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[236] thoroughly iron-coated; this having been done with chain constructed for the purpose, placed Perpendicularly from the rail to the water's edge, the whole covered over by a thin outer planking, which gave no indication of the armor beneath.

A letter which we publish this morning from a gentleman just returned from a visit to the Kearsarge, at Cherbourg, states that the “Alabama had eight guns, the Kearsarge only seven ;” and that “the Kearsarge was no more iron-clad than the Alabama might have been, had they taken the precaution. She simply had a double row of chains hanging over her sides to protect her machinery. Two shots from the Alabama struck these chains and fell harmlessly into the water.” Again, as to the number of the respective crews, Mr Mason writes: “She (the Alabama) had, in fast, but one hundred and twenty, all told.” Yet Captain Semmes reports: “Our total loss in killed and wounded is thirty, namely, nine killed, twenty-one wounded. I was fortunate enough myself thus to escape to the shelter of a neutral flag, together with about forty others, all told.” A correspondent who had just visited the Kearsarge, at Cherbourg, reports: “The Kearsarge picked up sixty-three men, one dead body, and two who died afterward on board. She also took five officers.” So that one hundred and thirty (officers and men) are actually accounted for as belonging to the Alabama, instead of Mr. Mason's one hundred and twenty “all told.”

Captain Semmes accuses the Kearsarge of having fired upon the Alabama five times after her colors had been struck. No mention of this prodigious inhumanity is made by Mr. Lancaster, the owner of the Deerhound, who was within three hundred yards at the close of the action.

The following is the account referred to:

I returned late last night from Cherbourg, where I had been a witness to the fight between the Kearsarge and Alabama. I regret to see that some of the London papers are perverting and falsifying the facts, so as to do great injustice to the gallant officers and men of the Kearsarge.

The fight began about eleven A. M., and ended a few minutes after twelve, lasting a little more than an hour. The Alabama fired about seventeen shots at the Kearsarge before the latter fired a gun.

The Kearsarge fired one hundred and seventy-three shots. She was struck in the hull seven or eight times; but has sustained no important damage at all, and is perfectly ready for active service. She has a crew of about one hundred and sixty-five men, that of the Alabama being about one hundred and forty-seven. The Alabama had eight guns, the Kearsarge only seven. The firing of the Alabama was very inaccurate; that of the Kearsarge was excellent. A large pivot-gun was particularly effective. The Kearsarge is spoken of as being iron-clad; she was no more iron-clad than the Alabama might have been, had they taken the precaution. She simply had a double row of chains hanging over her sides to protect her machinery. Two shots from the Alabama struck these chains, and fell harmlessly into the water.

The Kearsarge picked up sixty-three men, one dead body, and two men who have since died on board. She also took five officers. Captain Winslow would now have all the officers and men of the Alabama as prisoners, had he not placed too much confidence in the honor of an Englishman, who carried the flag of the royal yacht squadron. The club will be indelibly disgraced unless they take measures to repudiate and condemn the conduct of Mr. John Lancaster, owner of the yacht Deerhound. I have no doubt that this yacht was in the harbor of Cherbourg to assist the Alabama by every means in her power; that she did so I know; her movements before the action prove it. When the Alabama went down, the yacht, being near, was hailed by Captain Winslow, and requested to aid in picking up the men in the water. The request was complied with, and the Deerhound, after having rescued, as supposed, about twenty persons, including Captain Semmes and First Lieutenant Kell, immediately left, running toward England. Captain Winslow says the reason he did not pursue her or fire into her was that he could not believe any one carrying the flag of the royal yacht squadron could act so dishonorable a part as to carry off his prisoners, whom he had requested him to save, from feelings of humanity.

Captain Winslow considers Semmes and his officers bound upon their honor to give themselves up as his prisoners of war. About five minutes before the Alabama went down, a boat from her came to the Kearsarge with an officer, who surrendered the vessel, and then asked permission to return with his boat, to assist in picking up the men. This was granted, when the officer left, and after rescuing a number, principally officers, I understood, he went on board the English yacht and escaped. Please excuse the hurried style of this letter, but I was anxious that while Captain Semmes and his party are being feted for their glorious conduct, you might be apprised of these positive facts.

P. S.--The Alabama hauled down her colors and ran up a white flag, at least ten minutes, I should think, before she went down. Prisoners taken from the Alabama state that at about three o'clock in the morning before the engagement took place, the chronometers in the Alabama were transferred to the English yacht Deerhound, then lying in the harbor, not far from the Alabama. The Deerhound was, in fact, acting as tender to the Alabama before the action.



The Alabama and the Deerhound.

The following is the correspondence between Mr. Mason and Mr. Lancaster, the owner of the Deerhound:

24 upper Seymour street, Portman square, London, June 21.
dear sir, I received from Captain Semmes at Southampton, where I had the pleasure to see you yesterday, a full report of the efficient service rendered under your orders by the officers


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