ADMIRAL RAPHAEL SEMMES CAMP #11
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS
MOBILE, ALABAMA
The Sinking of the alabama
From the official report written by Capt. Winslow, USN, Commander of the USS Kearsarge.
Many accounts of the battle between the Alabama and the USS Kearsarge exist in foreign and national press. Below, transcribed for comparison, are the official reports written by the combatants themselves.
Captain Winslow's detailed report
of the action of
UNITED STATES STEAMER KEARSARGE,
English Channel, July 30, 1864.
SIR: In obedience to instructions of the department, I have the honor to make the following supplementary report of the action between the Kearsarge and Alabama:
On the morning of the 19th ultimo, the day being fine, with a hazy atmosphere, wind moderate from the westward, with little sea, the position of the Kearsarge at 10 o'clock was near the buoy which mark8 the line of shoals to the eastward of Cherbourg, and distant about three miles from the eastern entrance, which bore to the southward and westward. At twenty minutes after 10 o'clock the Alabama was descried coming out of the western entrance. accompanied by the Couronne (iron-clad.) I had, in an interview with the admiral at Cherbourg, assured him that, in the event of an action occurring with the Alabama, the position of the ships should be so far off shore that no questions could be advanced about the line of jurisdiction. Accordingly, to perfect this object, and with the double purpose of drawing the Alabama so far off shore that, if disabled, she could not return, I directed the ship's head seaward and cleared for action, with the battery pivoted to starboard. Having attained a point about seven miles from the shore, the head of the Kearsarge was turned short around, and the ship steered directly for the Alabama, my purpose being to run her down. Of. if circumstances did not warrant it, to close in with her.
Hardly had the Kearsarge come round before the Alabama sheered, presented her starboard battery, and showed her engines. On approaching her at long range of about a mile, she opened her full broadside, the shot cutting some of our rigging and going over and alongside of us. Immediately I ordered more speed; but in two minutes the Alabama had loaded and again fired another broadside, and following it with a third, without damaging us except in rigging.
We had now arrived within about nine hundred yards of her, and I was apprehensive that another broadside–nearly raking as it was–would prove disastrous. Accordingly I ordered the Kearsarge sheered, and opened on the Alabama. The position of the vessels was now broadside and broadside; but it was soon apparent that Captain Semmes did not seek close action. I became then fearful lest, after some fighting, that he would again make for the shore. To defeat this I determined to keep full speed on, and with a port helm to run under the stern of the Alabama and rake her, if he did not prevent it by sheering and keeping his broadside to us. He adopted this mode as a prevention and as a consequence the Alabama was forced with a full head of steam into a circular track during the engagement.
The effect of this maneuver was such that, at the last of the action, when the Alabama would have made off, she was five miles from the shore; and, had the action continued from the first in parallel lines, with her head in shore the line of jurisdiction would no doubt have been reached. The firing of the Alabama from the first was rapid and wild; toward the close of the action her firing became better. Our men, who had been cautioned against rapid firing without direct aim, were much mOl'e deliberate; and the instructions given to point the heavy guns below rather than above the water-line, and clear the deck with the lighter ones, was fully observed.
I had endeavored, with a port helm, to close in with the Alabama; but it was not until just before the close of the action that we were in position to use grape. This was avoided, however, by her surrender. The effect of the training of our men was evident; nearly every shot from our guns was telling fearfully on the Alabama, and on the seventh rotation on the circular track she winded, setting foretrysail and two jibs, with head in shore. Her speed was now retarded, and by winding her port broadside was presented to us, with only two guns bearing, not having been able, as I learned afterwards, to shift over but one. I saw now that she was at our mercy, and a few more guns well directed brought down her flag. I was unable to ascertain whether it had been hauled down or shot away; but a white flag having been displayed over the stern, our fire was reserved. Two minutes had not more than elapsed before she again opened on us with the two guns on the port side. This drew our fire again, and the Kearsarge was immediately steamed ahead and laid across her bows for raking. The white flag was still flying, and our fire was again reserved. Shortly after this her boats were seen to be lowering, and an officer in one of them came alongside, and informed us the ship had surrendered and was fast sinking. In twenty minutes from this time the Alabama went down, her mainmast, which had been shot, breaking near the head as she sunk. and her bow rising high out of the water as her stern rapidly settled.
The fire of the Alabama, although it is stated she discharged three hundred and seventy or more I1he11 and shot, was not of serious damage to the Kearsarge.
