Newspaper Page Text
Y.lMJSIE XXXV.]
M 11. L E DG E YIL I,E, GEORGIA, T IE S !)\T, J IE V 26, 1801.
Mil! BE It 10.
the Alabama
__ then one o’clock. The
Kearsarge saved seventy-two of the crew,
and returned to Cherbourg, where she
anchored in the course of the afternoon.—
Ten Confederate and three Federal woun
ded were landed and taken to the Cher
bourg hospital. Nine more of the Alaba
ma’s crew were brought back to Cher
bourg by a pilot boat. The steam tug
Var was sent hom Cherbourg, by the
Prefect Maritime, to afford assistance to
the Alabama, as soon as she appeared to
he in danger, hut only arrived after all the
survivors had been picked up.
From Galignani'a Messenger, June 22.
You are aware that the Alabama put in
here a few days hack, coming from the
Chinese seas. Captain Semmes, her com
mander, was in want of wood, provisions
and coal. He had eight millions of francs
on board, the booty heaped up from her
various encounters, hut the crew were in
w ant of clothes and shoes. The captain
was permitted to take on board a supply
! of fuel and some provisions and clothing,
I re vr Advertising. ' but he could not he allowed anything
herifTs sales per levy of ten lines,’or less, $5 00 more. He had deposited in the hands of
Mortgage fi fa sales, per square, 10 00 1 the Brazilian Consul his money, that of
H x Collector’s Sales, per square, 5 00 his crew h.s will, h.s ship’s papers
, . for Letters of Administration, 5 00 . and forty five chronometers; which he had
' Guardianship* 5 00 taken from captured vessels. As the
.. ra of Application for dism’n. from Adrn’n 8 00 j Kearsarge, Federal steamer, had arrived
101 „ y .. *• «• “ Guard’n 8 00 i outside the port in order to attack the
- * ’ 8 00 Confederate vessel when she came out,
6 00 i this latter determined to go and meet her
8 00 ( openly.
2 00 Accordingly, on Sunday morning the
5 00 Alabama got her steam up and left the
2 00 roadstead, escorted by the French ironclad
. frigate, the Couronne, the mission of which
was to have what is called the maritime
liOUilHTON, NISB ET. B ARNES & MOORE ] r 'f ZTpl ' a,er
Publishers and Proprietors. ;
—
8.X. BOCGIITOX, l Rditorn.
JOS. W. N«»BET. \
£(|t Ctmftficratt 8*ura
r 7 7* 7.7 lVeeklu, in MUledgeviUe, Ga., 1
Hancock and Wilkinson St,.,
(opposite Court Ituusc.J
At $10 a year in Advance.
OIK NEW TEBJIR.
0n !in J after March 2d, 1804, tl.e Terms of SnV
i to the Confederate Union, are l ew Dol-
V£nraribly in advance. All indebtedness tor
, Vription to this paper, previous to June lst,18t>J,
" - .L ate of Three Dollars per year.
at *- u
ADVERTISING.
TRANSIENT.—Two Dollars per square of ten
lines tor each insertion. .
Tributes of ri-Bpect, Resolutions by Societies,(Obit
uanes exceeding six lines.) Nominations for ofhee,
Cotn uunications or Editorial notices for individual
benefit,charged as tramwnl advertising.
Yppl'n for leave to sell land and negroes,
Notice to Debtors and Creditors.
Sales ot laud or negroes, per square,
.. perishable property, 10 days, per sq.
