The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

4
Semmes of the Confederate commerce
destroyer Alabama, in port at cherbours,
/ France, sent a challenge to battle TO the
u. s. s. Kearsarge, which that morning
had been sighted on the harbor.
l. The act was dramatically fitting. for
the challenge was In keeping with the
record Of the ship and the character OF
her master.
The Alabema's defiance of Federal
naval power-a defiance that had swept
| the flower of American shipping from
the seas-was to be maintained to the
last.
| Can't. Semmes courted combat In the
same bold spirit in which he had defied
| the ships of the enemy that had pur-
sued him for nearly two years. He
could easily have avoided fighting. He
chose to fight, II appears from his writ
inss, in a sailors resolve to accept fate's
portion. whatever 1t might be, so long as
he. had an apparently even chance OF
winning fame for himself and fortune
for his cause. His ship was nearly worn
out with hard and constant service His
cause was nearing its end. II he lost in
battle he would at least make brilliant
ending Of his service in the Alabama
If he won his career might take on
new lease of life.
A year and ten months had passed
since the Alabama, an English ship with
an English crew. but with American offi-
GERS, had begun her cruising. In voy-
ages west and east she had destroyed
more than 100000 worth of Federal
ships. In doing SO Capt Semmes had
never violated the rules OF war. He felt
his honor was secure, though his enc
mics termed him an outlaw and cor
sair.
Kearsarse en- watch.
For more than a year. while the Ala
bama cruised in far Southern and Eastern
waters, the. Kesrsarge had kept watch
of the English Channel, for her COM
mander knew that sooner or later, like
tired homing pigeon, the Confederate
ship would come back to the waters that
had first borne her
On June II the Alabama. back from q
cruise to the China Sea, had entered
the port of Cherbourg. and Capt Semmes
had asked the consent Of France to make
repairs to his ship. 1t was srudginsly
given.
Federal agents noted the arrival OF the
Alabama and the telegraph carried word
of 1t to the American Minister at Paris,
and thence to the Dutch port of Flush
ing, where the Kearsarge lay at anchor
on the morning of June II, which was
Sunday. A gun from the warship broke
the quiet of the port-a call to absent
officers and men to report aboard forth
with. In an hour the ship had sailed.
On the morning of June Il she was OF
the harbor of Cherbourg. and her offi-
GERS saw Through their glasses the nag
Of the Confederacy floating inside the
breakwater.
The hundred fruitless chases of the
Federal fleets for the elusive Alabama
and a notable period in maritime history
were to end here. The Kearsarge could
blockade the Alabama here until she
came out to battle or rotted in the port.
None knew this better than Capt.
Semmes. With Commodore Samuel Bar
ron, an old and sagacious ex-officer of
the United States navy, then In France
as the Confederacys naval agent, Capt
Semmes discussed the situation. Should
he follow his impulse and offer battle?
The chances OF victory were canvassed-
The enemy might be slightly superior in
crew an guns. but Barron believed. as he
later stated. that this superiority was
not sufficient to discourage the confident
expectation of victory entertained by the
officers and crew of the Alabama" The
game being held worth the gamble. the
die was cast.
Capt. Semmes' Challenge.
The facts of the challenge to battle
On arriving off Cherbourg. Capt. John
A. Winslow, of the Kearsarge, had sent
ashore TO the French authorities a re-
quest that thirty-seven seamen taken by
the Alabama from prizes and recently
landed at Cherbourg. be sent OF to the
kearsarge.
Capt. Semmes at once protested against |
their delivery on the ground that It would !
the crew of the Kearsarge, and |
fberafnra would he In nc
with neutrality laws.
He then wrote the following note to A. |
Bonfils, the Confederate commercial |
agent at Cherbourg.
c. S. S. Alabama,
Cherbourg. June IA, 1864.
Dear Sir: / hear that you were in
formed by the United States consul |
this port solely for the prisoners land
ed by me- and that he was to depart |
in twenty-four hours / desire to say
TO the United States consul that my
is to fight the kearsarge as
soon as 1 can make the necessary ar
-angements. / hope these will not detain /
ne more than until tomorrow evening,
Dr. after the morrow morning at furth-
sst. ! beg she will not depart before 1
I'm ready to go out.
i have the honor to be- very respect
'ully, your obedient servant,
R. SEMMES, Captain.
Ad. Bonfils, Esqr., Cherbourg.
A copy of this note was sent by Mr..
3onfils to Edouard Liais, United States
agent at Cherbourg. and by him
vas transmitted to Capt. Wihslow, Of
he Kearsarge. This constituted the
of Capt. Semmes to the Kear-
large.
Capt. winslow made no reply. other
han TO keep his ship on the port. He
lid not wish to enter and anchor, as he
lad a right to do. as the neutrality laws
equired that II he did so he must re-
main in port twenty-four hours, and that
he belligerent ship leaving port first must
'e given by the other a start of twenty
our hours Thus, If the Kearsarge an
,hored, the Alabama might escape to
ea II Capt Semmes should change his
mind regarding battle. w
Preparing for Battle.
While the Kearsarge was steaming
'ack and forth outside the marine league
Il neutral water of Cherbourg, the Ala