Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-07-09
aa9smen 1e ,sIah sR PeIs 81 n,s En-

Ha&ement with the kcMrkmGes
NEW YoRK, July s.-senmes, in bis
official report Of the engagement with
the Kearsage says: When about mile
distant he opened with shot The Kear-
sage replied in few minutes, and the
engagement became active. The two
ships steamed around common centre,
firing at = distance from each other Of
from quarter to half a mile. When
within good range he opened with she'll
In ten or hfteen minutes the Alabama's
spnnker gatf was Shot away, and her en-
sign came down. This vas Immediately
replaced BY another, at the mizzen-mast
head. The firing now became very hot,
and the enemys shot and shell soon be-
gun to tell upon our hull, knocking down,
killing aud disabling 8 number OF men
in different parts Of the ship. Psreeiv
ing that our shells, though hitting, did
but little damage, resort was had 70 shot
alternately with shell. After lapse of
an hour and ten minutes our ship was
ascertained to be in . sinking condition.
The enemys shells having exploded
in our sides and bstween decks, opened
large apertures through which the water
rushed with great rapidity. For some
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 aft sails as we're
available. The ship sunk so rapidly,
however, that before abe had made pro-
gress the fires we're extingsishsd in the
furnace and We were evidently on the
point Of sinking. nov hauled down
my colors TO prevent further destruction
of life and despatched boat to inform
the enemy Of our condition.
He says that the Kearsage fred upon
him FIVE times after his eolors were
struck. The remainder OF the report is
eoafied to q statement of how be was
picked up and made his escape under .
neutral HsE also that bis officers when
they went to the Kesrsage, found that
she bad hesn furnished with chain armor
concealed with planking, that the plank.
ing was torn of By bis shells, thus ex
posing to view the amor. he also says
the enemy was heavier thaR himself
both in ship, battery, and crew, but thai
he didn't know until the action was ovel
that she was iron-clad.
The srmor consisted, il proves, of q
double row Of chains strung along The
sides which:preved very formidable. pro
lection to her machinery, and from al
accounts the gearsage could have with
stood the wild firing Of the Alabama Q
whole day, whereas the firing of tn,
kearssge, according to Semmes, was 81
hot and terrific that Is minutes after ths
commencement of action his flag wa
shot away. his hull torn, his men knock
ed down, killed and disabled in ever,
| direction.
| The Paris correspondent Of the Gem
msrciaI says: Capt Winslow still claim
Semmss as his prisoner, and will writ,
to him to deliver himself up, making i
q personal question between officer ant
l officer. The men were released on pa
role to never fight against the Unitsr
ssates.
Semmss was ordered out By the Frencl
authorities BY noon. On consultation
with Commodore Brown, his inferior Of
6cer, whether to 20 out and escape b
night or meet the Kearsage in daylirh
and fight, that officer told him TO 20 on
and SIGHT If be theoght he was sure c
winning. He was sure and went out t
fight
Capt Winslow did FIRE after the whit
flag was hsisted, but It was owing to hi
not seeing it The greater stsamin
power of the Kearssge and Superior =
mature enabled her TODD with her adve
sary as she pleased Semmes was'astoE
ished to and his ship used up so sool
and cursed not little at the WORTHLESS
ness Of English guns and English ship