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starboard battery, and afterwards her port battery; she continued the engagement with the muzzles of her guns under water, and one part of her deck covered with dead and wounded.
When found in a sinking state, the
Alabama ceased fighting and lowered her boats, in which the dead and wounded were placed.
Shortly afterward the
Alabama sank, the officers and crew jumping into the sea, when the
Kearsarge's boats came up to assist in saving the crew.
The officer in command of the boats inquired for
Semmes, and was told that he was drowned, whereas he had already been picked up by the yacht
Deerhound and stowed away, the yacht having then steamed off with all speed, expecting the
Kearsarge would attempt to capture those on board.
Before the
Alabama left
Cherbourg to engage the
Kearsarge,
Captain Semmes sent on shore an iron chest containing specie, sixty chronometers, and other valuables.
The engagement is described by the owner of the yacht Deerhound as a most brilliant affair, the fighting being severe and at short distance.
The Alabama's guns were served rapidly but doing less execution.
The Kearsarge, however, is said to have sustained much damage, her sides being torn open, showing the chain-plating.
The officers of the Alabama estimate their loss in killed and wounded at from thirty to forty men. Captain Semmes is very unwell, from being in the water a considerable time, and in consequence of the wound in his hand.
Captain Semmes visited several shops in Southampton this morning to procure a personal outfit.
Another account from Southampton says the Kearsarge had a chain-cable triced along her sides to break the force of the Alabama's shot.
The Alabama was almost one thousand yards from the Kearsarge when she fired the first shot at half-past 10; being the fastest ship, she was able to steam round her antagonist in continually narrowing circles, but when within five hundred yards of the Kearsarge the rudder and screw of the Alabama were shot away and she was rendered helpless.
Her colors were shot away.
Mr. Lancaster wrote as follows to the
Times:
sir: Herewith I send you a copy of my log respecting the engagement between the confederate steamer Alabama and the federal steamer Kearsarge:
Sunday, June nineteenth, nine A. M.--Got up steam, and proceeded out of Cherbourg harbor.
Half-past 10, observed the Alabama steaming out of the harbor toward the Federal steamer Kearsarge.
Ten minutes past eleven, the Alabama commenced firing with her starboard battery, the distance between the contending vessels being about one mile. The Kearsarge immediately replied with her starboard guns.
A very sharp, spirited firing was kept up, shot sometimes being varied by shells.
In manoeuvring, both vessels made seven complete circles at a distance of from a quarter to half a mile.
At twelve, a slight intermission was observed in the Alabama's firing, the Alabama making head-sail, and shaping her course for the land, distant about nine miles.
At half-past 12, observed the Alabama to be disabled and in a sinking state.
We immediately made toward her, and in passing the Kearsarge were requested to assist in saving the Alabama's crew.
At fifty minutes past twelve, when within a distance of two hundred yards, the Alabama sunk.
We then lowered our two boats, and, with assistance of the Alabama's whale-boat and dingey, succeeded in saving about forty men, including Captain Semmes and thirteen officers.
At one P. M., we steered for Southampton.
I may state that before leaving, the Kearsarge was apparently much disabled.
The Alabama's loss, so far as at present ascertained, in killed and wounded, etc., was as follows, namely: One officer and one man drowned; six men killed; and one officer and sixteen men wounded.
Captain Semmes received a slight wound in the right hand.
The Kearsarge's boats were, after some delay, lowered, and, with the assistance of a French pilot-boat, succeeded in picking up the remaining survivors.
Captain Semmes's Report: the Alabama and the Kearsarge.
To the Editor of the Times:
sir: I send herewith a copy of the official report of
Captain Semmes of his late engagement with the
United States ship
Kearsarge, which you may, perhaps, think worthy a place in your columns.
I avail myself of the occasion to note one or two inaccuracies in the letter of your correspondent, dated at Southampton on Monday, and published in the Times of Tuesday.
The crew of the Alabama is there stated at one hundred and fifty men; she had, in fact, but one hundred and twenty, all told.
Again, as to her armament; that of the Kearsarge may be correctly given by your correspondent.
I do not know what it was. The Alabama had one seven-inch Blakeley rifled gun, one eight-inch smooth-bore pivot-gun, and six thirty-two-pounders, smooth-bore, in broadside.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
sir: I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance with my intention, as previously announced to you, I steamed out of the harbor of
Cherbourg between nine and ten o'clock on the morning of the nineteenth of June, for the purpose of engaging the enemy's steamer
Kearsarge, which had been lying off and on the port for several
