The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-07-15

eight millions of francs on board, the booty
heaped up from her various encounters, but
the crew were in want of clothes and shoes.
The captain was permitted to take on board a
supply of fuel and some provisions and cloth
ing, but he could not be allowed anything
more. He had deposited in the hands OF the
Brazilian Consul his money, that OF his crew,
his will, his ships papers, and forty i've ehro };
nometers, which he had taken from captured
vessels. As the Kearsage, Federal steamer,
had arrived outside the pier in order to attack
the Confederate vessel when she came out, the
latter determined to go and meet her openly.
Accordingly on Sunday morning the Alaba-
ma got her steam up and left the roadstead, es.
corted by the French iron.clad frigate Couron-
ne, the mission of which was to have what is
called the maritime territory respected -name-
ly, the distance of nine marine miles. When
the two combatants had passed that limit the
Couronne returned into the rOadstead., The en-
gagement then commenced, the Alabama en-
deavoring to run alongside and board her ad-
versary, who was more powerful than herself,
both as to build and of metal; but she could
not succeed in the attempt as the equality in
their speed allowed the other vessel to keep at
a certain distance, and both the steamers Kept
firing their guns at good range Tnese ma
nRuVres and the cann0nade lasted nearly an
hour, at the end of which time the Alabama
slackened her fire and let off her steam, whlcn
lOT LuOSc SpcCCttOIo WIZ w.
competent to form an opinion, indicated some
damage to her machinery. The Kearsage con-
tinued to fire at q distance, avoiding to come
close to the Confederate vessel. The latter In
a few minutes after set her head sails, which
appeared to show that the after part of the yes
sci had been damaged, and that she intended
to run in for land. At about half past twelve
her flag still flying, and disappeared. Two OF
her boats had been previously lowered with
men in them. When the Alabama turned to-
wards the shore the Federal vessel kept firing
on her, without the fire being returned, except
at long intervals.
1t appears that the Alabama at first resisted
perfectly, until shot from the Kearsage
knocked her screw to pieces, and that accident
left the Confederate vessel completely at the
mercy of her enemy. The Kearsage picked up
sixty-two of the Alabamas crew, and then
went into Cherbourg, where she anchored in
the afternoon. Nine of the Alabama's men
were picked up by pilotboat Three of the
men picked up by the Kearsage died some
hours after from their wounds. The Kearsage
CherbOurg had all assembled on the quays, on
the breakwater and on every point whence
they could get view of the engagement. The
Federal vessel, on coming back, anchored
close to the Napoleon screw liner, and was Wis
tied by numerous persons. The Kearsage suf-
fered severely, having received twelve shot in
her hull. Her crew were superior in number
to that of the Alabama, which had between
one hundred and thirty and one hundred and
forty men. The two vessels fired about one
hundred and thirty shots each. The wounded
on both sides have the greatest attention paid
them. They havd been sent to the Naval Hos
pital, where they have been visited by Vice
Admiral Dupony. the Maritime Prefect
Correspondence of the New York Herald.
LONDON. June 22.-Capt Semmes is the hero of
the hour As one of the daily papers expressed it,
he sis the guest of England" And before he had
been shore forty eight hours. arrangements were
made for furnishing him another ship. more swift
and powerful than the ILL ated craft that has just met
such righteous retribution in Cherbourg Bay. A
gentleman told me yesterday he had seen the steamer
that was now fitting out for Capt. Semmes here in
the Thames And he added that she would be put
under his command In such a way that the govern
ment could not possibly interfere. believe every
word of this is true.
A gentleman of my acquaintance had long con-
versatiOn with the second officer of the Alabama, and
he gave him these particulars. The arrangement
was made at Cherbourg with the Captain of the
yacht Deerhound to go out and witness The fight and
said that they had only four five days provisions
on board and the French government had forbidden
them supply; so that they had to go on and meet
the Kesage or have the ship sold and the crew dis
banded. Trusting in that luck which had ever at
tended his craft the bold buccaneer sailed QUITO
meet more than his match.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF OAPT. sEMMEs.
Mr.. Mason, the representative of the Confederate
government has sent a copy of this report to the
Times. Capt. Semmes says that in an hour and ten
minutes the Alabama was found to be in a sinking
state enemys shells having exploded on her
sides and between decks For few minutes he had
hopes of reaching the French coast but ship filed
rapidly and the furnace fires were extinguished.
Capt Semmes says: 81 now hauled down colors to
prevent the further destruction of e and dspatched
boat to inform the enemy of our condition a.
though we were now but four hundred yards from
each other The enemy fired at me five times after
cOlOrs had been struck it is charitable to suppose
that q ship-of-war of Christian nation could not
have done this in entlOnay. Some twenty minutes
after my furnace fires were extinguiebed, and the
ship being on the point Of sinking, every man, in
obedience to previous orser which had been given
to the crew, jumped overheard and endeavored to
save himself There was no appearance of any boats
coming from the enemy after the chip went down.
1t was fortunate myself thus escaped to the shelter
Of the neutral flag on board Mr. Lancaster's yacht
Deerhound, together with about forty Others"