Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-11-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Action Between the kearsargs
und Alabama.
CAPT. WINsLow's OFFICIAL REpoRT.

The Boston Journal is indebted to Mr.. s.
G. Hartwell, Capt. Winslow's clerk, for
COPY of Capt Winslow's official report to
the Navy Department, of the action between
the Kearsarge ana Alabama, Eow published
for the first time, by permission of the Sec
retary of the Navy:
U. S. STEAMER KEARsARGE, ENGLISH
CHANNEL, July 80, 1864.
SIR: In obedience to instructions of the
Department, have the honor to make the
following supplementary report OF the action
between the Kearsarge and Alabama. On
the morning of the 10th ult., the day being
fine with hazy atmosphere, wind moderate
from the westward, with little sea, the posi-
ton of the KearsarGe at ten O'Clock was near
the buoy which makes the line of shoals to
the eastward of Cherbourg and distant
about three miles from the eastern entrance,
which bore to the southward and westward.
At twenty minutes after ten O'Clock the
Alabama was discovered coming out OF the
western entrance, accompanied 10y the Cou-
rome Gron clad). Phad, in an Interview
with the Admiral, assured him, In the event
of an action occurring with the Alabama,
that the positions of the ships should be SO
far of shore that no questions could be ad-
vanced about the line of jurisdiction.
Accordingly to perfect this object, and
with the d)uble purpose of drawing the
Alabama SO far off shore that, if disabled,
she could not return, directed the ships
head seaward and cleared for action, with
the battery pivoted to starboard.
Having attained point about seven miles
from the shore the head of the kearsarge
was turned short round and the ship steercd
directly for the Alabama, my purpose being
run her down, or if circumstances did not
warrant it. to close in with her. Hardly had
the kearsage come round before the Ala
bama sheered presented her starboard bat
tery and slowed her engines. On approach
ing her at long range of about "A nile she
opened her full bruadside, the shot cutting
some of our rigging and gong over and
alongside of US.
| Immediately ordered more speed; but
| in two minutes the Alabama had again
| loaded and fired another broadsiae, and FOL
lowing it with third without damaging
us except in rigging We had now arrived
within nine hundred yards of her, and was
apprchcnsiye that another broadside, nearly
raklng as it was would prove disastrous.
Accordingly ordered the kcarsarSe sheered
and opened on the Alabama.
J The positions of the vessels was now
broadside to hroadside, but it was soon APP
parent that Captain Semmes did not seek
close action. became then fearful lest at-
ter some fighting, that he would again make
for the shore. To defeat this determined
too keen full speed on and with a port helm
to run under the stern of the Alabama and
rake, if he did not prevent it 5y sheering
and keeping his broadside to ur. He adopt
ed this mode as preventive, and, as a con
sequence the Alabama was forced, with
| full head of steam, into a circular truck du
ring the engagement.
The effect of this maneuvcr was such that
at the last of the action, when the Alabama
would have made off she was near i've mii'
from the shore ard had the action contin
ued from the first in parallel lines with ne
head in shore, the line of jurisdiction wouit
no doubt have been reached.
The firing of the Alaba'na from the mrs
was rapid and wild toward the close o
the action her firing became better. ou
men, who had been cautioned against rapiI
firing without direct aim, were much mor'
deliberate: and the instructions gwen I
point the heavy guns below rather tina
above the water line and clear the deck wit
the lighter ones, were fully observed. ma
endeavored with port helm to close II
with the Alabama, but it was not until Jus
before the close of tine action that we WEI
, in position to use grape; this was aVoi'
ed, however, by her surrender. Inc erect
the training of our men was evident, near
; every shot from our guns was teiiins lea
/ fully on the Alabama, and on the se'ent
, rotation on the circular track she wlhoe'
: setting fore trysail and two Jibs, with hea
in shore.
Her speed was now retarded, and b
), winding her port broadside was presente
,..t, hpnrlDn
:, ing been able, as | learned atterward,
u shift over but one saw now that she WI
=, at our mercy, and few more guns, VIII q
' rected. brought down her flag. was u
:, able to ascertain whether they had be'
. hauled down or shot away, but white Ia
- having been displayed oyer the stern, ic
y lowed by TWO guns fired to leeward, O
:, fire WAS reserved Two minutes had n
=. more than elapsed before she again open.
on us with the two guns on the port siu
=, This drew our fire again, and the kearsarl
~ WAS immediately steamed ahead and /
;s across her bows ior raking.
40 The white flag was still flying, and o
fire was again reserved Shortly after II
: her boats were seen to be lowering, and
- officer in one of them came alongside a
~ informed us the ship had surrendered a
M was fast sinking. In twenty minutes fr'
~ this time the Alabama went down, ]
! mainmast. which had received shot, bre
~ ing near the head, rs she sunk, and her b'
IN rising high out of the water as her stern
"f pidly settled. The fire Of the Alabama,
of though it is stated she discharged $40
more shell and shot, was not OF serious
ed mage to the Kearsarge. Some thirteen
.,' fourteen of these had taken effect in abe
in the hull and sixteen or seventeen about
he waste and rigging
ed The causualties were small, only IN
ou persons having been wounded; yet 1t u
ne. matter of surprise that SO few we're iUur
art considering the number of projectiles I
in came aboard. Two shots passed throl
ia. the ports in which the 32's were .plac
,en with men thickly stationed around tn
rds one taking effect in the hammock netti
and the other going through the port
h.r the opposite side, yet no one was hit,
n nv, CAPTAIN of one of the guns beng only knc
1sn ed down by the wind of the shot, as 1t
G Sa supposed. The fire of the Kearsarge,
, . though only l7s projectiles had been
charged, according 70 the prisoners
,,v. counts was terrific. One shot alone
,,sn killed and wounded eighteen men, and
mo. abled the gun; another had entered
Hs. coal bunkers, exploding and compile
he blocked up the engine-room and Z
..n Semmes states. shot and shell had take
'A'' feet in the side OF his vessel. tearing ]
holes nv exuloSion, and his men were e'