When The Alabama Struck Her Colors

Captain Semmes Tells of Battle With the Kearsarge;
Raise Memorial Fund

By Paul Barbet

Editor's note: This is the second and last installment of Paul Barbet's story on the famous naval battle between the Confederate sloop-of-war Alabama and the Yankee armor-clad Kearsarge, in which the French writer details for The Times-Dispatch readers the ceremonies attendant upon the dedication of the little cemetery in Cherbourg where rest the victims of this famed encounter. (Note: Part 1 of this article is not available)

The death roll of the battle was very small considering its severity. Three men of the crew died on board the Kearsarge from wounds received on board the Alabama. It is believed that they had suffered amputations. Eleven wounded, some having broken bones and others, burns, were taken to the Cherbourg Naval Hospital. All of them were saved. One officer only, Dr. Lewellyn, the Alabama's surgeon, perished by drowning while he was finishing the dressing of the wounds of one of the crew who was saved. Captain Semmes was reported to have been seriously wounded at the hand. Another officer wounded was rescued by the small boat of Major-General Roze and died on board the said boat on which it is reported that there were ladies.

Defective Powder Blamed for Defeat

Members of the crew of the Alabama and the five officers who were saved by the French pilot boat among whom was Mr. Armstrong, were landed at Cherbourg.

The casualties on board the Federal vessel were not known locally. Residents of Cherbourg who visited the Kearsarge after the battle stated that the vessel received a shot in its forepart which did not do much damage; another went through the chain armor which protected the part of the vessel occupied by the engines, and traversed the captain's cabin; a third shell struck the smoke stack and the poopboat was smashed by a grapeshot.

With regard to the respective forces of both fighters it will be recalled that the Kearsarge was newly commissioned while the Alabama had been two years continuously at sea, and that she had a more numerous crew, heavier guns and armored sides. The Alabama was in need of repairs which could not be effected while the vessel was in the port of cherbourg but on the other hand had renewed her supply of coal in her bunkers and was light in the water. It was to compensate this inferiority that her captain had arranged her chain cables in stops along her sides. The Alabama had seven guns, the larger of which was rifled, throwing a weight of projectiles of 328 pounds while the Kearsarge was equipped with five smoothbored guns with a weight of broadside of 366 pounds. According to Lieutenant Sinclair, the executive officer of the Alabama, her marked inferiority was mainly due to defective powder, this is, powder which had become damp.

In his official report dated from Southampton on June 21, 1864, Captain Semmes relates the battle as follows:

"The 19th of June, I left the harbor of Cherbourg between 9 and 10 A. M. to join battle with the enemy steamer Kearsarge which was located at a distance of about nine miles from the breakwater. It took us three quarters of an hour to reach the Kearsarge. When we arrived at one mile from her I opened fire against her. She replied a few minutes later and thereupon the battle was engaged with great vigor. Both vessels described circles, while keeping between them a distance of a quarter to one-half mile. Soon the fire became deadly. The shell and bombs were pouring on us. Several of our men well wounded in the different parts of the vessel. After one hour and ten minutes I was informed that our vessel was about to sink. The bombs of the enemy had opened between the decks large openings through which the water was pouring rapidly.

"I had hoped that we might be able to reach the French coast and had ordered the steam and all sails to be crowded on, but the water was continuing to gain upon us with such rapidity that our fires had died out and we were sinking. I lowered the flag, wishing to escape further fire from the enemy, and I sent out a boat to notify them of the conditions in which we were. Although only 600 yards distance from us, the enemy continued to fire five rounds at us even after I had lowered the flag, and several of my men were dangerously wounded by these shots. Attention had to be given both to the wounded members of the crew, and to the shipboys who did not know how to swim and who were embarked in life boats. On my order all the men who were able to struggle against the sea threw themselves into the water and did their best to save themselves by swimming. The enemy did not send us any life boats until after the vessel had sunk. Happily the British steam yacht 'Deerhound,' belonging to a gentleman of Lancashire, Mr. John Lancaster, who was present on board, proceeded into the midst of the members of my crew who were drowning, and rescued a great number of officers and men. I myself had the good fortune to save myself under shelter of a neutral flag together with 40 others. The Kearsarge then at length sent out one of two life boats.

French Pilots save some of Crew

"The French pilots who were in the neighborhood fortunately succeeded in rescuing several members of the crew.

"It is reported that the enemy vessel was armor-plated which protected her in part from our shells and bombs; nevertheless she suffered greatly from our fires.

"I must say that on my vessel every officer and man did his duty, bravely and worthily, and I may add 'All is lost save honor.'

"Among the brave men who did their duty, Mr. Shell, my sublieutenant, deserves special mention. He displayed great foresight before the battle and remarkable coolness during the conflict. We did not know until after the battle that we had as our opponent an armor-plated vessel.

"Our total lost in killed and wounded was 30, namely, nine killed and 21 wounded.

