The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-10-25
Century Magazine of April 1856, I quote:

Century Magazine of April 1886, l quote:
This evolution exposed us to a raklng
sulphurous fire; the eleyen-inch shell and
smaller shot ridded the Alabama through
and through. Great gaps that no plugs
could fill opened in her side and the salt
brine of the English channel poured in
TO close this already lengthy reply to eX-
Paymaster General l. A. Smith, / will draw
the comparison between the sinking of the
Hatteras by the Alabama and the sinking
of the Alabama by the kearsarge. The
action between the two former ships took
plasce off Galveston. under the very pres
cnce Of Commander Bell and his squadron,
just after sunset. In that latitude there is
10 twilight and night shuts in almost lnme-
diately. Although the action lasted but Ill
teen minutes, 1t became SO dark we had TO
sight our guns by the fash from the enemy.
We were not more than sevcnty-iive yards
distant Captain Semmes, with his glass in
hand. was mounted above the shprall
watching closely the effect of the shots and
in fifteen minutes called to me- MIR. kell
cease firing, the enemy have fired n gun to
leeward.' The firing Immediately ceased,
the available boats lowered and every living
soul on board the Hatteras was saved, eX-
cept the crew that ran off with one of their
boats. This reScuing the enemy after sur
render was done at night, when at every
moment we were expecting the enemys
squadron upon us.
So much for the Christian gentleman and
gallant hero, Raphael Semmes, who could
distinguish in Il heated action at night the
first gun of the enemy fired to leeward,
showing distress. How Jared it with the
sinking of the Alabama by the Kearsarge?
AT high noon, with beautiful. clear sky,
and 4 breeze sufficient to take off the smoke
Of battle, the Alabama went down, after she
had ceased firing and hauled down her flag.
Had it not been that one of our quarter
boats could float, in which the wounded
were placed, they would likewise have
drowned as did several of our officers and
crew. while the Kearsarge did not stir a
hand to save, and had not the English
yacht Deerhound come to our rescue, after
asking permission Of Captain Winslow to
save the lives Of those floating in the
ocean, the most of Us would have rested
with our gallant little ship at the bottom of
the English channel. After some delay,
when the Deerhound and two French pilot
boats had rescued most of our crew. two
boats from the EeaTsarge made their ap-
pearance and rescued Il few.
Truth will prevail and is always strong
or than fiction. and | am not afraid to leave
to the future historian the record Of the IN
equal fight between the Alabama end the
ke9 rsarge.
My great commander sleeps. His caustic
pen is silent to the malice Of his foes.
hold It my sacred duty to his memory and
to history to refute false statements against
him or the gallant ship he commanded. In
the words of u great Georgian who hear
ing in the United States senate the traducer
OF the great chieftain of his people close
with his reply: when the lion of the plain
has fallen it is not the eagle, proud bird of
the Ino1Tt0fns. that sweeps down upon him
through the air and plucks away his vitals,
but the carrion vultnre"
JOHN MCINTosH ELL,
Executive Officer G. s Str Alabama