Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-08
The naval Battle on. Cherbonrg.

In this impression we devote considerable
space to the accounts, taken from foreign
papers. of the remarkable naval engage
ment which took place off the port OF Cher
bourg, France, on the 10Th of June, between
the United States sloop-of-war Kearsage,
and the Confederate privateer or pirate
Alabama, which terminated in the sinking
of the latter vessel after an hours cannon
aiding. No event since the commencement
of our civil war has attracted so much at
tention in foreign countries as this battle;
no event of such deep interest to maritime
nations has occurred since the battle be-
tween the MOI itor and Merrimac; and no
contest has afforded so much satisfaction to
our people as this in which the pirate was
extinguished.
The notorious fact that the Alabama was
vessel built by the British, manned by
the British, patronized and protected by
the British, served to concentrate and in
tensify the hate of our people upon the
vessel, which they had so many other rea-
sons to dread and execrate. She was COM
manded by a daring, inscriptions and able
seaman, and for two years her pathway
upon the ocean has been illuminated by the
burning of inoffensive and unarmed mer-
ehantmen. By the exercise of discretion
which did not correspond with his bombas-
tic fulminations through the British press,
Captain SEMMEs adroitly avoided all con-
test with the armed vessels sent in pursuit
of him; and he would have avoided the last
meeting If it had been possible, or if he
could have withstood the insinuations Of
his secession friends in Europe, who began
to weary of this chivalrous seaman
who exhausted his valor upon unarmed
ships. The fact that the Alabama went
to the bottom in an hours fight with the
first armed vessel she ever met, will be
the source of inordinate modification to
the LAIRD's and other British patrons Of
piracy, and chagrin to the entire people of
England. The result is not so much of a
. victory over the Confederates, as it is a de-
feat of the English.
~ sSfsiMEs, in order to fatter his British pa
irons, is reported to have said that his best
seaman and artillerists were educated in
Her Majesty's navy; but the result of their
skill in this first engagement is a ludicrous
commentary upon the compliment. SEMMEs
appears to be making gigantic efforts to
cover up his disgraceful defeat by loud
threats in relation to new Alabama soon
f,Ebe launched; butit is doubtful whether
this course will avail him. He is used-up
and played out pirate, and that is all that
can be said of him. An officer who, after
losing his ship, is compelled to sneak off
Under the protection Of neutral flag, and
under such circumstances as SEaihMs per-
formed the feat, is not likely to maintain
his reputation among sailors or any other
decent class Of people. His coming out to
fight the Kearsage, in the manner he did,
does not relieve the picture a great deal, in
asmuch as he confesses that he thought his
opponent rotten old hulk, like most of
those launched under the direction Of the
patriarchal WELLEs. f ,s
The moral effect of this naval engage
ment in Europe win be very great, and IL
will doubtless haveIthe most salutary ef-
feet upon. the English capitalists who have
been so eager to invest in piraticai bottoms