Some thirteen or fourteen of these had taken effect in and about the hull, and sixteen or seventeen about the masts and rigging. 'l'he casualties were small, only three persons having been wounded; yet it is a matter of surprise that so few were injured, considering the number of projectiles that came aboard. Two shot passed through the ports in which the thirty-twos were placed, with men thickly stationed around them. one taking effect in the hammock netting and the other going through the port on the opposite side, yet no one was hit, the captain of one of the guns being only knocked down by the wind of the shot, as supposed.
The fire of the Kearsarge, although only one hundred and seventy-three projectiles had been discharged, according to the prisoners' accounts, was terrific. One shot alone had killed and wounded eighteen men and disabled a gun. Another had entered the coal-bunkers, exploding, and completely blocking up the engine-room; and Captain Semmes states that shot and shell had taken effect in the sides of his vessel, tearing large holes by explosion, and his men were everywhere knocked down.
Of the casualties in the Alabama no correct account can be given. One hundred and fifteen persons reached the shore, either in England 0r France, after the action. It is known that the Alabama carried a crew, officers and meu, of about one hundred and fifty into Cherbourg, and that while in the Southern ocean her complement was about one hundred and seventy; but desertions had reduced this complement. 'I'he prisoners state that a number of men came on board at Cherbourg, and the night before the action boats were going to and fro, and in the morning strange men were seen, who were stationed as captains of the guns. Among these there was one lieutenant (Sinclair) who joined her in Cherbourg. The Alabama had been five days in preparation. .She bad taken in three hundred and fifty tons of coal, which brought her down in the water. The Kearsarge bad' only one hundred and twenty ton in; but as an offset to this, her sheet chains were stowed outside, stopped up and down, as an additional preventive and protection to her empty bunkers.
The number of' 'the crew of the Kearsarge, including officers and sick men, was one hundred and sixty three; and her battery numbered seven guns – two 11-inch, one 30-pounder rifle, and four light 32-pounder guns.
The battery of the Alabama numbered' eight guns–one heavy 68, of nine thousand pounds; one 110-pounder rifle; and six heavy 32.pounder guns.
In the engagement the Alabama fought seven ,guns and the Kearsarge five, both exercising the starboard battery, until the Alabama winded, using then her port side with one gun, and another shifted over.
The collateral events connected with this action have already been laid before the department.
I enclose a diagram showing; the track which was described during the engagement by the rotary course of the vessels.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN A. 'WINSLOW, Captain
Hon. Gideon Welles
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC
Published in:
Report of the Secretary of the Navy, An Appendix. Reports from the Officers. December, 1864. Washington DC. Government Printing Office.
of the action of
UNITED STATES STEAMER KEARSARGE,
English Channel, July 30, 1864.
SIR: In obedience to instructions of the department, I have the honor to make the following supplementary report of the action between the Kearsarge and Alabama:
On the morning of the 19th ultimo, the day being fine, with a hazy atmosphere, wind moderate from the westward, with little sea, the position of the Kearsarge at 10 o'clock was near the buoy which mark8 the line of shoals to the eastward of Cherbourg, and distant about three miles from the eastern entrance, which bore to the southward and westward. At twenty minutes after 10 o'clock the Alabama was descried coming out of the western entrance. accompanied by the Couronne (iron-clad.) I had, in an interview with the admiral at Cherbourg, assured him that, in the event of an action occurring with the Alabama, the position of the ships should be so far off shore that no questions could be advanced about the line of jurisdiction. Accordingly, to perfect this object, and with the double purpose of drawing the Alabama so far off shore that, if disabled, she could not return, I directed the ship's head seaward and cleared for action, with the battery pivoted to starboard. Having attained a point about seven miles from the shore, the head of the Kearsarge was turned short around, and the ship steered directly for the Alabama, my purpose being to run her down. Of. if circumstances did not warrant it, to close in with her.
Hardly had the Kearsarge come round before the Alabama sheered, presented her starboard battery, and showed her engines. On approaching her at long range of about a mile, she opened her full broadside, the shot cutting some of our rigging and going over and alongside of us. Immediately I ordered more speed; but in two minutes the Alabama had loaded and again fired another broadside, and following it with a third, without damaging us except in rigging.
We had now arrived within about nine hundred yards of her, and I was apprehensive that another broadside–nearly raking as it was–would prove disastrous. Accordingly I ordered the Kearsarge sheered, and opened on the Alabama. The position of the vessels was now broadside and broadside; but it was soon apparent that Captain Semmes did not seek close action. I became then fearful lest, after some fighting, that he would again make for the shore. To defeat this I determined to keep full speed on, and with a port helm to run under the stern of the Alabama and rake her, if he did not prevent it by sheering and keeping his broadside to us. He adopted this mode as a prevention and as a consequence the Alabama was forced with a full head of steam into a circular track during the engagement.
