Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-07-09


manmuvring both vessels made seven COM
plete circles at distance of from a quarter
to half a mile. at 12 n slight intermission
was observed in the Alabama firing, the
Alabama making head sail, and shaping her
course for the land, distant about nine miles.
At12.3O of served the Alabama to be dis
ablcd and in sinking state. We immedi-
ately made towards her, and on passing the
Kearsage was requested to assist in saving |
the Alabama's crew. AT 1850 when with
in distance of 200 yards, the Alabama
sunk. We then lowered our two boats, and, |
with the assistance of the Alabama's whale !
boat and dingy, succeeded in saving about
40 men, includind Captain Semmes and i8
officers. At =. NJ. we steercd for South |
ampton."
One of the officers of the Alabama names
the same hour-viz., lilo, rs the commence
ment of action, and 1910, M the period of
it's cessation, making its duration an touT
and half while the time observed CT
board the Deerhound which il most likely
to be accurate, that vessel being free from
the excitement and confusion necessarily
existing on board the Alabama, limited the
action to an hour, the last shot being fired
at 1910. The distance between the two
contending vessels when the Alabama open
ed fire was estimated on board the Deer.
nOuUN III hbuut Nnlit -hlabHiilh O.u-
Ger tells me that she was mile and half
away from the Kearaage when she fred the
| first shot. BE this as it may, it is certain
| that the Alabama commenced the firing
and it is known that her guns were pointed
| FOR a range of 1000 yards, and that the sec
| ond shot she fired, in about half a minute
after the first, went right into the Kearsagc,
| that may be taken rs the real distance be-
tween the ships.
| The firing became general from both YES
| sells at a distance of little under mile, and
was well sustained on both sides, Mr.. Ian
casters impression being that no time du-
ring the action were they less than quarter
of mile from each other. Seven complete
circles were made in the period over which
| the fight lasted. 1t was estimated on board
the Decrhound that the Alabama fired in all
about 150 rounds, some single guns, and
some in broadsidcs of three or four, and the
Kearsage about 100, the majority ofwhich
were l-inch shells. The Alabama's were
principally Blakclcy's pivot guns. In the
early part of the action the relative firing
was about three from the Alabama to one
from the Kearsage, but as it progressed the
the latter gained :he advantage, having ap-
parenty much greater power OF steam.
She appeared 70 have an advantage over the
Alabama of about thiec kuots an hour, and
steam was seen rushing out of her blowpipc
all through the action, while the Alabama
seemed to have but very little steam ON.
At length the Alabama's ruddcr was dis
abled by one of her opponents heavy shells,
ard they hOsted sails; but it was soon re-
ported to Captain Semmcs by one of his
officers that his ship was sinking. With
great bravery the guns were kept por-
ted till the muzZleS were actually under wa
ter, and the last shot from the doomed ship
was fired rs she was settling down. When
her stern was completely under water Cap
tain Semmes gave orders for the men to
save themselves rs best they could, and
every one jumped into the sea and swan to
the boats which were put of at their rescue.
Those of them who were wounded were or
dercd by Captain Semmes to be placed in
the Alabama's boats and taken on board the
kearsage, which was as far as possible
obeycd.
AS far as is known, not 4 relic of The Ala
bama is in the possession of her successful
rival. When she was sinking Captain Sem
mes dropped his own sword into the sea Il
: prevent the possibility of its getting into
their hands. and the gunner made hole III
| one of the Alabama's boats, and sank hcl
for the same reason.
The spectacle presented during the com
bat is described by those who witnessed il
from the Dcerhound as magnificent, and
: thus the extraordinary career of the Alabama
has come to grand and appropriate term
nation.
Mr.. Mason, the Confederate agent, Cap
tain Bullock, and the Rev. Mr.. Tremlett, ar
: rived by the 4 o'clock train this afternoon
S from London and. proceeded to Kelway:
Hotel to meet Captain Semmes.
Coptain Snnn,aS nnl all tLn ,nnn mr., DnN
placed under the care of Mr.. J. Wihliu fol
| such medical attendance as may DC re
quired.
For many months we have heard of tn,
]. Kearsage as u foe worthy of the Alabam;
| should she have the good luck to catch her
: indeed, the captain of the kearsage had as
{ sumea that if they met there could only on,
e possible result Why, then, did not. Cap
= tain Semmes see that this was an occasion
for the exercise of that discretion or tha
C ingenuity which the greatest generals havt
: thought rather an addition to their fame
: Did his prudence give way, as they say
5 brave mans courage will sometimes Wa
5 no Cedritd Gcih ,rarfitre ulO" the 9trence
= ieSsl Did conscience or SELF respect SUggo,
c that tie destroyer era huHdrci Uadrmef mey
i chdntaea hdd need 10 proce his o,uFdge and
C reietm his name FROM pii1cy' 1t is simpl,
|
l he accepted the challenge not without SOM
g forecasts of the result. AS an ordinar
duelist hands his watch ami his pocket bool
t to friend, Captain Semmes sent on shor
/, his sixty chrenOmeters-the mcmcntoes o
). So many easier conflicts-his money, an,
l. the bills of ransomed vessels lie thcl
F; steamed nine miles out to sea, and entere,
y into mortal combat with the enemy, trS
exchanging shots at distance oflittie nor
g than milc-out OF all distance our father
would have called it; not So now
sty-The American account of the destruc
: ton of the Pirate Alabama since received
J, is very different from the published one.
, Wilson and Aautx's Operate ions
WAR DEPARTMENT,
= WASuINUTnN lulv A u NJ