The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-27
SINKING THE ALABAMA.
The Duel Off Cherbourg Between the
Kearsarge and the Privateer.
A Memorable Naval aforementioned
able Display of Courage and Skill in
the Engagement.

A vast amount of matter has be written in
relation to the celebrated encounter between
the gunboat Kearsarge and the pirate Ala
bama. The following account is from the
notes of an officer attached to the Kearsarge,
and participant in the engagement. After
the battle the English press teemed with ex-
aggerated accounts OF the naval combat
Semmes and his officers were lauded to the
skies, raised to a sphere but triie lower
than that occupied by Nelson, while Wins
low and his comrades suffered in compare
son. descending the English scale of honor
to decidedly low point of degradation. Be-
fore the fight Semmes, with rare forethought
sent out of his vessel an iron chest heavily
weighted with treasure, together with sixty
ehronometers-a portion of the plumber and
loot gathered by the chivalrous commander
in his perlous and dashing crusade waged
against the formidable merchant marine of
his native country The Alabama was a
bark-rigged screw-propeller, and the heavi-
ness OF her rig, with the great size and height
of her masts, gave her the appearance of a
vessel much larger than her antagonist Her
battery consisted of one 100-pounder rife
one heavy 6S-pounder and six broadside
32-pounders. The Kearsarge had four broad
side 32-pOunders-two 11-inch-and one
2Spounder rifle, one gun less than the Ala
bama. The ships were about equal in match
the tonnage being the same The Kearsarge
for some time had been in hot p4 rsuit of the
Alabama, which vessel Captain Winslow was
determined to follow till he overlook his en-
envy. The orders from the department were
explicit on the subject. The object OF the
cruise was we'll known to all on board, which
fact was sufficient to arouse to the highest
pitch of enthusiasm the sentiments of the
crew.
A steamer answering exactly to the rig
and proportions of the Alabama was sighted
early one morning Chase was at once given
under a full head of steam, until the gum
boat dashed alongside, with guns run out
crew at quarters, the captains of the guns
standing with the lockstrings IN their hands,
But the hopes of the Yankee tars for fair
fight and no favors with the Alabama were
doomed to disappointment The steamer
proved to be one belonging to the Chinese
expeditionary force returning to England
On another occasion the Alabama was re-
ported lying snugly at anchor in a certain
port. 1t was night as the Federal man-Of-
war steamed into the harbor, determined to
sink the pirate, regardless OF consequences
The enemy was sighted, lying within the
deep shadows of an overhanging bluff Her
masts rig, general contour of the hull could
be dimly made out, and not doubt existed
in the mind of single individual on board
to the character of the steamer toward
which they were running at the rate of
twelve miles per hour. Every officer and
man was at his station. The lights of the
strang, steamer shone sudde ly forth across
the dark waters of the harbor. A wild cry
was heard, followed by lanterns waved fran
tically aloft, mingled with the screams of
women and children. The sharp prov of the
Inan- ot-snsdr had been directed for the midship
section -, se supposed pirate, and the wheel
was hove over hard starboard, just in time
to avoid fatal collision. AS it was, the
protruding M uzzles of the broadsde guns
grazed the smooth side Of he stranger,
which proved to be a Royal English mail
steamer. The manof-war disappeared as
suddenly as she had appeared and the pos
sible consequences resulting from the col
lision had it taken place, can only be con-
jectured. The day subsequent to the arrival
of the Kearsarge off Cherbourg, Captain Win
slow receiving note from Captain Semmes,
begging that the Kearsage would not depart,
as it was his intention to fight her, and he
would not delay her movements but day
or two in making his preparations. The re-
quest was readily acceded to, but no chal-
lenge emanated from Winslow, as has been
alleged. To have done so would have been to
violate the very explicit orders of the Navy
Department.
The two DAYS elapsed. Every available
the entrance to the harbor. The movement
of every vessel puff of white steam or
floating cloud OF smoke was sufficient to ex-
cite the entire ships company. Winslow.
calm, imperturbable, preserving a dignified
silence walked his quarterback for hours
casting many furrve glance in the direc-
ton where the Alabama was supposed to be.
The patience and forbearance OF the tars
after four days OF watching and anxious ex-
pectation was about exhausted.
AT 10 A. NJ. on the fifth day the Alabama
was reported coming out of the harbor. ac-
companied by the French iron-clad Couronne
and fore-and-aft rig.ed steamer showing
the white English ensign and yacht flag
The Kearsarge beat to quarters at once and
the vessel cleared for action. Fearing that
the question oil jurisdiction might arise the
Kearsarge steamed slowly to sea, until dis
lance of six or seven miles was attained from
Cherbourg when the helm was ordered to be
put hard over and the two vessels RAPIDLY
neared each other. As the Kear>arse came
around the Alabama sheered showing her
teeth very pretuly, presenting her starboard
broadside and displaying he: ensgns. But
that little bit of nautical bravado did not in
the least disturb the equanimitv of the
Kearsarge's crew. The Southern privateer
opened fire at long range, and when mile
distant discharged her broadside, the shot
cutting the rigging and going over and drop
ping alongside the Kearsarge. Captain Wins
low, reserving his fire and reminding the
guns crews of his previous orders to avoid
rapid firing and to take deliberate ain below
rather than above the water-line. now rang
to go ahead full speed. In two minutes the
Alabama had loaded and again delivered
hroadside, followed by third. without in
hictng any damage to her antagonist beyond
cutting up the standing and running rig
ging. The Kearsarge ste"dily approached
her without deigning to reply TO the fusilade
until within 900 yards, when, apprehcnsive
that another broadside from the Alabama
might rake his vessel, Captain Winslow
sheered opening fire al II o'clock The po
sitions of the two vessels were broadside and
broadside. but it was apparent very early in