The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-04-17
KearSarge and Alabama.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT Of THE FIGHT BETWEEN
THESE SHIPS

| IhtSe ShlPS
OFT Cherbourg, FrSace, on the Morn.
Ing Of June 70, 1904. In Which the
Latter Was Sunk-Letter of Admira
Semmes Giving In Detail an Accoun,
Of the Engagement Total Loss In
Killed and Wounded on the Confed.
crate Vessel was Thirty.two.
Sunny South.
] recently came across in an old
war scrap-book,. clipping from =
newspaper, published about tho close
OF the 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 aud the
Stars and Stripes waved over many a
bloody battlefield. The clipping is =
copy Of \ private letter that Admiral
Semmes wrote q friend. giving some
interesting facts about the sinking OF
the Alabama. In it he pays a tribute
to the late Adiutant General kell, a
Georgian, whose memory shall be
dear to the people Of the South. as
long as 'hsroism has it's worshippers
and martydom holds its meaning"
give the letter in full Just as it
was published:
Southampton. June 21. 1864.
Sir:-I have the honor to inform
you that in accordance with my in
tention, as previously announced to
you, steamed out Of the harbor Of
Chsrbourg between 9 and 10 o'clock
Of the morning OF the 18th of June,
for the purpose Of engaging the
enemy's steamer Ksarsarge, which
had been lying on and off the the port
for several days previously. After
clearing the harbor we deserted the
enemy, with his head off shore,
at distance of about seven
miles.
We were three-quarters OF an hour
in coming up with him. had pre-
viously pivoted my guns to star
board, and made all my preparations
for engaging the enemy on that side.
When within about mile and a
quarter OF the enemy, and bringing
his head in shore, presented his star
board battery to me. BY this time
we were distant about one mile from
each other, when [ opened on him
with solid shot, in which he replied
in few minutes, and the engagement
became active Oh both sides.
The enemy now pressed his ship
under 4 full head Of steam. and to
prevent our passing each other too
steadily, and to keep our respective
broadsides bearing, it became neces-
sary to fight in circle, the two ships
stsaming around q centre, and pre-
serving distance from each other Of
from a quarter to half 4 mile. When
we got within good shell range we
opened upon him with shell. Some
ten or fifteen minutes after the COM
msncement OF the action our spanksr
was shot away and our ensign came
down by the run. This was i'm
mediately replaced by another at the
mizzen masthead. The firing now
became very hot, and the enemy's
shot and she'll soon began to tell upon
our hull, knocking down, killing and
disabling = number of men in differ
ent parts Of the ship.
Perceiving that our shell, though
apparently exploding against the
snemy's sides, were doing him but
little damage, l returned to solid
shot firing, and from this onward al
tsrnated with shot and shell.
After the lapse OF about an hour
and ten minutes, our ship WAS ascer-
tanned to be in sinking condition,
the enemy's shell having exploded in
our sides and between decks. open
ing large apertures, through which
the water rushed with great rapid
ity.
For some few minutes had hopes
of being able to reach the French
coast, for which purpose gave the
ship all steam, and set such OF the
fore and aft sails as were available
The ship filled so rapidly, however,
that before we had made much pro-
gress the fires were sxtinguished in
furnaces. and We we're evidently on
the point OF sinking. now hauled
down my colors to prevent the further
destruction OF life. and dispatched a
boat to inform the enemy Of our con-
| dition.
Although we were now but 4OC
yards from each other, the enemy
fired upon me five times after my
colors had been struck. am charit,
able to suppose that ship of war oI
Christian nation could not have
done this Intentionally.
We now turned all our e1ertions
toward saving the wounded and such
OF the boys OF the ship who were un-
able to swim. These were dispatched
to my quarter-boats, the only boats
remaining to ME. the w=.te-boats
having been torn to pieces.
Some twenty minutes after NV fur
mace fires had been extinguished and
the ship b,ing on the point Of settling,
every man, in obedience TO previ-
Gus order which had been given the
crew, jumped overheard to save him.
self.
There was no appearance Of any
boat coming to us from the enemy
after my ship went down. Fortunate
ly, however, the steam yacht Deer
hound. owned by a gentleman OF Ian
cashirs, England, Mr.. John Lancaster,
who was himself on board, steamed
up in the midst Of my drowning mer
and rescued a number OF both officers
and men from the wreck. l was for.
tunzte enough myself to thus escape
to the shelter OF the neutral flag
together with about forty others al
told.
About this time the Kearsarg.
sent me one boat, and then tardily
another.
| Accompanying you will find list
of the killed and wounded, and o
Those who were picked up by ths
Deerhound: the remainder there il
reason to hope. were picked up b.
the enemy and by a couple Of Froncl