'stray Notices, 30 days,
foreclosure of Mortgage, per square,
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
sales of Land and ^groea, by at b territory respected—namely, a distance of
;he first Tuesday in the month; between the hours nine marine miles. When the two com-
[Winthe forenoon and three iu the afternoon, at the batan j 8 bad passed that limit the Couronne
•art house in thecounty in winch the property is int< f t l ieTiad8tead . The engage-
Netic-of these sales must be given in a public ga-j ment then commenced, the Alabama en-
must be | devouring to run alongside and board her
v.-ii in like manner 10 days previous to sale day. adversary, who was mo'C poictrful than
Notices to the debtors and creditors of an estate ' } ierse Jf J,oth as to build and Weight qf met-
'n’SL'Lat^appuSitn Slbe made to the Court of! al, but she could not succeed in the at-
irdiimvy for leave to sell Land or Negroes, must be i tempt, as the equalit y in their speed al-
ublishe.1 for two months. r ..Ardiarsbin ' lowed the other vessel to keep at a certain
,nn.s for' letters of Administration (juariliacsmp, , r i.o
r mast b- published 30 days—for dismission from distance; and both the steamers kept far-
mini stmt ion, monthly six months—for dismission ; n g their guns at a good range. These
TuW LrS nins ‘ I^P^lisl.ed man. euvers and the cannonade lasted
wnthiu for four months—for establishing inst papers, , )e arly an hour, at the end ot which time
,r tk-‘ full space of three month* fnrcompe mg ** * ; * i the Alabama slackened her fire and let off
•nm Executors or administrators, where bond l.as been ,. , j
veil by the deceased the full space of three mouths, ber steair., which circumstances, for those
'Publications will always be continued according to spectators who'were competent to form an
ieae,the legal requirements, mneosot erwmeor ere i 0 ^j n j 0Q> indicated some damage to her
took and Job work, of all kinds, "“'•'imery, tbe Ke»r targe continued to fire
>OUii «**“ ’ a t a distance, avoiding to come close to the
PROMPTLY AND NEATLY EXECUTED ' Confederate vessel.
at this offige. , The latter in a few minutes after set
her head sails, which appeared to show {
RT When a subscriber finds a cross mark on that the after part of the vessel had been
•n paper he will know that his subscription has damaged>and that she intend to run in for
xnired, or is about to expire, ana must be renew- . 1 . i ir» ^
d if he wishes the paper continued. the land. At about half past twelve the
nr We do not send receipts to new subscri- j Alabama went down all at once by the
s. If they receive the paper they may know stern, her nag still nying, and disappear-
t we have received the money. ed. Two of her boats had been previous-
_ ed. Two of her boats had been previous-
^ Subscribers wishing their papers changed ly lowered with men in them. When the
one post-office to another must state the j Alabama turnfed towards the shore, the
of the post-office lrorn which they wish it | Federal vessel kept filing on her, without
e( h j the fire being returned, except atloDgin-
me o
anged
rnx Collectors Blniik Itcceip* Books, ! lervas. *
. , , , ,.. Jt appears that the Alabama at hrst re-
ill be furnished from this office for $10 P er i . UP . .. , . r f v
, e ., , T , - n i sisted perfectly until a shot from the Ktar-
ire, and $2 for binding. There will be U re-, J J f J.
_„ Q “ . n , sanie knocked her screw to pieces, and that
ipts to a s lee or o a quire. o ac ti 0 n left the Confederate vessel com-
ring receipts will send a copy of the kind they : ^ the mercy of ^ enemy< The
r I Kearsarge picked up sixty-two of the
IE creAT RATAL DIEL BETArEF.A’ THE ALA- Alabama s crevv, and then went into Cher-
__ hours, where she anchored in the after-
BAHA A AD THE KEBRSARGE—SIARIAC OF 6 x-- c * l .n m >
noon. Kine of lheAlnbamas men were
1 HE ALABAMA—RESCUE OFCAPTAIA SEH.HES U p a pilot boat. Three of the
AAD HIE €UL\F THE .11 FAIR IA ElKOPE- ; men U p by theKearsage died some
ETC. ■ hours after from their wounds The Kear-
Tbe last mail from Europe brings full ' sarge had three men wounded, llie in-
'counts of w hat was intimated by the habitants of C herbourg had all assembled
[vice of the previous steamer—a great' on the quays, on the bieakw ater, and on
ivai duel between the Confederate stea- every point whence they could get a view'
er Alabama and the Federal steamer j of the engagement. The Federal vessel,
earsarge. The action took place off the j on coming back, anchored close to the Nn-
iast of France, within nine or ten miles of. poleon screw liner, and was soon visited
c port of Cherbourg, on Sunday, the 19th j by numerous persons. 7he Kearsarge
suffered severely, having received twelve
shots in her hull. Her ciew'were superi
or in number to that of the Alabama,
which had betw een one hundred and thirty
and one hundred and forty men. The
two vessels filed about one hundred and
thirty shots each. The wounded on both
sides have the greatest attention paid
them. They have been sent to the Kaval
Hospital, where they have been visited
by Vice Admiral Eupony, the Maritime
June.
