehand for his es
cape in case of his, defeat but we could no
caIl anI tau.A ha fn-t, m fae
: in the water, SO We remained by them unit
all were picked up. Thereafter We steamed
into this port, and came to anchor. s 81
. We had picked UP III our boats sixty.fiv
!. OF her crew and fremen, and five officer
! ! were seriously wounded, two dying on boar'
!. of us. We had only three men se9eyel
y wounded. As soon as we came into Chez
+ bourg. the wounded men were all sent to th
q, Hospital, as our accommodations oD boar
J. were not so convenient for their prope
I, treatment. We parellcd all other prisoner
s except the officers, fer We were unable I
keep so many on board or send them TO th
. States. Ha -la.iA e' ''"t Aat -t'b .e'
Z, p According to the report Of the master I
the British steam. Yacht, tDeerhound, y sh
Handed forty at Southampton. Probab
1thisis exaggerated. But taking it as tru
and adding those we picked up, and mir
which French pilot boat rescued. the
are about 100 accounted for, leaving ov,
thirty who inevitably went down with h
when she sunk. The officers of the Al
bama say they numbered on, board abo
one hundred and fifty all told but thu
give no account of those who Joined h
on after she arrived here al, IChsrbourg. ~
1 number Of these will never be known, b
several Of the most experienced gunners
1.-the English naval reserve went, on board b
night before the action on purpose to poi
I. the guns. They were old, praeticed seanie
who had seen service in the English nav
sLd were supposed to be able TO sink /
Kearsarge OF disable her guns Ia half
hour. Semmes promised them that befo
!. noon they should be on board of u.s. 81
d. b During the action We fired l7S shots
The Alabama certainly fred many more.
!, At the first part of the action she fired b
is, ii shets to our one. But suoh rapidity Of !
y ing was only accomplished at the exper
= of accuracy. Our shots were fred with
4 tonishipg precision, and wrought fear
~ havoc on the enemy. We were struck to-