Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1864-07-21
A NAVAL COMBAT-LOSS OF THE
"ALABAMA.n

I IA
By the arrival of the ssCity of Balti-
| more, at New York, we have information
OF the loss OF the Confederate Steamer
alabama" commanded by Capt. Rapha-
el Senlmes, in fight with the Yankee war
vessel ."kearsage," Capt. Wins!ow. The
Fl ght occurred off Cheerburg, France, on
Sunday, the 10Th. June. The particulars
may be summed up as follows
On the morning Of Sunday, June 18th,
at 1880, the ''Ala5ma," was observed
steamilg out of Cherb ourg harbor towards
the steamer "Kearsage At 11:1o the
"a labama" commen ced the action by
firing with her starboard battery at dis
lance Of about & mile. The ''Kearsage"
also opened fire Immediately with her star
board guns, and a sharp engagement, with
rapid firing from both ships, was kept up,
both shot and shell being discharged. Il
the maneuverlng both vessels made seven
complete circles, at distance OF from q
quarter to half mile.
At II o'clock the firing from the Ala
bama was observed to sIacken, and she
appeared to be making head sail and shap-
ing her course for land, which was distant
about nine miles.
At 1880 the Confederate vessel was in
a disabled and sinking condition.
The encou.er was witnessed by the Eng
lish steam yacht 'Deerhound' which made
toward the Alabama at this moment, and
IN passing the kearsage was requested to
assist III saving the crew OF the Alabama.
w hen the Deerhoand w&s still at dis
tance of two hundred yards the Alabama
sunk, aud the Deerhound then lowered
her boats, and with the assistance Of those
from the sinking vessel succeeded IL saw
ing about forty men, including Capt.
Semrnes and thirteen officers.
The keafsage was apparently much
disabled
The Alabama's loss in killed and woun-
ded is as follows Drowned, one officer
and one man killed, six men wounded,
one officer and sixteen men. Total, eight
killed and seventeen wounded.
Capt Semlnes is slightly wounded in
the hand.
The Kearsage's boats were lowered, and
with the assistance OF the French pilot sue
ceeded in picking up the remainder OF
the crew.
Before going ont to fight Capt. Sem
Ines confded to a gentleman on shore his
Journals and all the documents connected
with the cruise OF the Alabama.
The London Morning Herald says the
Alabama was terribly in want OF repairs,
while the Kearsage, was fresh from port,
and kept purposely IN order for the con-
tlngency of an encounter wiA the Alaba-
ma.
The Alabama was, however, from the
first overmatched. The crew OF the Kear
sage consisted of one hundred and fifty to
her one hundred and twenty, and the
kearsage carrying two one hundred
Founders, the Alabama carrying no guns
OF that calibre.
1t Is stated that formal challenge to
fight was given by the Kearsage, and ae-
cepted by Capt. Semnes.
According to some accounts the kear-
sage had sustained considerable damage,
her sides being torn open, showing the
chain plating. A despatch, however, from
Cherbourg (whcre it is presumed the kear-
sage has arlived,) says that she had suffer
ed no damage of Importance, and that
none of her officers were killed or wound
ed, and only three of her searnen wound
cd.
The Kearsage captured sixty-eight of
the officers and crew of the Alabama.
Compliment to a North Carolina Off,
cer.-On the 25th of last May, there was
1 n C1L. i