The battle was a cool, steady, stand up
lit, and was hotly contested by both
ps—the engagement lasting an hour
:1 five minutes. At this stage of the
lit the Alabama—she being a wmoden
;se ]— W as unfortunately struck by a
?11 just above the water line, knocking
r bunker# to pieces, the water almost
mediately putting out her fires and
using her to sink. Her officers and crew
jk to the water, but were timely rescued j Prefect,
the English yacht Deerhound which j p a ris (June 20) Correspondence of London News.
.i .I,,-,.,™ * The Alabama was watched by the
French ironclad frigate Couronne to the
distance of nine marine miles from the
harbour—that being the limit within
which it is not permitted foreign bellige-
is (June 21) Correspondent of London Post.] rents to fight.
v . , . c , Nine miles at sea is but a little distance
l French account says that before leav- on fiue day and fifteen hundred Pari-
Cherburg Captain Semmes ca led his lo ^ arrive d at Cherbourg by
i, and, addressing them, exclaimed ^ excursion trahl to fee tLe new 3.^.
e must conquer or die! lo which j 1)a(1 a capitaI vievv c f the combat. Cap-
crcw replied (Igue^ c^wor^sin ta ; n g emrne s meant to fight all along, and
had intended to board the Kearsarge
On Thursday last he entertained
uv — “'O J
within easy distance during the cn-
>-ement. We give below' full reports of
i affair, with many exciting iucidents of
! contest:
Semmes’ speech on going out to fight.
■cnefi), “Hurrah pour le Sud! Vive Lee!
ivc son artnee! Vive la France! la nation
inereuBe qui senle prat que d’unc mauiere
apartiable la neutralitc.”
Pencil account of the fight.
1.1 tom tb e p ar ; s Moniteur, June 21,]
? 5ie CoT >federate cruiser Alabama, car-
J 1D g out the design it bad announced
everahJavs before ^hand, left Cherbourg
■oads yesterday, a t 10, A. M., and ad-
lnce a cr}inst the Federal cervette Kear-
r o e » "fiicli hovered in the offing, at a
stance of about fifteen miles. The iron-
ad higate Couronne left her moorings
nultaueous with the Alabama, and ac-
inpanied her five miles, in order to pre-
nt hobtilitics from taking place in French
iters. The action commenced at about
? ; v en o’clock, far hey end that limit. '1 he
was gailaiftly kept up on both sides
r two hours, after which the Alabama
is compelled, by the severe injuries she
111 a. 1_ . n /vi v
( H a large
party on board the now extinct Alabama,
and showed with pride to the ladies who
dined with him the boarding hatchets
and sabres (fresh ground) wbfch were
displayed on deck. He left with the
Brazilian consul all his gold, his papers,
forty-five chronometers, and his w ill.
Mrs. Semmes was in Paris yesterday,
but has now probably gone to join ber
husband in London. The French Gov
ernment papers, all favourable to the
South, lament the loss of the famous cor
sair, the Alabama.
Paris June 21 Cor. of the London Herald.
The France pays a few well deserved
compliments to Captain Semmes, and de
scribes the joy of the Confederate priso
ners on hearing of the safety of their com
mander. One Confederate officer is being
attended to in a private house. The loss
wuijiuicu, u) me severe injuries sue attended to in a private nouse.
sustained, tc make for Cherbourg. j of the Alabama is said to be eighteen kill*
he Kearsarge immediately gave chase; j ed and wounded.
The Southern and Federal sailors in 1
town (( Terhourg) were very near re com
mencing the action in the evening 011 terra
firma The population is decidedly
Southern iu its sympathies, and the sur
vivors of the gallant cruiser received a per
feet ovation from the French men of-war’s-
men in port.
