The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-15

nrst-rate fellows, and TO act well together Il
perfect union under the most trying circum
stances.
The captain of the fOrecastle on board tn,
Alabama, Norwegian, says that when h,
was in the water he was hailed by boa
from the kearsarge, Come here, old man
and we'll save you;' to which he replied
Never mind me, can keep up half an hour
yet! look after some that are nearer drown
ing than am He then MADE away for ths
Deerhound, thanking God that he was undel
English colors.
Throughout the action the Deerhound KEEP
about mile to the windward of the combat
ants, and was enabled to witness the whole
Of it. The kearsarge was burning Newcas
tie Goals, and the Alabama Welch Goals, the
difference in the smoke Uhe north country
coal yielding SO much more enabling the
movements Of each ship to be distinctly trac.
ed. Mr.. Lancaster is clearly of opinion that
it was the Kearsarge's 1l-iuch shells which
gave her the advantage, and that, after wha,
/ he has witnessed on this occasion, wooden
ships stand no chance whatever agains,
shells. Both vessels fired well into each 9th
er's hull, and the yards and masts were not
much damaged. The mainmaSt of the Ala
bama had been struck by shot, and as the yes
sci was sinking broke of and fell into the sea,
throwing some men who were in the maintop
I into the water. Some tremendous gaps were
visible in the bulwarks Of the Kearsarge, and
it is believed that some of her boats were
disabled. She appeared to be temporarily
plated with iron chains, &c.
As far as could be seen, everything SEEM
ed to be well planned and ready on board the
kearsarge for the action. It was apparent
tIat Capt. oemmes intended to fight a, a
did not reply till the two vessels got nearer
'ogether showed that they preferred the short
range, and the superior steaming power of
the latter enabled this TO be accomplished
L is remark able that no attempt was made
=, the kearsarge TO close and board the Al
lbama, and when the Alabaml hois'ed sails
and made as if for the shore The kearsarge
moved away in another direction, as though
her ruider or Scr-w vas damaged and out
Of control. Great pluck was shown on both
sides during the action. On board the Ala
bama all the hamw Ocks were let loose. and
arrangements had been ma e :oc sinking her
rather than she should 6e captured
As faT as is known, not d rene Of the Ala
hama is IN possession Of her successful ri,al
When she was sinking Cant. Semmes drop
ped his own sSord into the sea to prevent
the possibility OF lis falling into their hands,
and the gunner made hoe in ore Of the
A,ahinas boats anG sunk her for the same
reason. Before leaving the Derrhount,
Capt. Semmes presented 10 Mr.. Lancaster's 5
son one of the officers swords and a pistol.
in remembrance of the occurrence and the
kind treatment he and his me1 had received
on board the yacht. The Men stated that the
best practice generally on board the Alaba-
| una during the action was shown by the gun
ners who had been trained on board the Ex-
celent in Portsmouth harbor
The Alabama's chronometers, specie, and
all the bills OF ransomed vessels are saved,
having been handed over to a gentleman in
Cherbolrg before she left that port
Mr.. Mason, the confederate agent. Captain
Bullock, and the Rev. Mr. Tremlett arrived
at Southampton on Monday afternoon from
London, and proceeded to Kclways hotel, to
meet Capt. Semmes.
The Deerhound is Yacht of 100 tons and
70-horse power, and her owner is a member
Of the royal yacht squadron at Cows and of
the royal merSey yacht club. BY somewhat
singular coincidence she was built by the
Messrs. Laird X Son of Birkenhead, and
proof Of her heetness by the fact that she
steamed home from the scene of action on
Sunday at the rate of thirteen knots an hour.
On arriving at Cherbours at ten o'clock
on Saturday night, by railway from Caon,
Mr.. Lancaster was informed by the captain
of his yacht, which was lying in harbor await
ing his arrival, that it was reported that the
Alabama and the kearsarge were going out
to fight each other in the morning. Mr..
Lancaster, whose wife, niece, and family were
also on board his yacht, at once determined
to go out in the morning and see the COM
bat.