The effect of this maneuver was such that, at the last of the action, when the Alabama would have made off, she was five miles from the shore; and, had the action continued from the first in parallel lines, with her head in shore the line of jurisdiction would no doubt have been reached. The firing of the Alabama from the first was rapid and wild; toward the close of the action her firing became better. Our men, who had been cautioned against rapid firing without direct aim, were much mOl'e deliberate; and the instructions given to point the heavy guns below rather than above the water-line, and clear the deck with the lighter ones, was fully observed.
I had endeavored, with a port helm, to close in with the Alabama; but it was not until just before the close of the action that we were in position to use grape. This was avoided, however, by her surrender. The effect of the training of our men was evident; nearly every shot from our guns was telling fearfully on the Alabama, and on the seventh rotation on the circular track she winded, setting foretrysail and two jibs, with head in shore. Her speed was now retarded, and by winding her port broadside was presented to us, with only two guns bearing, not having been able, as I learned afterwards, to shift over but one. I saw now that she was at our mercy, and a few more guns well directed brought down her flag. I was unable to ascertain whether it had been hauled down or shot away; but a white flag having been displayed over the stern, our fire was reserved. Two minutes had not more than elapsed before she again opened on us with the two guns on the port side. This drew our fire again, and the Kearsarge was immediately steamed ahead and laid across her bows for raking. The white flag was still flying, and our fire was again reserved. Shortly after this her boats were seen to be lowering, and an officer in one of them came alongside, and informed us the ship had surrendered and was fast sinking. In twenty minutes from this time the Alabama went down, her mainmast, which had been shot, breaking near the head as she sunk. and her bow rising high out of the water as her stern rapidly settled.
The fire of the Alabama, although it is stated she discharged three hundred and seventy or more I1he11 and shot, was not of serious damage to the Kearsarge.
Some thirteen or fourteen of these had taken effect in and about the hull, and sixteen or seventeen about the masts and rigging. 'l'he casualties were small, only three persons having been wounded; yet it is a matter of surprise that so few were injured, considering the number of projectiles that came aboard. Two shot passed through the ports in which the thirty-twos were placed, with men thickly stationed around them. one taking effect in the hammock netting and the other going through the port on the opposite side, yet no one was hit, the captain of one of the guns being only knocked down by the wind of the shot, as supposed.
The fire of the Kearsarge, although only one hundred and seventy-three projectiles had been discharged, according to the prisoners' accounts, was terrific. One shot alone had killed and wounded eighteen men and disabled a gun. Another had entered the coal-bunkers, exploding, and completely blocking up the engine-room; and Captain Semmes states that shot and shell had taken effect in the sides of his vessel, tearing large holes by explosion, and his men were everywhere knocked down.
Of the casualties in the Alabama no correct account can be given. One hundred and fifteen persons reached the shore, either in England 0r France, after the action. It is known that the Alabama carried a crew, officers and meu, of about one hundred and fifty into Cherbourg, and that while in the Southern ocean her complement was about one hundred and seventy; but desertions had reduced this complement. 'I'he prisoners state that a number of men came on board at Cherbourg, and the night before the action boats were going to and fro, and in the morning strange men were seen, who were stationed as captains of the guns. Among these there was one lieutenant (Sinclair) who joined her in Cherbourg. The Alabama had been five days in preparation. .She bad taken in three hundred and fifty tons of coal, which brought her down in the water. The Kearsarge bad' only one hundred and twenty ton in; but as an offset to this, her sheet chains were stowed outside, stopped up and down, as an additional preventive and protection to her empty bunkers.
The number of' 'the crew of the Kearsarge, including officers and sick men, was one hundred and sixty three; and her battery numbered seven guns – two 11-inch, one 30-pounder rifle, and four light 32-pounder guns.
The battery of the Alabama numbered' eight guns–one heavy 68, of nine thousand pounds; one 110-pounder rifle; and six heavy 32.pounder guns.
In the engagement the Alabama fought seven ,guns and the Kearsarge five, both exercising the starboard battery, until the Alabama winded, using then her port side with one gun, and another shifted over.
The collateral events connected with this action have already been laid before the department.
