The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-09
No. "a Upper Seymour street, June %


sBMHEs REPORT.
"SoUTHAMrToN, June u, lS6i.--Sir.- have
the honor TO inform you that, IN accordance with
my intention, as previously announced % you, l
steamed out OF the harbOr of Cherbourg, between
nine and ten O'Clock of the morning Of the 10Th
Of June, for the purpose of engaging the enemy's
steamer hedrSdrge, which had been lying OF and
on the port for several days previously. After
clearing the barbor, we deserted the enemy,
with his head Off shore, at distance of about
seven miles. We were thrce-quarters of an
hour in coming up with him. | had
previously piyuled my guns to starboard, and
made all my preparations for engaging the enemy
on that side When within about a mile and a
quarter OF the enemy he suddenly wheeled, and
bringing his head in shore, presented his star
board artery to me. BY this time we were dis
tant about one mie from each other, when /
opened on him with solid shot, 10 which he re-
Piled in II few minutes, and the engagement be-
came active on both sides.
"Ihe enemy now pressed his ship under full
head of steam, and to prevent our passing each
other too speedily, and to keep our respective
broadsides bearing 1t became necessary to fight
in circle, the two ships steamng around com
mon centre, and preserving u distance from each
other OF from quarter To half mile When
we got within good shell range we opened upon
him with she'll.
"Some ten OF fifteen minutes after the com
Inencoment of The action our spanker gtT was
shot away, and our ensign came down by the
run. This was immedidtely replaced by another
at the mizzenmast- head. The firing now became
very hot, and the enemy's shot aud shell soon
began to tell upon our hull, knocking down, kill
ing, and disabling II number of men in different
parts of the ship.
"Perceiving that our shell, though apparently
exploding against the enemy's sides, were doing
him but little damage, returned to solid shot
firing, and from this time onward attended (al-
teTnated y with shot and shell.
AFTER the lapse of about one hour and ten
minutes our ship was asCertained to be in u sink.
ing condition, the enemy 5 shell having exploded
in nnr gtl md hpfk Hnpl r la
aperurcs, through which the water rushed with
great rapidity.
"For some few minutes l had hopes of being
able TO reach the French coast, for which pur
pose gave the ship all steam, and set such of
the fore and att sails as were vtilable. The ship
filled SO rapidly, however, tha before we had
made much progress the fires were extinguished
in the furnaces, and we were evidently on the
point OF sinking, | now hauled down my colOrs
TO prevent the further destruction of life and
despatched boat TO inform the enemy of our
condition.
although we were now but four hundred
yards from each other, the enemy fired upon me
five times after my colors had been struck 1t
is charitable To suppose that ship-Of-war of a
Christian nation could not have done this inten-
iiOnally.
1--WE now turned all our exertions towards
saving the wounded, and such of the boys of the
ship who were unable TO swim. These were
deposited in my quarter-boats, the only boals
remaining 10 me-the waisI-boats having been
torn tUpieCes
"Some twenty minutes after my furnace fires
had been eXtiUguished, and the ship being on the
point of settling, every man, in obedience to Il
previous order which had been given the crew
jumped overheard and endeavored to save him
self.
"There was no appearance of any boat coming
TO me from the enemy after my ship went down
Fortunately, however, the steam yacht Deer
hound, owned by gentleman OF Lancashire,
England Hr. John Lancaster, who was himself
hoard. steamed in the midst of drown
ing men, and rescued number of both officers
and men from the water / was fortunate enough
myself thus 10 escape to the shelter of the neu-
tral flag, together with about forty others, all
told.
"About this time the Kearsarge sent one, and
then, tardily, another boat.
Accompanying you will find a list of the
| killed and wounded, and of those who were
picked up by the Deerhoundi the remainder, there
| is reason TO hope. were picked up by the enemy,
| and couple of French pilot boats, which were
| also, fortunately, near the scene of action.
AT the end of the engagement IL was dis
covered by those OF our officers who went along
side the eneiny's ship with the wounded that her
| mdship section on both sides was thoroughly
| iron-coated, this having been done with chain
| constructed for the purpose, placed perpendicu-
larly from the rail 10 the waters edge the whole
| covered over by thin outer plauking, which
| gave no indication of the armor beneath.
| "fhis plankiDg had been ripped off in every
direction by our shot and she'll, the chain broken
ana lnututeu III ulhny plhCesI anu lOICSu pAluy
| into the ships side. She was most etlectualy
| guarded, however, in this section, from penetra-
| ton. The enemy was much damaged in other
| parts, but TO what extent II is now impossible 70
tell it is believed to be badly crippled
my officers and men behaved steadily and
| galantly, and, though they have lost their ship,
| they have not lost honor.
"Where all behaved so well it would be in
| vidious 10 partcularize, but / cannot deny my
self the pleasure of saving that Mr.. Kell, my lst
lieutenant, deserves great credit for the ine con-
| dtiOn in which the ship went iuto action with
regard 10 her battery, magazine, and shell-rooms,
| and that he rendered me great assistance by his
| GOODNESS and judgment rs the tight proceeded
"The enemy was heavier than myself, both in
ship, battery, and crew. but did not know until
| the action was over that she was iron-Ciad.
"Out total los in killed and wounded IS thirty
| to wit; nine killed, twenty-one wounded.
al have ibe honor to be- very respectfully,
| your obCdicnt servant, II. SEAMEs, Captain
pUHWH a n