The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-07-13
Our Naval Triumph.

they are ours has navy gained so signal
and important victory that recently achieved
by the Kearsage over the pirate Alabama, and
as the people everywhere united in paens of
praise to the commander and men who van
pushed the Britons on Lake Erie in 1912, so do
they now join in honoring the gallant Captain
John Winslow and his crew, for the crushing
rebuke they have administered to the piratical
Semmes and his aiders and abettors in Europe
and America.
The engagement was one for which both par
ties made ample preparation, but the pirate and
his foreign hirelings compelled to succumb
before the superior prowess of the loyal Ameri-
can tars, and acknowledge with shame as his
craft sank lower and lower into the water, that
he had mistaken his game. Thus has been
brought to grief vessel that has perpetrated
more naval outrages than, perhaps, any vessel
that has ever f1oated. Semmes delighted in fire
almost invariably applying the torch to the un-
wary merchantmen that fell into his hands, and
it has been proven that in some instances his
prizes would not be fired until after nightfan
when they could be used as decoy for unsus-
pecting vessels that might be attracted by the
fire and approach for the humane purpose of
relieving their crews, when the pirate would fall
upon and destroy them ALSO But Capt Winslow
administered the destructive element in a man.
ner not very agreeable to Semmes, though he
will never get final settlement of his accounts
and receive full compensation for his services
until the arch-fend at whose instgation he en-
tered the business of freebooting, comes to adiu-
dictate the claims of his dupes, in the next world
The conduct of the British yacht Deerhound in
gathering up and smuggling into Southampton
Semmes and number of his officers, requires
and will, doubtless, receive the immediate at
tention of our government. Itseems to be pretty
generally conceded that the Captain of the Deer
hound had entered into arrangement with
Semmes, just previous to his departure from
CherbOurg to be present with his vessel at the
scene of conflict, for the purpose of rendering
him assistance in of an emergency and the
manner in which the pirates are now feasted and
feted by the members of the Royal Yacht Club
shows, but too plainly for English neutrality
how faithfully the promise has been kept.
1t is currently reported that vessel now lying
in the Thames, superior in armament and ton
mage to the Alabama, ready for sea- and
that she was designed to be placed in charge of
Semmes Immediately by private English par
ties, but we have the assurance ALSO that both
Mr.. Adams and Mr. Dayton are actively engaged
in sitting these rumors, and taking measures to-
prevent the departure of such a vessel from port
But should they fail, and the English govern
ment persist in their Indifference to the unlawful
conduct of her subjects, we opine that American
men-of-war will be compelled to cast off the re-
straints of international law, and pick up rebel
cruisers under British colors wherever they find
them. .rs
NAVAL PRIzEs.-The following is a list of ma
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