, 1864-07-15
DUB PARIS LETTER.
EORE ABOUT THE ALABAMA
The Conduct of SemmsS
and the Deerhound.

lF1om Our Special Correspondent
PAE1s, Tuesday, June 18th, 1864
The simple. manly, straightforward and
sailor-like report by Capt Winslow Of his
action with the Alabama is now before the
public, and greater contrast cannot be i'm
ag!ned than that which 1t presents to the one
furnished By Capt. scmmes. The Kearaarge
arrived at Cherbourg, 1t simply says, "iu
pursuit of the Alabama," us was her duty.
There she waited quietly, without clustering
OF braggadocia ofsny kind; all such, If there
we're any, being confined to Capt. semmes,
whose own act it was to send ont q note
saying he would fight. He might have saved
himself the trouble, perhaps, Of an-
nouncing what he could hardly
any longer aroid. The account
Of The action, os given by Capt. Winslow in
bis simple manner, ills one With astoDish.
ment, as the promptnces Of the result eyi-
IDENTIFY surprised himself So speedily and
so will did the guns OF the Kearssrge do
their business On their adversary, SO triding,
on the contrary, was the damage she herself
Capt. Winslow t*could not believe" that the
Alabama had struck! ASd well, indeed,
mig ut be doubt the fact, sfderins that the
action had only lusted an hour and ten min
utes. at distance Of never less thin quar-
ter Of a mile, that the damage done to the
Kersarge amounted to about nothing and
that inflicted upon her crew to s'three men
wounded" II ever q victory was glorious
Tor being eheaply purchased, certainly that
Of Capt Winslow Is such one. aud proud
may be be in giving the plain straightforward
ststement contained in his report of the
almost complete equality Of the two vessels.
Clearly the victory was one which was
Won BY superior skill, not by superior
strength Tie Alabama *'Ared quickly, hnt
very 3ooiisbly, throwing away her shot.
The keaIsarEe fired with more deliberate
aim and much slower" The whole action
fs summed up in these few words, and the
result bears indisputable evidence to their
truth And correctness.
Capt. Semmes' accusation, or rather insin-
uatfon, that the kearsarge fired upon him
after be struck his colors, is regarded as be-.
inE as upgentlemanly and unofIlcer-like, Us
It is vague and unsubstantlated. Capt Wins
low disposes Of It in two words: Capt.
it been known the AlabamH had surrendered,
another gun would never have been dis
charged" Is there man living who dare
disbelIeve the simple dignity Of the refnta-
toni
With respect to the conduct Of the Deer
!. It WIS the duty Of that vessel, or Of any 9TH
er vessel, French, English or American, In
the canse Of humanity, to pick as mnny
drowning out Of the water as possible. No
doubt, as ! before said, those men had be-
come the lawful prize Of the Kearsarge from
the moment they struck their tlne, and the
Detrhound VAS bound to give them up II
summoned to do so. But how II not sum
| moDeds Might she not also, in the c.nse Of
humanity, do the best she could for them
a,ra make of, If permitted? Probably the
gallant commander Of the Kerasarge Is No
| lawyer; but fear he let bis prisoners slip
and that be and his government must be con:
tent to be quit of them. He mar well afford
to leave Capt. Semmes @alone in his glory
Then Capt Wlne1ow has also demanded the
men landed at Cherborrg By French pilots
But fear prisoners Of war escaping by any
means to the French Shore, are At liberty.
| have but room to add that the British gov
eminent declines going to war, but that hos
| tilitieR l1Ya TccQMmsQced In Germany.