J am glad to see that the Ttmps has the
good taste to pay a tribute of respect to
the Alabama and her gallant captain and
crew. “The friends of the North” it says,
“cannot regret the loss of this Red Rover,
but they could not hut follow with interest
its audacious and brilliant career.’ The
congenial task of indecently exultingthe
fate of the Alabama, has been undertaken
by the Opinion Rationale, which intones
a kind of scalp song in honour of the victo
ry ot tlie Kearsarge. It would lia^-e been
odd had the Opinion allowed an opportu
nity to escape of exhibiting its utter disre
gard of good sense, good feeling and good
taste.
• The Pays states that the majority of the
Alabama’s crew were English, and that
Captain Semmes was confident that if he
could only board the Kearsarge his men
would make short wmik of the Yankees.—
His gallantry in accepting a fight against
great odds has prodWced a decided impres
sion here in favour of the South- What
ever may be said against the French, dar
ing and chivalry are qualities which nev
er leave them indifferent. ,
English account of the fight.
[From the London Times 1
Exactly an hour elapsed from the first
shot to the moment when it became obvious
that the vessel was sinking, when, indeed,
the rudder was broken and the fires were
put out.
The Alabama fired quicker, in all
about one hundred and fifty rounds. The
Kearsarge fired about one hundied, chiefly
eleven inch shells. One of these shells
broke the Alabama’s rudder, and compell
ed her to hoist sail. By this time, how
ever, after about an hour’s work, the Ala
bama was sinking, and could only make
the best of her way in the direction of
Cherbourg.
The men were all true to the hut; they on
ly ceased filing when the water came inty
the muzzles of their guns and as they swam
for life,all they cared for was that their com
mander should not fall into Federal hands
lie reports that lie owes his best men to the
training they received on board the Ex
ccllent. To all appearances the superior
iiy of the Kearsarge lay partly in her
guns; and of course somewhat in her more
numerous crew, hut not less in her more
powerful machinery, which enabled her to
move quicker and manoeuvre more easi
ly.
There appears lo have been a very re
spectable allowance of killed, wounded
and missing, and among the latter is an
English surgeon, w r ho is supposed.to have
gone to the bottom in tlie midst ofliis
bleeding patients. "\Ye shall know' very
shortly whether the chains hung outside
the Kearsarge saved her men. To all ap
pearance they did not; and but for the
melancholy fact that some of the Alaba
ma’s wounded must have gone down with
her, the loss would probably have been
nearly the same on both sides.
It is not in our power to say why Cap
tain Semmes, who has gaiued so much glo
ry and 60 unquestionable a reputation for
courage, that he could afford to be pru
dent, came out with a.ship just returned
from a long voyage and much in want of
repair, to encounter a foe larger, better
manned, better armed, provided, as it turn
ed out, -with some special contrivance for
protection, and quite as likely to be as
well handled as4ns own ship.
[Southampton (June 20) Cor. of London Times.]
At length the Alabama’s rudder was
disabled by one of her opponent’s heavy
shells, and they hoisted sails; but it was
soon reported to Captain Semmes bv
one of liis officers that his bhip was sink
ing.
With great bravery the guns were kept
ported till the muzzels were actually
under water, and the last shot from the
doomed ship was fired as she was settling
down.
When her stern was completely under
water Captain Semmes gave orders for the
men to save themselves as best they could,
and every one jumped into the sea and
swam to the boats which Lad put off’to
their rescue-
Those of them who were wounded were
ordered by Captain Semmes to be placed
in the Alabama’s boats and taken on board
the Kearsarge, which was as far as possi
ble obeyed.
The wounded men on board the Deer
hound were carefully attended to until
her arrival here, when they were taken to
the Sailor’s Home, in the Cainnte road.—
Several of the men are more or le68 scar
red, hot they are all out about the town
to-day, and the only noticeable case, is
that of a man who was wounded iu the
gioin, and that hut slightly.