I enclose a diagram showing; the track which was described during the engagement by the rotary course of the vessels.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN A. 'WINSLOW, Captain
Hon. Gideon Welles
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC
Published in:
Report of the Secretary of the Navy, An Appendix. Reports from the Officers. December, 1864. Washington DC. Government Printing Office.
Detailed Report by Captain Raphael Semmes, CSN
To Flag Officer Barron, Paris, France
Southampton June 21 1864
Sir: – I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with my intention as previously announced to you I steamed out of the harbor of Cherbourg between nine and ten o’clock on the morning of the 19th of June for the purpose of engaging the enemy's steamer Kearsarge, which had been lying off and on the port for several days previously. After clearing the harbor we descried the enemy with his head off shore at the distance of about seven miles We were three quarters of an hour in coming up with him I had previously pivoted my guns to starboard and made all preparations for engaging the enemy on that side. When within about a mile and a quarter of the enemy he suddenly wheeled and bringing his head in shore presented his starboard battery to me. By this time we were distant about one mile from each other when I opened on him with solid shot to which he replied in a few minutes and the action became active on both sides. The enemy now pressed his ship under a full head of steam and to prevent our passing each other too speedily and to keep our respective broadsides bearing it became necessary to light in a circle the two ships steaming around a common centre and preserving a distance from each other of from three quarters to half a mile. When we got within good shell range we opened upon him with shell Some ten or fifteen minutes after the commencement of the action our spanker gaff was shot away and our ensign came down by the run. This was immediately replaced by another at the mizzen mast head. 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 at the same time in different parts of the ship. Perceiving that our shell, though apparently exploding against the enemy's sides, were doing him but little damage I returned to solid shot firing and from this time onward alternated with shot and shell. After the lapse of about one hour and ten minutes our ship was ascertained to be in a sinking condition the enemy's shell having exploded in our side and between decks opening large apertures through which the water rushed with great rapidity. For some few minutes I had hopes of being able to reach the French coast for which purpose I gave the ship all steam and set such of the fore and aft sails as were available. The ship filled so rapidly however that before we had made much progress the fires were extinguished in the furnaces and we were evidently on the point of sinking I now hauled down my colors to prevent the further destruction of life and dispatched a boat to inform the enemy of our condition. Although we were now but 400 yards from each other the enemy fired upon me five times after my colors had been struck. It is charitable to suppose that a ship of war of a Christian nation could not have done this intentionally. We now directed all our exertions toward saving the wounded and such of the boys of the ship as were unable to swim. These were dispatched in my quarter boats the only boats remaining to me the waist boats having been torn to pieces Some twenty minutes after my furnace fires had been extinguished and when the ship was on the point of settling every man in obedience to a previous order which had been given the crew jumped overboard and endeavored to save himself. There was no appearance of any boat coming to me from the enemy until after my ship went down. Fortunately however the steam yacht Deerhound owned by a gentleman of Lancashire England, Mr John Lancaster, who was himself on board steamed up in the midst of my drowning men and rescued a number of both officers and men from the water I was fortunate enough myself thus to escape to the shelter of the neutral flag together with about forty others all told. About this time the Kearsarge sent one and then tardily another boat. Accompanying you will find lists of the killed and wounded and of those who were picked up by the Deerhound the remainder there is reason to hope were picked up by the enemy and by a couple of French pilot boats which were also fortunately near the scene of action. At the end of the engagement it was discovered by those of our officers who went alongside of the enemy's ship with the wounded that her midship section on both sides was thoroughly iron coated, this having been done with chains 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 This planking had been ripped off in every direction by our shot and shell, the chain broken and indented in many places and forced partly into the ship's side. She was effectually guarded however in this section from penetration. The enemy was much damaged in other parts but to what extent it is now impossible to say. It is believed he is badly crippled. My officers and men behaved steadily and gallantly and though they have lost their ship they have not lost honor. Where all behaved so well it would be invidious to particularize, but I cannot deny myself the pleasure of saying that Mr Kell, my first lieutenant, deserves great credit for the fine condition in which the ship went into action with regard to her battery magazine and shell rooms and that he rendered me great assistance by his coolness and judgment as the fight proceeded. The enemy was heavier than myself both in ship battery and crew, but I did not know until the action was over that she was also iron clad. Our total loss in killed and wounded is 30 to wit 9 killed and 21 wounded.
Published with detailed annotations and explanations in:
Service afloat: or, The remarkable career of the Confederate cruisers Sumter and Alabama, during the war between the states. Raphael Semmes. Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle, Rivington. London. 1887.
(This book is available for free through Google Books.)