Evening star., 1911-08-13
1861


the United States consul that the kear-
sarge was TO come to this port solely for
the prisoners landed by me. and that she
was to depart in twenty-four hours. !
desire you TO say To the United States
consul that my intention is to fight the
Kearsarge as soon as / can make the
necessary arrangements. l hope these
will not detain me more than until tomor-
row evening" or the following morning
at furthest. I beg she will not depart be-
fore i am ready to go out.
Il have the honor to be, very respect
fully.
Your obedient servant.
"R. SEMMES. Captain.
This communication was sent by MI.
Bonfis. the Confederate States COM
mercial agent. to Nr Liais, the United
States commercial agent. with request
that the latter would furnish a copy TO
Capt Winslow for his guidance. There
was no other challenge to combat. The
letter that passed between the commercial
agents was the challenge about which so
much has been said. Capt. Semmes IN
formed Capt Winslow through Mr.. Bon
fills of his intention to fight; Capt. WINS
low informed Capt. Semmes through Mr..
f.iais that he came TO Cherbourg TO fight,
and had no intention of leaving. he mace
no other reply.
cant Ninslow assembled the officers
and discussed the expected battle. 1t was
probable the two ships would engage on
parallel lines and the Alabama would seek
neutral waters in event OF defeat; hence
the necessity of beginning the action sev-
eral miles from the breakwater 1t was
determined not to surrender, but to fight
until the last. and. il need be- to go down
with coors flying. Why Capt Semmes
should imperil his ship was not under
L IN 60.
the cause of which he was selected
champion 10 a needless disaster, While
the kearsarge if taken or destroyed,
could be replaced. 1t was therefore cor
Guided that he would fight because he
thought he would be the victor
Preparations were made for battle, with
no relaxation Of the watch. Thursday
passed; Friday came; the Kearsarge
waited with ports down. guns pivoted
to starboard. the whole battery loaded.
and shell. Crane and canister ready to
use in any mode OF attack or defense;
yet no Alabama appeared. French pilots
came on board and told of unusual ar
rangements made by the enemy, such
as the hurried taking of Goals, the trans
mission of valuable articles to the shore
such as captured chronometers. specie
and the bills of ransomed vessels. and
the sharpening of swords, cutlasses and
boarding pixies. 1t was reported that
Capt. Senmes had been advised not to
give battle: that he replied he would
prove to the world that his ship was not
privateer. intended only for attack
upon merchant vessels, but a true man.
of-war: further. that he had consulted
French officers. who all asserted that in
his situation they would fight.
Meanwhile the Kearsarge was cruising
to and fro of the breakwater. At a
supper in Cherbourg Saturday night sew
eral officers Of the Alabama met sym
pathizing friends, the coming battle be-
ing the chief topic of conversation. Con-
fident of victory, they proclaimed the
intent to sink the Federal or gain a
"cOrsair.' They rose with promises to
meet the following night to repeat the
feStivity as yictorS, were escorted to
the boat and departed with cheers and
best wishes for a successful return. This
Incident and others pertaining to the
Alabama, were told the writer by the
officers who were taken prisoners.
Sunday. the 10Th, came-a fine day. at
misphere somewhat hazy. little sea and
light westerly wind. At 10 o'clock the
kearsarge was near the buoy marking
the line of shoals to the eastward of
Cherbourg, at distance of about three
miles from the entrance. The decks had
been holystoned. the bright work clean
ed. the guns polished, and the crew were
dressed in Sunday suits. They were in
spected at quarters and dismissed to at
tend divine service. Seemingly no one