Captain Semmes and his First Lieuten
ant. Mr. J. M. Kell, are staying at Kel-
way’s hotel, in Queen’s terrace, where the.
gallant commander is under the care of
Dr. Ware, a medical gentleman of this
town, his right hand being slightly splin
tered by a shell.
As far as is known, not a relic of the
Alabama is in the possession of her suc
cessful rival. When she was sinking Cap
tain Semmes , dropped his own sword into
the sea, to pi event the possibility of its
getting into their hands, and the gunner
made a hole in one of the Alabama’s boats
and sunk her for the same reason.
Before leaving the Deerhound Captain
Semmes presented to Mr. Lancaster’s son
one ol his officer's sw-orda and pistol, m re
membrance of the occurrence and the kind
treatment he and his men had received on
board the yacht.
Mr. Mason, the Confedeiafe agent, Cap
tain Bullock and the Rev, Mr. Tremlett
arrived by the four o’clock train this after
noon from London, and proceeded to Kel.
way’s hotel to meet Captain Semmes.
Captain Semmes and all the men are
now place/1 under the care of Air. J. Wsb-
lin for such medical attendance as may be
required.
<»f England thought of the South, and saic j boat and dingy, succeeded in saving about
that slavery there existed but in name, and
that the North and South would never a-!
gain be united.
He 6aid, moreover, that he had endea- j
vored to do his duty to his country.— |
forty men, including Captain Semmes and
thirteen officers. At one 1*. JI., wo steer
ed for Southampton.
Throughout the action the Deerhound
kept about a mile to windward of tho
Message from the Alabama to the Rear- j ^hen he left the shop crowd had collec- j combatants, and was enabled to w itness the
whole of jt. The Kearsarge was horning
Newcastle coals and the Alabama Welsh
coals, the difference in the smoke (the
north country coal yielding so much more)
enabling the movements of each ship to he
distinctly traced. Air. Lancaster is clearly
of opinion that it was the Kearsarge’s
| eleven-inch shells which gave her the ad-
; vantage, and that after what he has wit-
1 nessed on this occasion wooden ships stand
i no chance whatever against shells. Both
ted round the door, who made way for
sarge. j him and treated him with much respect.—
When Air. Fulham reached the Rear- j He seemed to be laboring under mental
sarge he had his sword by' his side and let j anguish, and to feel most acutely the
it fall into the water least he should have | complete defeat he had experienced, and
to surrender it. He went on hoard the
Kearsarge, and w-as asked by Captain
Winslow if he had come to surrender the
ship.
He said that he had no such orders, hut
was sent ts ask for assistance, a6they were
the death and sufferings which the defeat
had caused.
Heroism of some of the Alabama's crew.
Numerous acts of gallantry are related
as having occurred on board the Alabama
sinking fast. The Kearsarge then ceased *be fight, oqe or two of which are j VCS6e ] s jj re( j we jj i u to each other’s hull,
filing and lowered her boats,while Air. Ful
ham returned towards the Alabama which
sank ere he could reach her,and,after pick
ing up a few of the swimmers, he contrived
to reach the Deerhound, where he found
Captain Semmes, twelve other officers, and
about twenty-eight men.
The hauling down of the Alabama's flag.
[From the Loudon Star(special report,) June 21]
Captain Semmes directed the first Lieu
tenant. Mr. Kell, to go below and report
the state of the ship. That officer soon
returned, saying the 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 crew rushed aft, conjuring
the captain not to strike, and expressing
their readiness to sink in her and die with
honor; and one of the seamen, named
Smith, cutlas in hand, 6tood by the flag
and declared he would not allow it to be
lowered. The captain levelled his revol
ver,, and iusisted on its being hauled
down, which was done, and a white flag
hoisted.
Noble conduct of the Surgeon of the Alaba*
ma.
Aleantime the whaleboat and dingy, the
only two boats uninjured, were lowered,
and the v/onnded men placed in them, Mr.
Fulham being sent in charge of them to
the Kearsarge. When the boats were
full a man who was unwounded endea
voured to enter one, hut was held hack
by the surgeon of the ship, Mr. Lewellyu,
son of the rector of a parish in Wiltshire.
