Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-09-15

- - A. P. BILL, 1t. Gen.
Col. W. H. TAYLOR, A. A. G. -. -
-.-.--- -------- From the Lordon Fun
| THE SEA FIGHT, IN HEROIC HExAmETERs.
-.--.s BY PROFESSOR srRokers1Ecw.
The Confederate cruiser lay calmly Cberbourgs antique
The wind scarcely fuered the pannant that streamed
from the truck Of her mainmass.
Calm the in her castle, mendng th.r jack
cts and Jersey 3ks. ...-
Calm were the engineer officers, studying their books the
Calm were the 1nid.bipmen sharpening the drks that
hung idly in swo ord belts
Calm the mates and ieusenants prepared with re-
volver and cutlsss; .--..
Calm the captain heroic-he captain the Yankees call
Cain was the brave Captain semnes who commanded the
taut Alabama; -. -. VII -. ,--
Calm were the and the officers but twas calm
TO do to die brave death, that should honor the
To fRht till the banner Confederate waved from tho truck
Or The ribs Of the sauEeh Alabama lay score fathoms
For days had the oacad Kearaage displayed the striped
For days had she steamed fore the euth of the
harbor of Chesbourg;
Fo. days had she challenged the cruiser that numbered
For had abe taunsd the cruiser mon were won. to
And thus spake The Yankee comm,nder "Oh spawn of
oppressive sertdom;
When dare fair conflict captain and crew
Well doth the brave Alabama lie the harbor of Cher
.urg;
We'll for he sift Alabama she dares to meet in fair
The that's destined sweep her right slick off the
tace of creation
Well Captain eemmes that the cafes of Cher
bourg he baunteth
Dare he fight hour he would dange corpse frsm
the ksa.sage's yard arm!' ..
ooh, ho quoth the whose cabin hung with the
~. spoil Of # tue e. Northern.
meter Yankee, ..-.
Doth Kearsages captain gine because Alabama
That semmeu men eau sco1rge of the Yankees disdain-
Oh run up the banner Pametto-free, free let 1t wave
from the manmast;
Let the bosom whistle shr piping give the signal
to heave up tbs anchor;
Foretoptep aooose gasket and bunt of to
And You engineers get up steam let trusy A. B. at the
wheel stand ...
To your guns excellent marksmen and mind every
Let each resolved that the banner we love shall
faunt free from the mainfnsst
OF the iron clad cruiser of Yankeedo that the brave
Alabama
Shall lie twenty fatboms beneath her. beneath the blue
Then shall friends OF the South land our wives, and
When the land hat love shall be freed grasp
OF the insolent Yankee,
Recount thsr children how noby Aabamas brave soma
did their duty"
the f,et Alabama to encounter the clad
the fleet Alabama to engage in the contest
Sudden battery tundered and thus was the naval ball
No the Yankee responding, in advantage
VAN galanty who stand at tie portoss
tc board
Vain IS thy seaman whose tand cold death,
Vain thy brave conduct oh mddies armed with dirk for
the long aht encouDter
VAIN thy valor euenant prepared with revolver and
cutlass -.-- .-.-
For kearsages unwilling to board the far
Vain thy devotion oh &c nmes the gay auntipg stand
The Dahgrens have told, and the brave Alaba
mas fast linking.
Quick let the white ag replace tha Confederstes long
Quick let the of peace proclaim the cessation of
wounded be saved in the CUTTER long boat and
For the Kearsage bearing down now to take all prs
'ners te Yankeedom.
Let those who hale and unwounded who prefer glori
As they promptly obeyed my commands in hfos latest
Thus spake the Captain semmes and swiftly he lept
from the quarter-deck
Followed by seamen and officers, who had but one wish
<: To die with him;''
when like angel of mercy, the boat from the EDgi.h
yacht Daerhould,
Spraus onward the brave who fought with
, the fierce toamiog 6illows; ,..,
Nor did she pause in her errand till safe the English
yachts quarterback,
The officers stood and the caption of vaDquishod $780,
fathoms deep meath he Of The tossing and
trt acherous channel
Boast magnificent Kearsage, with ronchan cable pro-
tected
Has vanqushed woodenbuilt steamer puny and pjgmy
despatch boat
Then let honest Abe, the raispter," compose procla.
nations exultan
blatant Ward Beecher and Company chant the thanks
giving TIE Deln,;
But yet your triumph remember that Semmes lives STILL
brave and unc coDquered;
That the Palmetto land cruiser feet as the lost Ala
bama;
That the brow Of the South write tho dread
word stIt5uodtus.
Every every mother and wife, will have
faHn in the terrible conflict.