Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[221] Captain Semmes was not using some ruse, the Kearsarge was stopped. 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 be despatched immediately for saving of life. The two boats not disabled were at once lowered, and as it was apparent the Alabama was settling, this officer was permitted to leave in his boat to afford assistance. An English yacht, the Deerhound, 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 we 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 Deerhound, however, sent her boats, and was actively engaged, aided by several others which had come from shore. These boats were busy in bringing the wounded and others to the Kearsarge, whom we were trying to make as comfortable as possible, when it was reported to me that the Deerhound was moving off. I could not believe that the commander of that vessel could be guilty of so disgraceful an act as taking our prisoners off, and therefore took no means to prevent it, but continued to keep our boats at work rescuing the men in the water. I am sorry to say that I was mistaken. The Deerhound made off with Captain Semmes and others, and also the very officer who had come on board to surrender. I learnt subsequently that the Deerhound was a consort of the Alabama, and that she received on board all the valuable personal effects of Captain Semmes the night before the engagement.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to report that the number of prisoners brought on board the Kearsarge belonging to the Alabama was seventy-six officers and sixty-four men. One officer (carpenter) and two men dying and seventeen wounded are included in this number. As we have very contracted accommodations for our own crew without increase, it became indispensable to send these prisoners on shore, and their parole was taken, with exception of the doctor, non-combatant, who was put on parole that he might attend to his wounded. The officers were held as prisoners of war. I learn that these officers, with six men, were carried on shore at Cherbourg by pilot-boats; but of the number who reached England in the Deerhound I have no reliable accounts.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

I, J. D. Wilson, late lieutenant on board the Alabama, captured in the action off Cherbourg by the United States steamer Kearsarge, on the nineteenth of June, 1864, do solemnly affirm my sacred word of honor that I will not bear arms against, or otherwise operate against, the interests of the Government of the United States in any manner whatsoever, until I shall have been regularly exchanged.

Signed and given on board the United States steamer Kearsarge, July thirteenth, 1864.

We, the undersigned, officers of the late (so-called) confederate States steamer Alabama, now prisoners of war on board the United States steamer Kearsarge, do hereby pledge our sacred word of honor not to engage in arms, or otherwise employ ourselves against the interests of the Government of the United States of America until we shall be regularly exchanged.

We, the seamen and others, lately belonging to the steamer Alabama, and captured in the action between that vessel and the United States steamer Kearsarge, off this port, on the nineteenth day of June, 1864, now prisoners of war, do hereby solemnly pledge our sacred word of honor not to engage in arms against, or otherwise employ ourselves against, the interest of the Government of the United States of America, until we shall be regularly exchanged.

William Clarke, seaman; William McKenzie, cockswain; James Broderick, cockswain; William Forrestall, quartermaster; John Emery, ordinary seaman; William Wilson, cockswain; Edward Rawes, master-at-arms; Henry Tucker, officers' cook; David Leggett, seaman; Frank Currian, first-class fireman; Henry Godson, ordinary seaman; Samuel Henry, seaman; John Horrigan, first-class fireman; Edgar Tripp, ordinary seaman; David Williams, ordinary seaman; Richard Parkinson, officers' steward; William Barnes, quarter-gunner; George Freemantle, quartermaster; John Russell, seaman ; Henry Hestake, ordinary seaman; Thomas Watson, ordinary seaman; John Johnson, ordinary seaman; John Smith, seaman; Henry McCoy, seaman; Thomas Parker, boy; James Ochure, seaman; Edwin Burrell, seaman; James Higgs, seaman; Patrick Bradley, fireman; Match Mudick, ordinary seaman; William Miller, ordinary seaman; John Benson, coal-heaver; Joseph Pruson, coal-heaver; James Maguire, coal-heaver; John Casen, seaman; Henry Higgin, seaman; Frank Hamonds, seaman; Nicholas Adams, landsman; Michael Shields, seaman; Peter Laperty, second