“See,” he said, ‘‘I want to save my life
as much as you do; hut let the wounded
men he saved first.” “Doctor,” said the
officer in the boat, “we can make 100m for
yon.” “I will not peril the wounded
men,” was his reply. He remained be
hind and sank with the ship—a loss much
deplored by all the officers and men. He
is the only officer known lo be lost.
How Semmes was rescued from the water.
From the London News, June 21.
When the battle was at an end the
Deerhound steamed over to the Kearsarge,
and Air. Lancaster was asked by the offi
cers of the Federal ship to try and pick up
the scores of the Alabama’s crew and offi
cers who were floating and swimming about
He lowered his yacht boats, and one of
them, commanded by a man named Ad
ams, was steering his boait into a group of
a dozen struggling persons, when he pass
ed a drowning man at some short distance
with an officer’s cap on.
One of the men in the boat cried out,
“That’s Semmes,” and the drowning man
called out, “I am the captain; save me;
I cannot keep up any longer.”.
Adams went and dragged him into the
boat. Semmes then said.- “For God’s
sake don't put me on board the Kearsarge,
but put me on board your yacht.”
Adams promised to do so, and laid
Semmes down in the bottom, and covered
him with a sail to conceal him from the
Kearsuge’s boats, which w r ere evidently
anxiously searching for him. When
Adams had saved a boat load he took them
on hoard the yacht, and Semmes was at
once-placed below. As soon as all that
were seen in the water were picked up,
Air. Lancaster was anxious to get away,
and began to steam out to sea. He ex
pected that he should have been brought
toby a shot from the Kearsarge, hut she
was too disabled it appears to go after the
Deerhound to overhaul her, and thus Sem
me6 escaped being made prisoner.
Captain Semmes^ appearance—what he
said in Southampton.
Southampton June 20 cor. London News.
Captain Semmes is a thin, wiry built
man, with a stern and determined air.—
He is about fifty years of age, with a small
red, pointed face, and a beard and mous
tache in the American style. He had ou
a very old naval officer’s cap, and an En
glish naval lieutenant's jacket. He declin
ed to see any strangers at his hotel. His
first Jicuteilant is a fiue looking y'ou’ g
man. In answer to questions, Captain
Semmes said that he left all the property
he possessed, and upwards of sixty chron
ometers, which he had taken from captur
ed Federal merchantmen, in Cherbourg,
previous to going out to fight the Kear
sarge. He says that he was completely
deceived as to the strength and armament
of the Federal ship. What he recollected
of tho Kearsarge was that she was an or
dinary sloop of war. If he had known
that she was an ironolad, and much more
heavily armed than the Alabama, he
would not have fought, at* it was madness
to do so. He said that the fight between
the Alabama and Kearsarge has taught
another lesson in naval warfare, that of the
uselessness of ordinary ships of war like
the Alabama encountering an ironclad and
heavily armed ship like the Kearsarge.—
He does not know the extent of damage
he did to the enemy’s ship; all he knows is
that he has lost his own.
Messrs Emmanuel tapped several bot
tles of port, and treated their customer,
bis lieutenant and those who came to see
them with much hospitality. Captain
Semmes anxiously asked what the people
worth recording. Air. Ginly', the cap
tain’s coxswain, was struck by a . shell,
which shattered the lower part of his arm,
leaving it banging by flesh and skin,
and the yards and masts were not much
damaged. Tho mainmast of the Alabama
had been struck by shot, and as the vessel
was sinking broke off and fell into the sea,
he deliberately lookout his knife, cut off; throwing some men who were in the rnain-
the piece of his limb and continued serv
ing his gun.
An eleven-inch shoil, which fell on the
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 Alabama men from his hav
ing jumped into a heavy sea and saved the
life of a man who had fallen overboard.
A man named Hearne was loading a, action . Qn board the A i abaIna all tba
gun, when a shot struck the ramrod and ; hammocks were let loose, and arrange-
broke it in two. He looked up and a-1 ments bad becn madc for B j nki g er
bused them for not waiting to have the J rather than that sbe sbould be captu ? ed>
I may state that, before leaving, the
} Kearsage was apparently much disabled.
