The Portland daily press., 1864-07-08
Vas g us. STEAMER KEARsARaE,

The Navy Department has received the fol-
lowing dispatches:
U. 5. STEAMER KEARsARGE,
June 18Th, 1854, p. NJ.
SRI have the honor to inform the De-
partment that the day subsequent TO the ar
rival of the Kearsarge off this port, on the
| 14th inst, received note from Capt. Semmes,
! begging that the kearsarge would not depart {,
as he intended to fight her, and would not de-
lay her but day or two. According to this
notice the Alabama left the port of Cherbourg
this morning at about $50 At 10 A. n. we
discovered her steering towards us.
Fearing the question of jurisdiction might
arise, We steamed to sea until distance OF
six or seven miles was obtained froo the Cher
bourg breakwater, when we rounded to and
commenced steering for the Alabama. As we
approached her within about twelve hundred
yards, she opened fire, we receiving two or
I three broadsdes before a shot was returned.
! The action continued, the respective steamers
4 making circle round and round at distance
! OF about nine hundred yards from each other.
At the expiration of an hour the Alabama
struck, going down In about twenty minutes
afterwards, aud carrying many persons with
: her. 4fs
I 1t affords me great satisfaction to announce
to the Department that every officer and man
did their duty, exhibiting degree of GOODNESS
and fortitude which gave promise at the out
( set OF certain victory. Nf8st
have the honor to be,
Most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN A. WINsLow, Capt.
Hon. g. Weles, Secretary of the Navy.
U. S. SHIP KRARsARGE,
Cherbourg, France, June 20ih, 1884.
Sir IL enclose herewith the Surgeons re-
I port OF the casualties on board this vessel 10
the late actbn with the Alabama. Although
we received some twenty-five or thirty shots,
I twelve or thirteen taking effect in the hull by
/ the mercy OF God we have been spared the
Z loss of any of our lives, whereas in the case OF
the Alabama the carnage, | learn, was dread
ful.
The ships were about equal in match, the
tonnage being the same. the Alabama carry
ing l00-pounder rifed, with one heavy 6S-
FOUNDER aud six broadside 32-pounders, and
the kearsarge carrying four 'broadside 81
Founders, two ll-inch and one 25-pounder III
fled, one gun less than the Alabama. The on
ly shot which fear will give us any trouble
is 100 FOUNDER rifle ball, which entered our
stern post, and remains there at present unex-
ploded
Ii would seem almost invidious to particu-
larize the conduct of any one man or officer,
! when all had done their duty with a fortitude
and GOODNESS which cannot be too highly
praised Bat feel it due to my executive Of
icer, Lieut.. Commander Thornton, who SUI
perintended the working of the battery, to
particularly mention him for an example, Of
GOODNESS and encouragement of the men while
fighting, which contributed much towards the
success of the action.
1 have the honor TO be,
4 Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN A. WINsLow, Captain.
Hon. q. Welles, Secretary OF the Navy.
I Surgeon Brown reports Join w. Dempsey,
I quarter-gunner, has had an arm amputated,
owing to fracture, and William Gwin and
james Macbeth, ordinary seamen, severely
I wounded.