From a photograph taken soon after the fight.
ters was sounded, and men who had "been detailed for such an emergency put out the fire, while the rest stayed at the guns.
It is wonderful that so few casualties occurred on hoard the Kearsarge, considering the number on the Alabama — the former having fired 173 shot and shell, and the latter nearly double that number. The Kearsarge concentrated her fire and poured in the 11-ineh shells with deadly effect. One penetrated the coal-bunker of the Alabama, and a dense cloud of coal-dust arose. Others struck near the water-line between the main and mizzen masts, exploded within board, or, passing through, burst beyond. Crippled and torn, the Alabama, moved
below the main rigging, exploded upon the quarter-deck, and wounded three of the crew of the after pivot-gun. With these exceptions not an officer or man received serious injury. The three unfortunate men were speedily taken below, and so quietly was the act done that at the termination of the fight a large number of the men were unaware that any of their comrades were wounded. Two shots entered the ports occupied by the thirty-twos, where several men were stationed, one taking effect in the hammock-netting, the other going through the opposite port, yet none were hit. A shell exploded in the hammock-netting and set the ship on fire ; the alarm calling for fire-quar-299
over or fell short. It was apparent that Captain Semmes intended to fight at long range.
The Kearsarge advanced with increased speed, receiving a second and part of a third broadside, with similar effect. Captain Winslow wished to get at short range, as the guns were loaded with five-second shell. Arrived within nine hundred yards, the Kearsarge, fearing a fourth broadside, and apprehensive of a raking, sheered and broke her silence with a starboard battery. Each ship was now pressed under a full head of steam, the position being broadside, both employing the starboard guns.
Captain Winslow, fearful that the enemy would make for the shore, determined with a port helm to run under the Alabama’s stem for raking, but was prevented by her sheering and keeping her broadside to the Kearsarge, which forced the fighting on a circular track, each ship, with a strong port helm, steaming around a common center, and pouring its fire into its opponent a quarter to half a mile away. There was a current setting to westward three knots an hour.
The action was now fairly begun. The Alabama changed from solid shot to shell. [Commander Kell (see p. 266) says the Alabama began with shell.] A shot from an early broadside of the Kearsarge carried away the spanker-gaff of the enemy, and caused his ensign to come down by the run. This incident was regarded as a favorable omen by the men, who cheered and went with increased confidence to their work. The fallen ensign reappeared at the mizzen. The Alabama returned to solid shot, and soon after fired both shot and shell to the end. The firing of the A labama was rapid and wild, getting better near the close; that of the Kearsarge was deliberate, accurate, and almost from the beginning productive of dismay, destruction, and death. [Captain Semmes in his official report says : “ The firing now became very hot, and the enemy’s shot and shell soon began to tell upon our hull, knocking down, killing, and disabling a number of men in different parts of the ship.”] The Kearsarge gunners had been cautioned against firing without direct aim, and had been advised to point the heavy guns below rather than above the waterline, and to clear the deck of the enemy with the lighter ones. Though subjected to an incessant storm of shot and shell, they kept their stations and obeyed instructions.
The effect upon the enemy was readily perceived, and nothing could restrain the enthusiasm of our men. Cheer succeeded cheer; caps were thrown in the air or overboard; jackets were discarded ; sanguine of victory, the men were shouting, as each projectile took effect: “That is a good one!” “Down, boys!” “ Give her another like the last! ” “ Now we have her!” and so on, cheering and shouting to the end.
After the Kearsarge had been exposed to an uninterrupted cannonade for eighteen minutes, a 68-pounder Blakely shell passed through the starboard bulwarks
to her coming had nearly ceased. At 10:20 the officer of the deck reported a steamer approaching from Cherbourg,— a frequent occurrence, and consequently it created no surprise. The bell was tolling for service when some one shouted, “ She’s coming, and heading straight for us! ” Soon, by the aid of a glass, the officer of the deck made out the enemy, and shouted, “The Alabama!” and calling down the ward-room hatch repeated the cry, “The Alabama!” The drum beat to general quarters; Captain Winslow put aside the prayer-book, seized the trumpet, ordered the ship about, and headed seaward. The ship was cleared for action, with the battery pivoted to starboard.
The Alabama approached from the western entrance, escorted by the French iron-clad frigate Couronne, flying the pennant of the commandant of the port, followed in her wake by a small fore-and-aft-rigged steamer, the Deerhound, flying the flag of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club. The commander of the frigate had informed Captain Semmes that his ship would escort him to the limit of the French waters. The frigate, having convoyed the Alabama three marine miles from the coast, put down her helm, and steamed back into port without delay.
The steam-yacht continued on, and remained near the scene of action.
Captain Winslow had assured the French admiral that in the event of an engagement the position of the ship should be far enough from shore to prevent a violation of the law of nations. To avoid a question of jurisdiction, and to avert an escape to neutral waters in case of retreat, the Kearsarge steamed to sea, followed by the enemy, giving the appearance of running away and being pursued. Between six and seven miles from the shore the Kearsarge, thoroughly ready, at 10:50 wheeled, at a distance of one and a quarter miles from her opponent, presented the starboard battery, and steered direct for her, with the design of closing or of running her down. The Alabama sheered and presented her starboard battery. More speed was ordered, the Kearsarge advanced rapidly, and at 10:57 received a broadside of solid shot at a range of about eighteen hundred yards. This broadside cut away a little of the rigging, but the shot mostly passed
AT QUARTERS,
THE CREW OF THE “KEARSARGE’ From a photograph.