The Confederate union. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1862-1865, July 26, 1864, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextY.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

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Confederate union. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1862-1865, July 26, 1864, Image 1