The Alabama’s loss, so far as at present
top into the water. Some tremendous
paps were visible in the bulwarks of the
Kearsarge, and it was believed that some
of her boats were disabled. She appeared
to be temporarily plaited with iron chains,
&c. As far as could he seen, everything
•appeared to he well planned and ready on
hoard the Kearsarge for action. Great
i pluck was shown on both sides during the
On board the
6hot properly in for them.
One man was sent forward to clear the
jibboom rigging, which had been damag
ed; he received a most painful wound ascert .. ined> | u killed and wounded, &c.,
which was mortal, notwithstanding which was as follows, viz: One officer and one
he completed the work and returned to the mau drowne d, e i x loea killed and one offi-
deck, where another shot cut him in two. cer and sixteen mcn wounded . Captain
Another man, though mortally woun- Semme8 lcceivcd a slight wound in the
ded, refused to admit that he liad been right hand . Tbe Kearsarge’s boats were,
struck, and continued to do his work until aftC r some delay, lowered?and, with the
"mi ° ea( ^ ? n ~ r ec , . . , ' assistance of a French pilot boat, succeed-
1 he captain of tbe forecastle on board ; c j j u pj c kj D g u ., jj )e remaining survivors,
the Alabama, aNorwegian. says that when John Lancaster
Steam Yacht Deerhound, off Cowes,
he was in the water I10 was hailed by a
boat from the Kearsarge. “Come here, I
old man, and we’ll save you.” to which he
replied, “Never miud me: I can keep up
for a half hour yet; look after some who I
are nearer drowning than I am.” He then
June 19, 1861.
The Strongest Battalions.
That “Providence is usually on the side
made away for tbe Deerhound, thanking j of the stiougest battalions,” is a saying
God that he was under English colors.
Appearance of the crew.
When the men came on hoard the Deer-
hound ther had nothing on hut their
times attributed to Frederick the
Great, and sometimes to Napoleon, but, in
fact announced by neither of them. Both
of these great Generals, by that forecast
and energy, which is the usual attendant
drawers and shirts, having been stripped 0 f human wisdom, baffled and de-
to tight; and one of the men, with a sail- stroyed their foes, by vastly inferior num-
or’s devotedness, insisted on seeing his hers. Their campaigns would seem to
captain, who was then lying in Mr. Lan- , support directly tbe contrary of this posi-
caster’s cabin in a very exhausted state, tion, and to prove that God is usually with
as he had been entrusted by Captain Sem- the weakest forces. But their campaigns
mes with the ship’s papers, and to no one are exceptions in human affairs. Such
else would he give them up. men only rise during the lapse of centuries.
The men were all very anxious about They w r ere placed on the grand theatre of
their captain, and were rejoiced to find the world, to do their part in its terrible
that he had been saved. ; dramas, and then dismissed. The one
They appeared to be a set of first, founded a State, which still exists—tho
rate fellows, and to act well together in , other shook to pieces tbe nations of the
perfect union under the most trying cir
cumstances.
Captain Semmes' report of the fight.
Air. Alason, the Commissioner of the
Confederate Government, has sent a copy
of this report to ihe Loudon Times:
to pieces
world, and although overthrown, still casts
his shadow over its affair#; hut both of
them accomplished objects which appeared
next to impossible, with tbe limited means
they possessed. The people of the Con
federate States, without a Frederick or
Napoleon to direct them, are like these
Captain Semmes says that in an hour grea t Generals, struggling with inferior
and ten minutes tbe Alabama was found
to be in a sinking state, the enemy’s shells
having exploded on her sides and betweeu
decks.
For a few minutes he had hopes of
reaching the French coast; hut the ship
filled rapidly and the furnace fires were ex
tinguished.
