The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-18
SINKING OF THE ALABAMA.
Captain Semmes' Account of the
Fight With the kearsarge.
(The Sunny South.)

war between the states, which will be
Of considerable interest to those who
still like to read Of the time when the
Stars and Bars and the Stars and
Stripes waved over many a bloody
battlefield. The clipping is a copy OF
a private letter hat Admiral Semmes
wrote to a friend, giving some inter-
esting facts about the sinking of the
Alabama In it ne pays a tribute to the
late Adjutant General Kell, a Geor-
gian, whose memory shall be dear to
he people of the south. as long as he
roism has its worshippers and mar
tyrdom holds Its meaning"
1 give the letter in full just as it was
published:
Southampton, June q, 1864.
Sir:I AVE the honor to inform YOU
that in accordance with my intention,
as previously to you, /
steamed out of the harbor at Cher
bourg between 8 and 10 o'clock OF the
morning Of the 18th OF June, for the
purpose Of engaging the enemy's
steamer Kearsarge, which had been ly-
ing on and off the port for several
days previously. After clearing the
harbor We described the enemy, with
his head off shore, at a distance OF
about seven miles.
We were three-quarters Of an hour
In coming up with him. I had previ-
ously pivoted my guns to ~starboard,
and made all my preparations for en-
gaging the enemy on that side. When
within about a mile and a quarter of
the enemy, n bringing his head in
shore, presented his ~starboard battery
to me. By this time we were distant
about n mile from each other, The
1 opened on him with solid shot, in
which he replied in a few minutes, and
the engagement became active on both
sides.
The enemy now pressed his ship I'M
der a full head of steam, and to pre-
vent our passing lei other too stead
lily, and to keep our respective broad
sides bearing, it became necessary to
fight in a circle, the two ships steam
ing around a centre, and preserving a
distance from each other of from a
quarter to half a mile. When we got
within good she'll range we opened
pom him with shell. Some ten or 1f-
teen minutes after the commencement
OF the action our spanker was shot
away and our ensign came down by
the run. This was Immediately replac-
ed by another at the mizzen masthead.
The firing now became very hot, and
the enemy'S shot and shell Soon began
to tell upon our hull, knocking down,
and killing and disabling a number of
men in different parts of the ship.
Perceiving that our shell, though ap-
parently exploding against the enemy's
sides, were doing him but little dam
age, I returned to solid shot firing, and
from this onward alternated with shot
and she'll.
After the lapse Of about an hour
and ten minutes. u ship was ascer-
tanned to be in a sinking condition, the
enemy shell having exploded in our
sides and between decks, opening large
apertures, though which the water
rushed with great rapidity.
For some few minutes / had hopes OF
being able to reach the French coast,
for which purpose I rave the ship all
steam, and set such of the fore and aft
sails as We're available. The ship filled
so rapidly. however, that before we had
made much progress The fires We're ex-
tinguished in the furnaces, and we were
evidently on the point IF sinking. l now
hauled down my colors TO prevent the
further destruction of life. and dis
patched a boat to inform the enemy OF
our condition.
Although we were now but 400 yards
from each other. the enemy fired upon
me five times after my colors had been
struck. / am charitable to suppose that
a ship of war of a Christian nation
could not have lone THIS Intentionally
We now turned all our exertions to-
ward saving the wounded and such OF
the boys of the ship Who were unable
to swim. These were dispatched to M
quarter-boats. the only boats remain
ing to me, the waste-boats having beer
torn to pieces.
Some twenty minutes after my fur
mace fires had been vxtingulshed and
the ship being on the point of settling
every man, in obedience to a previous
order which had been given the crew,
Jumped overheard to save himself.
There was no appearance of any boat
coming to us from the enemy after my
ship went down.. Fortunately, however
the steam yacht Deerhound, owned by
a gentleman of Lancashire, England
Mr.. John Lancaster, who was himself
on board, steamed up in the midst OF
my drowning men and rescued a num-
Der Of both officers and men from the
wreck. / was fortunate enough myself
to thus escape to the SHELTER of the neu
trail flag. together with about forty
others all told.
About this time the Kearsage sent
me one boat. and then tardilS, another
Accompanying you viii find lists Of
the killed and wounded. and of those
who were picked up by the Deerhound
the remainder, there Is reason to hone
were picked up by the enemy n BY
a couple of French p~ilot-boats, which
were also, fortunately. near the scene
Of action.
At the end Of the engagement it wa:
discovered by those Of our officers who
went alongside the enemys ship will
the wounded that the midship section
ON both sides was thoroughly iron.
coated, this having been done with
chain constructed for the purpose
nlaced perpendicular from the rail tC
the waters edge, the whole covered
over by a thick outer planking, which
gave no Identification of the arnior he
meath.
The planking had been ripped OFF ir
every direction by OUR shot and she,
and every chain broken, and indenteo
in many places, and forced partly intr
the ships side. She was most effectuaI
ly guarded. however in this sector
from penetration. The enemy was much
damaged in other parts. but 10 what
extent it is now impossible to tell; i
is believed he was BADLY crippled.