The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-09
FOUGHT THE ALABAMA.
The Noble Work Done by the Kear-
sarge in the War.

lie I>ODle WORK DOne Dy the Rear
sarge in the War.
No one of the privateers fitted out by the
Confederate States during the war did so
much damage TO American commerce as
the Alabama, commanded by Captain
Raphael Semmes. She hunted American
ships from every sea. and so we'll was she
protected by her speed and her strong
armament that il SCENE impossible to
check her predatory career.
carly in June, 1864, after cruise after
American merchantmen in the South
Atlantic ana Indian oceans, the Alabama
arrived at the port of Cherbourg. France.
The kearsarge. Captain John A. Winsl0w,
was then at Flushing, and at once sailed
out to watch the pirate, arriving off Cher
bourg June IA, 1864. where he found the
Alabama and biockaded her in the harbor.
The Alabama made preparations for fight,
and Captain Raphael Semmes caused
WlnslOw to be informed of this intention
through the United States Consul. On
Sunday, June 10, 1864, the kearsarge
was lying three miles off the
easternS entrance to the harbor when
the Alabama came out, escorted by a
French ironclad and the English yacht
Deerhound. Captain Winslow steamed off
seven miles from the shore, so as TO be
beyond the neutral ground, and then
steamed toward the Alabama. The arma-
ment of the kearSarge was seven guns, and
the Alabama carried eight guns. including
a 100-Dound Blakeley rifle. The kearSarge
was slightly faster and had 163 men, while
the Alabama had 149.
When WinslOw turned to approach the
Alabama opened fire from rsking posi-
tion at distance of one mile at 10 :57 A. NJ.
He kept on at full speed, receiving sec
ond broadside and part OF third, when he
sheered off and returned the fire from his
starboard battery. Both vessels circled
around a common center and neared each
other to within 600 yards.
The sides of the Alabama were torn cut
by the shells, and at noon. after the
action had continued for one hour, she
headed for the shore to get into neutral
waters. then five miles distant. This ex-
posed her port side, and she could only
bring two guns to bear. The ship was
filling, and Winslow approached so rap
idly that Semmes hauled down the flag.
Winslow stopped the ship, but continued
to FIRE, uncertain whether the Alabama
had surrendered or whether the flag had
shown and Winslow ceased firing.
The Alabama again renewed her firing
and Winslow also opened and fired three
or four times, though the white flag was
still flying. A boat from the Alabama
then came alongside to announce the sur
render, and was allowed to go back to
bring off the Alabama's officers and crew,
but she did not return.
The yacht Deerhound came up, and
Winslow asked her to assist in rescuing
the crew of the Alabama. which was then
fast sinking. The Deerhound picked up
thirty-nipe persons, including Semmes
and fourteen of his officers. after which
she went off and sailed to Southampton.
Winslow's officers begged him to throw a
shell al the Deerhound, but he refused
The engagement lasted an hour and
twenty minutes. After the last shot was
fred the Alabama sank out of sight. She
had about forty killed, and seventy were
made prisoners, so that thirty-nine
escaped. Only three men we're wounded
on the Kearsarge, one OF whom died. Only
twenty eight projectiles struck the
Kearsarge out of the $40 that
were fired by the Alabama. and none of
these did any material damage. One 100
pound shell exploded in the smokestack
and one lodged in the ssernpost of the
Kearsarge, but did not explode. The
Kearsarge fired 173 proiecties. and few
failed to do some injury. This was the
only important sea fight of the war be-
tween two ships.
Some time after the close of the war the
Kearsarge was on the Pacific Coast, and in
1870 she was rebuilt at Mare Island Navy
yard and practically made into new ship.
being newly buiit from the bilge up. She
was afterward sent back to the Atlantic.
and in the last few years has been en-
ployed for the most part ia the destruc-
ton of derellcts in the ocean,;