of the men, a good swimmer, to examine it; he did so and replied, “It is the doctor, sir, dead.” Poor Llewellyn! he perished almost in sight of his home. The young midshipman, Maffitt, swam to me and offered his life-preserver. My grating was not proving a very buoyant float, and the white-caps breaking over my head were distressingly uncomfortable, to say the least. Maffit said:
“ Mr. Kell, take my life-preserver, sir; you are almost exhausted.” The gallant boy did not consider his own condition, but his pallid face told me that his heroism was superior to his bodily suffering, and I refused it.
After twenty minutes or more I heard near me some one -call out,
“There is our first lieutenant,” and the next moment I was pulled into a boat, in which was Captain Semmes, stretched out in the stern-sheets, as pallid as death. He had receivedduringthe action a slight contusion on the hand, and the struggle in the water had almost exhausted him. There was also several of our crew in the boat, and in a few moments we were alongside a little steam-yacht, which had come among our floating men, and by throwing them ropes had saved many lives. Upon reaching her deck, I ascertained for the first time that she was the yacht Deerhound, owned by Mr. John Lancaster, of England. In looking about I saw two French pilot-boats engaged in saving our crew, and finally two boats from the Kearsarge. To my surprise I found on the yacht Mr. Fullam, whoml had despatched in the dingey to ask that boats be sent to save our wounded. He reported to me that our shot had literally torn the casing from the chain armor of the Kearsarge, indenting the chain in many places, which explained Captain Semmes’s observation of the effect of our shell upon the enemy, “ that they struck the sides and fell into the water.”
Captain Winslow, in his report, states that his ship was struck twenty-five or thirty times, and I doubt if the Alabama was struck a greater number of times. I may not, therefore, be bold in asserting that had not the Kearsarge been protectedbyher iron cables, the result of the fight would have been different. Captain Semmes felt the more keenly the delusion to which he fell a victim (not knowing that the Kearsarge was chain-clad) from the fact that he was exceeding his instructions in seeking an action with the enemy ; but to seek a fight
Tlie following is an extract from Mr. J olm Lancaster’s log, dated “ Steam-' yacht Deerhound, off Cowes ”:
“Sunday, June 19th,
9 A. M.
“Got up steam and proceeded out of Cherbourg harbor. Half-past ten 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 fire was kept up, shot sometimes being varied by shells. In ma-nceuvering, both vessels made seven complete circles at a distance of from a quarter to half a mile. At 1‘2 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 12:30, 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 12:50, 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-boat and dingey, succeeded in saving about forty men, including Captain Semmes and thirteen officers. At 1 p. m. we started for Southampton. ”
When Mr. Lancaster approached Captain Semmes, and said, “I think every man has "been picked up; where shall I land you?” Captain Semmes replied, “ I am now under the English colors, and the sooner you put me with my officers and men on English soil, the better.” The little yacht moved rapidly away at once, under a press'of steam, for Southampton. Armstrong, our second lieutenant, and some of our men who were saved by the French pilot-boats, were taken into Cherbourg. Our loss was 9 killed, 21 wounded, and 10 drowned.
It has been charged that an arrangement had been entered into between Mr. Lancaster and Captain Semmes, previous to our leaving Cherbourg, that in the event of the Alabama being sunk the Deerhound would come to our rescue. Captain Semmes and myself met Mr. Lancaster for the first time when rescued by him, and he related to us the
abled were at once lowered, and as it was apparent the Alabama was settling, this officer was permitted to leave in liis boat to afford assistance. An English yacht, the Dcerliouncl, had approached near the Kearsarge at this time, when I hailed and begged the commander to run down to the Alabama, as she was fast sinking and wo had but two boats, and assist in picking up the men. He answered affirmatively and steamed toward the Alabama, but the latter sank almost immediately.”
THE ELEVEN-INCH FORWARD PIVOT-GUN ON THE •‘KEARSARGE׳־ IN ACTION.
struct the view at five hundred yards. The very fact of the Alabama ceasing to fire, shortening sail, and hauling down her colors simultaneously, must have attracted the attention of the officer in command of the Kearsarge. Again, there is no reason given why the Kearsarge did not steam immediately into the midst of the crew of the Alabama, after their ship had been sunk, and, like a brave and generous foe, save the lives of her enemies, who had fought nobly as long as they had a plank to stand upon. Were it not for the timely presence of the kind-hearted Englishman and the two French pilot-boats, who can tell the number of us that would have rested with our gallant little ship beneath the waters of the English Channel? I quote the following from Mr. John Lancaster’s letter to the London “Daily News”: “I presume it was because he [Captain Winslow] would not or could not save them himself. The fact is that if the captain and crew of the Alabama had depended for safety altogether upon Captain Winslow, not one-half of them would have been saved.” *
*In 1ns report of June 21st, 1801, Captain Winslow said:
“ It was seen shortly afterward that the Alabama was lowering her boats, and an officer came alongside in one of them to say that they had surrendered and were fast sinking, and begging that boats would bo despatched immediately for the saving of life. The two boats not dis-
with an ironclad he conceived to be an unpardonable error. However, he had the satisfaction of knowing she was classed as a wooden gun-boat by the Federal Government; also that he had inspected her with most excellent glasses, and so far as outward appearances showed, she displayed no chain armor. At the same time it must be admitted that Captain Winslow had the right■ unquestionably to protect his ship and crew. In justice to Captain Semmes I will state that the battle would never have been fought had he known that the Kearsarge wore an armor of chain beneath her outer covering.* Thus was the Alabama lost by an error, if you please, but, it must be admitted, a most pardonable one, and not until “Father Neptune” claimed her as his own did she lower her colors.
The 11-inch shells of the Kearsarge did fearful work, and her guns were served beautifully, being aimed with precision, and deliberate in fire. She came into action magnificently. Having the speed of us, she took her own position and fought gallantly. But she tarnished her glory when she fired upon a fallen foe. It was high noon of a bright, beautiful day, with a moderate breeze blowing to waft the smoke of battle clear, and nothing to ob-
* Surgeon Browne points out that tlie advantage derived f rom the chain armor was immaterial. It was a device that Captain Semmes also might have employed.
297
19*