(Signed) R. Semmes, Captain

The following is an extract from the ship's log on the "Deerhound":

Sunday, June 19

9:00 A. M. Cleared under steam the port of Cherbourg.
10:30 A. M. Observed the Alabama clear the port and proceed toward the Kearsarge.
11:10 A. M. The Alabama opens fire from its starboard side batteries. The distance between both vessels is only about one mile. The Kearsarge immediately replied with its three starboard batteries. The fire was heavy. Several bombs were fired among the shells. In manoeuvering the vessels described seven perfect circles at a distance of one-half to one-quarter of a mile
12:00 Noon The fire of the Alabama slackens slightly. The Confederate vessel proceeds toward the coast which is nine miles distant.
12:30 P. M. Observed the Alabama disabled and sinking. We proceeded immediately toward her and as we go we request the Kearsarge to help us rescue the crew of the Alabama.
12:50 P. M. At a distance of 200 yards the Alabama sinks. We launch our life boats, and aided by the two life boats of the Alabama we succeed in rescuing about 40 men among whom are Captain Semmes and 13 officers.
1:00 P. M. We proceed toward Southampton. I may say that before our departure the Kearsarge appeared to be quite badly damaged. After quite a delay the Kearsarge lowered her life boats and with the help of the French pilots succeeded in rescuing the rest of the survivors.
(Signed John Lancaster, Steam Yacht "Deerhound" in sight of Cowes, June 19.

Cherbourg Gay With Festival Throngs

At the time when this encounter took place, Cherbourg was the scene of magnificent festivals which had attracted a great number of visitors to the town and for this occasion a special excursion train had arrived from Paris on the Morning of the 19.

The bathing establishment at the casino was being inaugurated.

Several days before the battle a banquet had gathered together all the officials of the Department of Manche and the representatives of all the large Paris newspapers, namely: "Le Pays," "Le Constitutionnel," "Le Sciecle," "Les Debats," La Gazette des Etrangers," "L'Illustration," and so the fight became generally known in France, and much talk was done concerning it due to the large number of spectators who had come from all sections and who witnessed the battle.

It is interesting to note the following comparison drawn by the "Gazette des Etrangers" between these gay festivals and the great silence observed aboard the Alabama.

"We have tried in vain to find in the dance hall officers of the Alabama, which was anchored in the harbor, watched by her deadly enemy the Kearsarge. We had seen them during the day and they had even expressed their regrets at not being able to come ashore. I shall never forget the impression produced on me by this dark slender vessel, shaped like a storm bird, with her sides closed, and her crew with their faces tanned brown by the campaign of two long years. There was something fatal in the aspect of this audacious vessel. She was coming from the Cape of Good Hope, implacable enemy of all Federal vessels, loaded with gold, bruized, disabled, exhausted, having sown death on her way and slaughtered all. Even the uniformly grey uniforms of the crew seemed grave and significant in effect.

"When we retired in our rooms a common feeling made us open our windows and throw a last look on the athlete which was about to die . . . As we remained a long time, with hearts tense, dumb, and sad, in front of us the Alabama lined against the sky its dark silhouette; a small lantern was hanging from one of her masts, everything was shadow and silence, death seemed to hover already over this vessel, which the finger of God had designated.

"While others were dancing on the beach these brave men were getting ready to die. They knew it in advance, the Kearsarge had over them such a crushing superiority.

"Now this campaign is ended. At the hour in which I write these lines the newspapers announce that, after a battle lasting but slightly over one hour, the Alabama, so many times victorious, was sunk by the Kearsarge.

Collection Taken to Raise Memorials

A few days before leaving Cherbourg, Captain Winslow, who two years previously had contracted a serious disorder of vision during a hard campaign on the Mississippi visited Paris where he remained for several days in order to consult one of the famous french oculists of the time. The American residents of Paris tendered him a sumptuous dinner, at which were present: Mr. William Dayton, minister of the United States, the secretaries of the legation, and two officers of the Kearsarge, the surgeon and the paymaster, whose duties did not require their presence at Cherbourg.

At the end of the dinner, upon the suggestion of the guests a collection was taken up by the surgeon of the Kearsarge for the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of J. William L. Gowen, a member of the crew of the Kearsarge who had just died in the Cherbourg Naval Hospital and who was the only victim on the side of the Federals, the state of the two other members of the crew who had been wounded during the battle inspiring no anxiety.

After the victory of the Northern States, the latter requested an indemnity in view of the damages caused by the Alabama to the American merchant marine and of the responsibility of England. The tension became so great that war was feared between the two countries.

In 1866, the United States proposed the arbitration which was accepted by England on May 6, 1871, (Treaty of Washington). The arbitrary court of Geneva condemned England to the payment of 15,000,000. This matter was furthermore the starting point of a movement in favor of arbitration.

One may see at the Leveel Museum at Cherbourg in the left wing of the Municipal Theatre in a small back room reserved for the history of Cherbourg, several small pieces of wood covered with bullet holes, which was saved from the wreck of the Alabama after the encounter of June 19, 1864.

In a commanding position in the cemetery of Cherbourg are three well kept graves where lie the victims of this historic battle. They are excellently situated and well cared for by the French patriotic society known as "The Souvenir Francais."

In 1865 James J. Allingham, assistant surgeon of the United States ship "Frolic" having died in Cherbourg, at the hospital, his remains were buried in the local cemetery nearby the place where the victims of the Alabama-Kearsarge encounter were resting and a monument was erected to his memory.

These graves are honored and decorated with flowers and American flags on Memorial Day each year by the American colony, French local officials, and war veterans associations.