Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-09-01
The Contest between the Kearsarge
and Alabama.
CAPT wrSsLow's ACCOUNT OF ruR ACTION,

CAPT wINsLow's ACCOUNT OF THR ACTION. |
In a letter to the secretary of the ma
w, giving a detailed account OF the bat
tie between the Kearsarge and the pi- |
rate Alabama, Capt Winslow Of the for
mer vessel thus describes his mode Of |
fighting aud the leading events of the
battle
"I had in an interview with the Ad-
miral of Cherbourg, assured him that,
in the event OF an action occurring with
the Alabama, the position of the ships
should be so far OF shore that no ques-
tions could be advanced about the line
of jurisdiction. Accordingly, to perfect
this object, and with the double purpose
of drawing the Alabama so far oil shore
that if disabled, she could not return,
directed the ships head seward and
cleared for action, with the battery piv-
oted to starboard. Having attained
point about seven miles from the shore.
the head of the Kearsarge was turned
short around, and the ship sleered di-
rectly for the Alabama, my purpose be-
ing to run her down, or if circumstances
did not warrant it to close in with
her.
Hardly had the Kearsarge come round
before the Alabama sheered, presented
her starboard battery and slowed her
engine On approaching her at long
range of about u mile, she opened her
full broadside, the shot cutting some OF
our rigging and going over and along
| side of us.
| Immediately | ordered more speed
| but in two minutes the Alabama had
| loaded and again fired another broadside
| and following it with a third, without
damaging us except in rigging
We had now arrived within about
| nine hundred yards of her, and was
apprehensive that another broadside-
nearly raking as it was-would prove
disastrous. Accordingly L ordered the
Kearsarge sheered, and opened on the
! Alabama. The position Of the vessels
was now broadside and broadside but
it was soon apparent that Capt. Semmes
| did not seek close action. | became
then fearful lest, after some fighting
that he would again make for the shore
To defeat this ! determined to keep full
speed on, and with port helm to run
under the stern of the Alabama and rake
her, if he did not prevent it by steering
and keeping his broadside to us. lie
adopted this mode rs a preventive, and
as q consequence the Alabama was
forced with full head of steam into a
circular track during the engagement.
The effect of this measure was such
that at the last of the action, when the
Alabama would have made Off she was
near five miles from the shore and, had
the action continued from the first in
parallel lines, with her head in shore,
the line of jurisdiction would no doubt
have been reached. The firing of the
Alabama from the first was rapid and
wild p; towards the close OF the action
her firing became better Our men, who
had been cautioned against firing rap
idly without direct aim, were much
, more deliberate and the instructions
!, given to point the heavy guns below
rather than above the water line, and
clear the deck with lighter ones, was
, fully observed. st...
had endeavored, with a port helm
to close in with the Alabama but il
was not until just before the close of The
action that we were in position to ust
grape. This was avoided, however, by
her surrender. The effect of the train
!, ing of our men was evident nearly
every shot from our guns Was telling
fearfully on the Alabama and on thu
seventh rotation in the circular track
r she winded, setting foresail and two jibs
with head in shore. Her speed wa:
3 now retarded, and by winding her por
q broadside was presented to us, with on
ly two guns bearing, not having beer
able, as learned afterwards, to shift
over but one. now saw that she wa'
!. at our mercy, and a few more guns wei
= directed brought down her flag. wal
+ unable to ascertain whether it had beer
hauled down or shot away; but white
: flag having been displayed over thu
stern our fire was reserved. Two min
' utes had not more than elapsed befor
n she again opened on us with two gum
e on the port side. This drew our fir
again, and the Kearsarge was i'm
. mediately steamed ahead and laid across
u her bows for rakiug The white flas
i was still flying, and our fire was agail
e reserved. Shortly after this her boat
d were seen to be lowering, and an office
+ in one of them came alongside and in
formed us the ship had surrendered am
. was fast sinking. In twenty minutes
from this time the Alabama went down
: her mainmast, which had been sho
t. breaking near the head as she sank, anC
d her bow rising high ont Of water, a.
l. her stern rapidly settled"