New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-11
THE GREAT NAVAL FIGHT.
The Combat Between the Kenrsarge and
AIabsma-Graphic Description by an
Omcer Of the kearsarge.
Special Correspondence Of The Boston Traveller.
CHERBOURG June "a


CHERBOURG. June "a.
On BOARD THE kEARsARGE. )
Believing that you wish as soon as possible tC
receive from participant description Of our combat
with the Alabama send it TO you as witnessed from
oSr shin the Kearsarre. was living at Flushing Hol
land when we received telegram from Minister Day,
ton PARIS, stating that the Alabama had arrived ~
Cherbourg. We Immediately put to sea with all haste
and came down here taking the Alabsma quite oy sur
prise by the suddsnness Of appearance upon hei
track. We remained outside this port but comnuni
.cated with the Consular Agent here, and through him
we received sort of challenge from Sonlnes who stated
tbst AZ weremained OF the port he would and
fight us. Also that he would not dc'Gln us long .
We cruised off the port five days. nntii que Istn o.
June when our perseverance, In guarding the port was
rewarded and We saw the muohvaunted starry ensign
floating on the breeze as the Alabama came boldly out
under the escort Of the French iron.clsd La Cou
rome The latter retired into port after seeing the
-combatants outside Of French waters.
The Alabama came down upon Us at fun speed until
within distance OF about three-quarters Of mile,
when she opened her guns upon Us. We did not reply
for several minutes but ranged up nearer and then
opened our starb0srd battery fighting six guns. and
leaving only one 80 FOUNDER idle The Alabama fought
guns. working them with the greatest rapidly,
sending shot and shell in constant stream over our
heads Both vessels used their sarbond batteries the
ships being Unanswered in circle ebout each other at
distance of from 500 TO 1000 yards. Witnesses on
shore say that made complete circles during
the action which lasted little over one hour
Our shot, particularly the llnch shells. MADE feari
havoc among the enemy Tho first one killed three
men aud wounded nearly the whole guns crew where
eIPoded Finally we placed shot IN me raadsr
Ing apparatus. Almost at the same time another II
shots entered her coal bunker abreast OF her en-
CINE forcing the bunker ipbOerd and ahowering the
machinery with coal which prevented her from making
progress for short time when she set her sails to The
breeze and tried to run in toward the French shore.
We were on the watch, and by rapid movement
headed her of and got into fighting position on her
port weak side-a very successful and decisive
inaneuver On that side she had but one gun and We
ksye our broadsde into her with the greatest precision
doing fearful damage 10 her hull We shot away her
nsg, but in few minutes IL WAS run up again at her
miSen truck short time longer kept up our can
nonade when she hauled down her nag aud we ceased
ins few minutes she gave US, very Unexpectedly,
couple OF Ehots more and gain we opened our batteries
upon her. This. however continued but very short
tsme for she showed white Tag In token OF sur
render and boat board OF TO ask assistance
In saving the wounded. she was In pklng condi'
zion We Immediately launched two bOns, the other
Swo having been riddled by shot, and sent Tor the
veanded but before the boats got alongside the once
Formidable Alabama settled by the stern. thrust her
bow far ont Of water and then disappeared beneath the
waves carrying down no one Will ever know now many
Previously 10 this after the firing had ceased and it
was evident that the Alabama was sinking an English
eteam yacht which had been observing the Eight OF
distance came up alongside OF US and asked
10 assist in picking up the wounded or course was
granted as an act Of humanity. but by so doing We
were robbed OF half the fruits OF our hardearned con
TEST for the yacht moved ahead Of u.s. lowered her
boat picked up Semmes and several Of his officers ana
crew and then stood away with all haste Tor the IN.
eish coast Then we saw through the ruse tbat
Semnes had doubt planned beforehand ior MS escape
in case Of his defeat; but could not follow and leave
the poor unfortunaes still in the water so we remained
by them until all were picked up. Thereafter We
we steamed into this port and Game 20 anchor.
We had picked up In boats sixty five OF her crew
and ave officers living and one dead. OF the men
f>een were seriously wounded two dying On BOARD o.
aeon as we came into Charbourg the wounded men
were all sent 10 the hospital accommodations on
board were not SO convenient for their proper treat
Snent We paroed all the other prisoners except the
officers for we were unable TO keep 80 many on BOARD
or send them to the Stairs. ~,
According the account Of the master OF the Brtsh
etesm.yact Deerhound) she landed 40 at Southampton
Probably this Is exaggerated but taxing II as true,
and adding those we picked up ana nis n when
lor leaving over 20 who inevitably went down with
her when she sank. The officers OF the Alabama say
they numbered on board about O ~ h tod Ds s '
rived here at Cberbourg. Tho number OF these VIII
never BE known but several Of the most experienced
unners of tho English naval reserve went on board the
night before the action on purpose to point the guns
They old, prsctoed seeen, who had seen service
in the English navy and we're supposed TO De aoe 70
sink tho Kcarsarge or disable her guns IN nan an nouI
Semmes promised thom that before aeon they should Dc
Dnrine the action. we fred l73 shots The Alabama
certainly fred many more. at the first part oil the
action she fred two shots TO our one. But such rapid
sty OF firing only accomplished at the expense OF
ACCURACY Our shots Ered with astonishing pre-
osion and wrought fearful havoc on the enemy We
were struck Ia times in our hull and an equal number
Of times in our rigging.
Two shots struck chain armor abreast Of our
boiler but did enter the ship Another lOOponnd
1iAed shell struck under the stern, and glancng down
lodged in our rudder.pOst, whore IL still remains toO
firmly i'm bedded 70 DO removed Fortunately the shell
did not explode Had IL done II would have carried
away our rudder and rendered our ship nearly unman
geabe Although at the ater part OF the action
that we received That she'll STILL had II exploded. the
fate Of the Kearsage might have been similar to thai
OF the Alabama.
Another shell struck our smoke pipe. about eleven
feet above the deck and exploded tearing mole hTee
feet in diameter and covering me and my meE with a
shower Of fragments Of iron, but none OF US were much
injured.
The Kearsarge was not in the least degree cndap.
rered by the missiles she received. We are IN as gO0d
order as ever and ready for another term OF service OIL
the Ugh seas Our object in coming into CherboplG
was to land the wounded and We have remained here "
patch up our sm0ke-ppe O.,
The Alabama carried eight guns, ard II is also SAID
that In addition abe had two l2-pound howltzers on
board The eight guns referred to one lOOponnd
Biakeey rife CSponnd pivot gun ana SIX 81 pound
ers In brOadside. -. A..
The Kearsarges armament is seven guns viz; two
linch smsoth bore pivot guns, one 30pound rNed Sun
and foui % Founders In brosdsdcs.
Our commander Capt. WiuSlow, after the &c
sion was over and during thcafternOon had all hand,
hDusered on the quarter deck and there was Offered
sOemn prayer and thanksgiving to God. who had gVel
signal victory.
Letters from the Kenrsarge.
From The Salem Gazette. July Q.
IL x1yriffo bv "a