The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-01
THE ALABAMA AND THE REAR
SARGE 49, CONFLICT or STATE
MENTS.

MENTS.
with a view to showing the partisanry
OF Northern histories OF the late war we
reproduced in these columns the other day
from an esteemed contemporary an ac-
count Of the fight between the Kearsarge
and the Alabama in 1864, ir which the
statement was made that the Alabama,
after showing the white flag and draw
ing off the fire OF the Kearsarge. again
opened her guns on her antagonist.
We do not know where that statement
came from, but expressed the belief That
st was from Northern history, and IL
were not surprising that the Northern
historian should make such a statement,
seeing that that identical charge was
made against Commander semmes of the
Alabama by Commander Winslow Of the
Kearsarge.
We quote from Captain Winslow's re-
port of the fight sent to Hon Gideon
Welles, Secretary OF the Navy, under date
Of July go 1864: Il saw now that she was
at our mercy. and few more guns, well
directed. brought down her flag. I was
unable 10 ascertain whether they had
been hauled down or shot away but a
white flag having been displayed over the
stern, our fire was reserved. Two min
utes had not more than elapsed when she
again opened on us with the two guns
on the port side. This drew our fire
again. and the Kearsarge was immediate
~ steamed ahead, and laid across her
bows for raking. The white flag was still
flying, and our fire was again reserved"
This statement is strangely in conflict
with mat Of Lieutenant Arthur Sinclair,
Of the Confederate Navy, who was with
the Alabama from the time that she first
sailed until she went down in this fight
We quote from Mr.. sinclair's book 1.-TWO
Years on the Alabama" page 2j9:
1T Being now apparent that the Ala
bama could not float longer, the colors
are hauled down, and the pipe given All
hands save yourselves Cur waist-boats
had been shot to pieces, leaving us but
two quarter-boats, and one Of them dam
aged. The wounded are despatched in one
of them TO the enemy in charge OF an
officer, and this done we await develop
ments. The Kearsarge evidently failed
to discover at once our surrender, for she
continued her fire after our colors were
struck, perhaps from the difficulty Of not
ing the absence of a flag with so much
white in it. in the powder smoke. But
be the reason what 1t may, a naval officer,
a gentleman by birth and education.
would certainly not be guilty of firing on
a surrendered foe; hence we may dismiss
the matter as an undoubted accident"
1t will be perceived that Sinclair so far
from sustaining the charge made by
Winslow. actually charges that the
Kearsarge fired upon the Alabama after
her colors were struck But so horrible
seemed 20 him an intentional act Of this
character that he dismisses it with the
statement that it was an undoubted ac-
c,dent. because a naval officer, a gentle
man by birth and education, would GER
tainly not be guilty of firing on a surren-
dered foe"
1t must be apparent to every fair-mind-
ed man that a soldier Of so high a sense
Of honor as that, in the face Of a fact,
he would not believe a commander in the
ranks Of the enemy capable of doing a
dlshonorable thing. would never have
spoken, as we have above quoted him.
had his own commander treacherously
fred upon the Kearsarge after having
displayed the white flag.
1t is not our purpose here to enter into
any defense Of Captain semmes. Of the
Alabama, for ne needs none. He was the
soul Of honor, and he would have seen
his ship sunk to the bottom OF the sea
before he would have dishonorably vio-
lated any of the regulations of war;
Our purpose is to show difficult 1t is to
obtain the facts. the exact facts. about
the war between the States, and TO show
what difficult task 1t is to write far
and impartial history. no matter how IN
preiudlced be the writer and no matter
how earnest he may strive to do his work
impartially. In this, one OF the most in-
teresiing events of the war. we find two
statements Of vital Importance, involving
even the honor Of the commanders total
" at variaace with each other. How will
the impartial historian decide as to the
exact facts. And II the impartial histo-
rian Is met on every hand with contra
dlctory statements Of this character and
Is hardly able to discriminate. what can
we expect in the way Of fairness from the
prejudiced historian who writes from the
Northern and Southern standpoint, as
may be?
There are other interesting incidents in
Connection with this famous fight which
20 to emphasize the point we would
make We have no space for them all.
but we may mention that from the report
OF Captain Winslow it would be inferred
that the Kearsarge had an easy victory
over the Alabama because of superior
skill. whereas Lieutenant Sinclair con-
tends chat the Kearsarge owes her vic
tory solely 10 the fact that the powder
| Of the Alabama was so badly damaged
that her shots did not pierce the hull Of