Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-07-12
The Capture Of the Alabama.
HOW THE plGHT WAS BROUGHT ABoL,-

Maakof the reliable Paris correspondent Of
the New York Tines, gives an account Of the
destruction Of the Alabama, which differs in some
important particulars from the accounts in the
French aud English newspapers. The Alabama
did not seek the fight IN 1T ol bravery, as stated,
but owing to The representations Of the American
minister, Semmes was obliged 10 leave the port,
and finding hs had no alternative, determined to
put the best face on the m tier, and TO make as
much spitsl fer hImse! as possible tie there.
| fore wrote letter TO the m4ratme project, re-
questing him 10 inform Capt. WinsloN that he
considered the lalters conduct il pretending 10
off and blockade h U IN a neutral port as an
insult @ end that he Intended to come out and
drive hun Cd Wnslos replied, Let MIN come
out aud try it. Both parties made their prepare.
tons accordingly. Semmes, whose business II
vas 10 run and not to feht, was so badgered and
worried by the taunts Of our side, by the pats on
| the back Of bis friends aud s,mplthzers, and b,
the restrictions Of the French authorities, that
less brave man than he would have been driven
by desperation TO hgnti aud Capt. Winslow, who
properly estimated all these circumstances, felt
| perfectly sure that Semmes was going to fight.
Semmes left all bis yluables in the hands Of the
Brazinn consular agent On shore, and after in
yitng his friends to come out and see the Gght,
went to sta.
Mr.. William Dayton, Jr was aboard the Kear.
sase Just before ant Just after the light, and ac-
cording to his account the action lasted abolt an
hour sud half, he kearsarge, although hi. in
several places, received no vital SHOT The Ksar.
sarge had but three men touched, and these 20,
MORALLY 1t is not true that at any part of the
| H..h L.. Alsn. Ia aIv
neuyeuug and firing Of the kelrsarge we're both
superior 10 those OF The Alabama There is no
evidence that Capt. Semmes tried to board the
kearsarge, as the secession prints say. Toward
the end of the fight Cap. Winsow succeeded 10
! planting shot in the machinery OF the Alabama,
which d sabed herr he then had things all bis
own way, and running close to her be poured
into her destructive conyerging broadslde, which
tore through whole section OF the Alabamas
side at the water-line aud let the water through
10 cascades. Boh ships then stopped firing, and
the Aalama, without striking her Asg, starte,
,oward Cnerbourg, but Capt. Winslow, hosting
his fig OF victory, started to head her eff lie
saw, however, that tie Alabama was filing, and
at once lowered two haats 10 90 10 her aid and,
in eff CT the yesstl sank before she had proceeded
a dozen lengths toward he harbor. The Rear.
sarges boats picked up slxty-eight persons, Of
whom fourteen were wounded and Of whom
three died, The others were picked up by the
English yacht, Capt. Lancaster, and landed at
Southampton. The kearsarge steamed at once
into the port OF Uherbourg with her prisoners.
These prisoners, many Of whom are Frenchmen,
de handed to be paro.ed, and Capt. Winslow,
who was crowded Tor room, also desired to know
] al hA min ,F h. A..
them. Mr. Dayton teleguphed to his son and
to Capt, Wnslow that the prisoners could not
be paroed, aud that they must be held I'll the
ST. Louis arrived, AMI then conveyed to the Uni
Ted States.
In regard to Cap Semmes and the Other
prisoners carrie into Southampton, Capt Wiz
SLOW claims them as prisoners, and Mr.. Dayton
has advised Mr.. Adams TO demand Nheir rendition.
Capt. Winslow had ample time and means to pic,
up all the officers and men Of the Alabama out
the boats of the English yacht rap in and actually
sto,o them away, as Il acting upon a pre-auanged
plan, thus constituting clear case OF Intervention.
Capt Semmes and party did dot therefore escape
lhsy were stolen away by party who was in,
directly interfering In the fight. There was no
wish % the part Of Capt. Winslow to zee Capt.
Semnes drowned. On the CONTRARY be would
have soon taken up Semmes boatlond himself
The destruction of the Alabama by the kear-
sarge is striking yindioAlion Of the superiority OF
the heavier armament Of our gunboats as com,
pared with the lighter metal Of the English mod
els. The armament Of the Alabama was made in
accordance with the English ideas, and her hls
viii be rude shock to a cherished British notoa.
ms IL curious repetition OF the experience of
1872 shen our yessela armed with As Founders,
were constantly superior 10 the English ships
arnsd with 80 Founders. The kearsaFge has
battery Of two l-inoh shell guns throwing 264
pound, Of metal, one S0.pound rife pivot throw.
ing thirty pounds, and two light S2-pounders
throwing "a pounds, making total of five guns
throwing $50 pounds Of metal. Both were wooden
vessels, the kearsarge Of 1880 tons burden and
the Aab4ma 1860 tons The former oirried $50
ueu aud the latter l50, no. difference enough TO
give either aide a6y adv mage 10 fight.
Since she has been 10 commission September.
lSes-.he Alabama has destroyed 10 Amsricsn