M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1864-07-21
SIRmes OalCial Report Of the L q.
Naval Fight

SlIH mes OdHc1al Report Of the l. O.
Naval Fight.
| New YORK, July s. Scmmes in
his official report Of the engageMcrt
with the Kesrssge says, wheE abuut
mile distan! he opened with solid
shot; the KeareIge replied in few
minutes aud the engagement became
active. The two ships steamed
around a common center preservinEs
distance from each other of from u
Huarter to half mile.
When within good range he open.
ed with shell in 10 or Is minutes the
AIabama's 8 81 anker eff was shat
away and the ensign came down, this
was Immediately replaced by snother
at mizztn mast head, firing now be
came very hot and the enemy's sho,
and shell soon began to tell upon our
hull knocking down, killed aud disa
bling u number of men in different
parts OF the ship.
Perceiving our shell though hitting
did but little damage, resort ha, to
be had to solid shot, alternated with
shell. After lapse Of about an houc
aud ten minutes our ship WAS sscec
tained to be in n sinking condition,
the enemy'd shell having exploded in
our sides, aad between decka, open
Ing large aper'ures, through which
the water rushed with great rapidty.
! had hopes OF being able to reach the
French cost, !or Which purpose | gave
the chip all steam, and set such of
lore and aft sails as were available.
The ship settled 50 ra pidly, how
ever, that before we had rade much
progress the fires were extinguisbed
III the furnace, and We were evidently
OH the point OF sinking, now haul.
ed down my colors 10 prevent further
destruction OF life, aud dispatch
boat to inform the enemy OF our con-
clifton. He says that the Kearsags
fred upon him 1--WE times after b!s
coiors were struck.
J lhe remainder Of the report 10 de-
voted to h statement Of how he wac
picked up, aud made bis escape under
IL neutral aAg, also that his officers
when they went to tho Kearsage,
they found that she had bean furnish.
ed with a chain armor concealed with
pIanking, and that the planking was
torn OF By his smells, thus exposing
to view the armor. He, alao says
the enemy was heavier than myself
both IN ship, battery and crew, but
did not know until the action was
over that she was iron clad.
The firing OF the Kearage, accord
to Semmes, was 80 hot aud accursts
in ten or fifteen minutes after the
commencement Of the action that his
iag WAS shot away his hull torn and
his n.en knocked down, killed and
disabled in every direction.
The Paris correspondent Of tbs
Commercial says:
Captain Winslow still claims
Semmes as his prisoner and will write
to him to deliver himself up, making
1t q personal question between officer
and officer.
WinSlow will send others home; the
men are released on parole to never
tight against the United States.
Semmea was ordered ont by tho
French authorities by noon. On con.
su'tatlon with Commodore Barron.
his inferior officer, whether to 90 ont
and escape by night or meet the
KearSage in daylight and igh:. That
r officer told him 10 20 ana fight if he
was sure OF winning; he was sure and
, went out to fight. Captain WiusloW "
t did tire a'tor the white flag was hois.
ted, but it was owing to hia not seeing
it. The greater steaming power OF
the hearsage and superior arlustnre
enabled her to do with her adversary
as she pleased.
, Semmes was astonished to find his
ship uoed up so soon, and cursed no.
a little at tho worthlessness of English
t guns and English ships.
Mr.. Stoddard, master of the Kea,.
sage, makes statement in which be
t says, when he saw the Deerhound
making of with q part of the Alaba-
mas crew, he reported the fact to
Captain Winslow, The answer
which he received was: at was i'm.
possible; the yacht was simply com.
ing around. No commander could
} be guilty of snch distardly conduct,
+, when he had been requested and per.
mitted, in the cause Of humanity to
save the lives of pris onera, to run Of
: wit h tn tm."
NJ Au indidvual advertised in one
, OF the morning papers for 'awiie"the
, other day, and requested each APPLICANT
> for the situation to enclose her carte dc
Dts;ys Ono of hia cOYIesDOudeDta Ia