The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-07-26
THIRTEENTH VOLUME---NUMBER ssl.
THE ALABAMA.

After circumnavigating the world in its mission
OF destruction, the Alabama at last sleeps beneath
the British Channel. That renowned arm OF the
sea holds no richer jewel in its depths. How many
Yankee ships she has sent before her, the Yankee
papers are even now engaged in reckoning They
nave already published list, which they say ends
with September, 1868; when the full record is
completed, we have little doubt that the Alabama
VIII be found to have paid for herself five hundred
times over. There are those who blame Captain
oemmes for going to fight heavier vessel special
~ prepared with all the naval resources of the
United States, expressly to tempt him to combat
where he would be destroyed. He could indeed
have remained in harbor, or skulked away without
hghtlng and long continued to be the terror of
Yankee commerce But not without some dis
grace Such course would have sunk the war
rior in the hangman 1t is better as. it is The
Alabama neither ran away, nor was she taken.
She fell by the chance of battle, fighting to the
last, and not shadow now dims her glory. Her
name is written on the page of history, and not
written with water. Her phantom will long trou-
bic the night watch of the Yankee skipper
INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE FIGHT BE-
TWEEN THE ALABAMA AND TIE KERsAGE-A
specia report IN the London Star of june 81, saws
Captain Semmes directed the first Ientenont
Mr. heIl, to go below and report the state of the
snip That officer soon returned saying she was
In sinking state, and the captain decided on strik
ing his flag. The flag had been already three
times shot away, but replaced. A large number
OF the crew rushed aft, conjuring the captain not
to strike, and expressing their readiness to sink IN
herand die with honor and one of the seamep.
named Smith, cutlass in hand, stood by the flag
and declared he would not allow it to be lowered,
The captain leveed his revolver, and insisted on
Its being hauled down, which was done, and white
flag hoisted.
Numerous acts of gallantry are related as having
occurred on board the Alabama during the fight,
one or two of which are worth recording. MIR.
Glnley, the captains coxswain, was struck by
shot, which shattered the lower part of his arm,
leaving 1t hanging by flesh and skin; he deliberate
ly took out his knife, cut off the piece of his limb,
and continued serving his'gun.
An Il-inch she'll, which fellon deck, was taken
up and thrown overheard, to explode by no men,
named Townsend and Mari, the latter of whom is
already known to the Alabama men from his hav-
ing jumped into heavy sea and saved the life of
a man who had fallen overheard
= A man named Soarno was loading gun, when a
shot struck the ramrod and broke it in two He
looked up and abused them for not waiting to have
the shot properly in for them.
One man was sent forward to clear the ibboon
rigging, which had been damaged he received q
most painful wound, which was mortal notwith-
standing which, he completed the work and return
ed to the deck, when another shot cut him in two.
Another man, though mortally wounded, refused
to admit that he had been struck, and continued to
do his work until he fell dead on deck.
As far as is shown, not relic of the Alabama
is in the possession of her successful rival When
she was sinking, Captain Semmcs dropped his own
sword into the sea, to prevent the possibility of
its getting into their hands, and the gunner made
a hole in one Of the Alabama's boats and sunk her
for the same reason.
The men were all true to the last; they only
ceased firing when the water came into the muzzles
of their guns, and as they fer life, all they
cared for was that their commander should not fall
into Federal hands.
The only two boats uninjured we're lowered, and
the wounded men placed in them. When the |
boats were full, who was unwounded en-
deavored to enter one, but was held back by the
surgeon of the ship, Mr. Llewellyn, son Of the rec
tor Of parish in Wiltshire. "See," he said, 81
want to save my life as much as you do; but let
the wounded men be saved first" "Doctor," said
the officer in the boat, eve can make room for
you." 81 will not peril the wounded men," was
his reply. He remained behind and sank with
the ship-a loss much deplored by all officers and
men. He is the only officer known to be lost.
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