Captain Setnmes says:—I now hauled
down colors to prevent the further de
struction of life, and despatched a boat
to inform the enemy of our condition.—
Although wc were now but fonr hundred
yards from each other, the enemy fired at
means for their defence. It is not too
much to say, that their own Government
in t ue conduct of our armies, has repeated
ly doue more than the : r enemies for their
defeat and discomfiture. Yet they have
struggled on, with a bravery and endurance
not surpassed by any troops which have
conquered oi* saved the woild. God, in
the great struggle which now shakes the
continent, has not proved himself on tho
side of the strongest battalions, but on
the side of the weak in numbers, yet
strong in the justice of their cause, and
the power of Him who alone is the giver
me five times after colours had been struck.! ofal , v j ctory . When, therefore, we hear
It is charitable to suppose that a sbip-of-1 men despondent on account of our inferior
war of a Christian nation could uot have j nmi)be rs, we confess we feel almost indig-
done this intentionally. j uaat. What has this whole w r ar been but
Some twenty minutes after my furnace ; a victory of inferior over supciior numbers?
fires had been extinguished, and the ship ; ] s Jt possible for any man, especially in
being on the point of sinking, each man, I thj s community, if he knows anything of
In obedieuce to a previous order which had ! lb(} in iiit ary f acts which have transpired,
been given to the crew, jumped overboard ! tQ doubt tbat> Ullder G od> inferior may be
and endeavoured to save himself. ; more ( ban a match for superior numbers 1
There was no appearance of any boats ^j ark the late events which have taken
coming from the enemy after the ship went
down. I was fortunate myself in escaping
to tho shelter of the neutral flag on board
Air. Lancaster’s yacht Deerhound,together
with forty others.
The fightfrom an eye Witness.
The owner of the English yacht Deer
hound, (the vessel which rescued the offi
cers and crew of the Alabama) who went
out to witness the fight, furnishes the Lon
don Times with the following log respecting
the engagement.
Sunday, June 19.—9. A. AI.—Got up
steam and proceeded out of Cherbourg
harbour. TO.30 observed the Alabama
steaming out of the harbour towards the
Federal steamer Kearsarge. 11.30—the
Alabama commenced firing with her star
board battery, the distance between the
contending vessels being about one mile.
The Kearsarge immediately, replied with
her starboard guns ; a very sharp, spirited
firing waf kept up, shot sometimes being
varied by shells. In the manoeuvring both
vessels made seven complete circles at a
distance from a quarter to half a mile. At
twelve a slight intermission was observed
in tho Alabama’s firing, the Alabama ma
king head rail, and shaping her course for
the land, distant about nine miles. At
half past twelve observed the Alabama to
be disabled and in a sinking state. AY e
immediately made towards her, and on
passing tbe Kearsarge were requested to
assist in saving the Alabama's crew. At
ten minutes to one, when within a distance
of two hundred yards, the Alabama sunk.
We then lowered our two boats, and with
the assistance of the Alabama’s whale
place around this city—how strangely—
how wonderfully have our stronger foes
been discomfittcd and overthrown, not by
our power, but by the most extraordinary
and unlooked-for circumstances and events.
Who ruled these strange events, turning
the most skillfully arranged plans, for our
destruction, into defeat and disaster 1—
And may wc not hope, that the same Al
mighty power who has saved our city will
be everywhere with our armies, in the
great contest in which we are engaged.—
The hearts of men, and the destinies of
nations are in His hands, and it matters
not what power is brought against us, if
He is for us, we shall, in His own good
time, win independence and peace. St.
John, in the apocalypse, speaking of tLe
saved, says : “These are they who have
come through great tribulations.” Is not
the life of nations, often like that of indi
viduals—victorious only through suffering?
Mercury.
Names that Live.—How few’ names that
live after the gravo closes over the body.
Not one in a million is remembered fifty
years after death. Less than thirty
names are recorded of the vast multitude
who lived and died iu the world before tho
flood. Yet thousands arc striving for im
mortality, to emblazon their names high
on tho record of fame. Unwise ambition !
Better have your names written in oue
corner of the last page
life, than on the walls
trumpeted through tbe
tjon.
of the book of
of palaces, and
of crea-
f pah
m'dtb
