THE NAVAL ACTION BETWEEN THE 'ALABAMA’ AND 'KEARSARGE.’

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 190, 2 September 1864, Page 3

THE NAVAL ACTION BETWEEN THE 'ALABAMA’ AND 'KEARSARGE.’

The following, is from the correspondent of the Star :— “ All being in readiness at about 10 a.m. on Sunday, the ‘ Alabama got up steam and proceeded out of Cherbourg to meet the ‘ Kearsarge,’ mauceuvring so as to prevent her enemy from discharging a broadside effectively, and 10 minutes after 11 commenced the battle by tiling her starbroad broadside at about a mile distance. To the disappointment of the officers in the ‘ Alabama,’ the shell fired at the waist of the ‘ Kearsarge’ was observed to strike the side and rebound, exploding harmlessly in the water. This was caused by her having chain plating outside her planking. After a few rounds of very smart firing, during which the crew of the ‘ Alabama’ declared they fired three times for their enemy’s once, a shot struck the screw and carried away one of the blades, another rendered the ship unmanagcaole as to its steering —whether from the rudder itself being destroyed, or the steering gear carried away, it is not known. The rigging was also much cut up, and some of the sails fell on the yards. Three shells had burst between decks, and the bulkheads were ail carried away. Finally a shell entered the coal bankers, and set the fuel on fire. At this time the vessel had sunk so far that the water was reaching the engine fires. Captain Semmes ordered the first lieutenant Mr. Kell, to go below and report the state of the ship. He soon returned say-

ing that she was in a sinking state, and the captain decided on striking his flag. The flag had been already three times shot away, but replaced. A large number of the seamen rushed aft, conjuring the captain not to strike, and expressing their readiness to sink in her and die with honour; and one of the seamen, named Smith, cutlass in hand, stood by the flag and declared that he would not allow it to be lowered. The captain levelled his revolver, and insisted on its being hauled down, which was done, and a white flag hoisted. Meanwhile the whaleboat and dingy] the only two boats uninjured, were lowered and the wounded men placed in them, Mr. Fulham being sent in charge of them to the e Kearsarge.’ When the boats were full, a man who was unwouuded endeavoured to enter one, but was held back by the surgeon of the ship, Mr. Llewellyn, son of the rector of a parish in Wiltshire. ‘ See,’ he said, 4 I want to save ray life as much as you do ; but let the wounded men be saved first.” ‘ Doctor,’ said the officer in the boat, ‘we can make room for you.’ 4 1 will not peril the wounded men,’ was his reply. Ho remained behind and sank with the ship—much deplored by all the officers and men. He is the only officer known to be lost. When Mr. Fulham reached the 4 Kearsarge,” he had his sword by his side, and let it fall into the water lest he should have to surrender it. He went on board the 4 Kearsarge,” and was asked by Captain Winslow if he had come to surrender the ship. He said that he had no such orders, but was sent to ask for assistance, as they were sinking fast. The ‘ Kearsarge” then ceased firing, and lowered her boats while Mr. Fulham returned towards the ‘ Alabama,” which sank ere he could reach her, and after picking up a few of the swimmers, he contrived to reach the ‘ Deerhound,” where he found Capt. Semmes, 12 officers, and about 28 men. When the ship was perceived to he sinking, orders were given to cast loose all spars, &c., and when the vessel sank the sea presented almost the appearance of a pavement of human heads, 70 of which were above water within a very short space. Nearly all lives were saved, and many men generously shouted to the boats to leave them fora short time and save those in more imminent danger. The first inquiry from the boats of the ‘ Kearsarge’ was for Captain Semmes. Thev were answered that lie had gone down, and lie succeeded in reaching one of the boats of the ‘ Deerhound,’ which got up steam as quickly as possible to avoid any attempt on the part of Captain Winslow to make prisoners of of those she had saved. Numerous acts of gallantry are related as having occurred on board the ‘ Alabama’ during the fight, one or two of which are worth recording. Mr. Giuly, the Captain's coxswain, was struck by a shot which shattered the lower part of his arm, leaving it hanging by flesh and skin. He deliberately took out his knife, cut off the piece of his limb, and continued serving his gun. An 11-inch shell, which fell on deck, was taken up and thrown overboard to explode by two men named Townsend and Marr, the latter of whom is already known to the 4 Alabama’ men from his having saved the life of a man who had fallen overboard. A man named Hearne was loading a gun, when a shot struck the ramrod and broke it in two. He looked up and abused them for not having the shot properly iu for them. One man was sent forward to clear the jib-boom ri<rging, which had been damaged; he received a most painful wound, which was mortal, notwithstanding which he completed the work and returned to the deck, where another shot cut him in two. Another man, though mortally wounded, refused to admit that he had been struck, and continued to do his work until he fell dead on deck.”