Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-09-27
THE ALABAMA'S LAST FIGHT.
The Famous Confederate Raider Was
Sunk 81 Years Ago.
washington Post.)

For two years during the Civil
War the Confederate privateer, Ala
bama was the terror Of the merchant
ships bearing the United States flag.
1t is estimated that she DESTROYED
one-half Of the American merchant
marine, up to that time second in
tonnage only to that OF Great Britain
among the nations.
The Alabama was built ut Birken-
head, England. by the Lairds. under
contract with the Confederate States,
at a cost OF $3.50, 700, and was sent
to sea in the spring OF 1862 as No.
29O, in spite Of the protest of Charles
Francis Adams. United States minis
ter to Great Britain, against the sail
ing OF the ship. The privatcer sailed
to the Azores under command Of
British captain, and there was turned
over TO Capt. Raphael Semmes and
"a young naval officers from the Con-
federacy. After her armament, which
had been sent to the same rendez-
vous, had been placed aboard the
privateer ran up the Confederate
colors, took her name as ordered by
the Confederate government and
started out on her career as a de-
stroyer Of commerce.
The Alabama continued her work
of plundering and destroying United
States vessels until June II. 1864,
when she put into the harbOr Of
Cherbourg, France, for repairs. The
news of her arrival spread over the
land, and soon Capt. John A. Wins
low, commander Of the u. S. S. Kear-
sarge, then at Flushing, was apprised
Of the fact. He sailed his ship into
Cherbourg harbor and out again
without coming to anchor, and Sem
mes rightly construed this conduct as
a challenge to combat. On June 10
SemmeS sailed out of the harbor to
fight the Kearsarge, accompanied by
a French frigate to a point beyond
the territorial waters of France. The
Alabama had 149 men and eight guns
to the 1913 men and seven guns OF
her antagonist, but the metal carried
by the Kearsarge guns was heavier
than that thrown by the Alabama.
At distance Of seven miles from
the Cherbourg breakwater the Kear-
sarge made for the privateer, and
when within 1900. yards the Ala
bama opened fire, the Kearsarge re-
plying with telling effect.
They fought for an hour, both YES
SClS III CllClS, anu llell Lie
Alabama, being at the mercy Of her
opponent, displayed a white flag. Re-
specting this, Winslow ceased firing,
but two minutes later the Alabama
fired two guns at the Kearsarge and
attempted an escape to neutral W..
ters. not more than three miles dist
ant. Winslow again opened fire. and
soon afterward a message came from
the Alabama announcing that she
surrendered and was sinking. An
English pleasure yacht, the Deer
hound, came near and was requested
by Winslow to aid In saving the crew
of the Alabama, which in ZO minutes
went to the bottom Of the sea. The
Kearsarge rescued SIS Of the crew,
while the Deerhound picked mp
Semmes, his officers and a few ma
rines and carried them away from
the lawful custody OF Winslow to
England, where Semems was receiv-
ed with great honor. AS result Of
the depredations Of the Alabama and
other Confederate ships built in Eng
land the British government eVentu-
ally paid an Indemnity Of SIS 500
600 to Americans who had suffered
losses.