taking effect in the hammock-netting, the othergoing through the opposite port, yet none werehit. A shell exploded in the hammock-netting andset the ship on fire; the alarm calling for fire-quar-ters was sounded, and men who had heen detailedfor such an emergency put out the fire, while therest staid at the guns.
It is wonderful that so few casualties occurredon "board the Kearsarge, considering the number onth & Alabama — the former having fired 173 shot andshell, and the latter nearly double that number.The Kearsarge concentrated her fire, and poured inthe 11-inch shells with deadly effect. One pene-trated the coal-bunker of the Alabama , and a densecloud of coal-dust arose. Others struck near thewater-line between the main and mizzen masts,exploded within board, or, passing through, burstbeyond. Crippled and torn, the Alabama movedless quickly and began to settle by the stern, yetdid not slacken her fire, but returned successivebroadsides without disastrous result to us.
Captain Semmes witnessed the havoc made bythe shells, especially by those of our after pivot-gun, and offered a reward to any one who wouldsilence it. Soon his battery was turned upon thisparticular offending gun. It was in vain, for thework of destruction went on. We had completedthe seventh rotation on the circular track andhad begun the eighth, when the Alabama , nowsettling, sought to escape by setting all availablesail (fore-trysail and two jibs), left the circle amida shower of shot and shell, and headed for theFrench waters; but to no purpose. In winding,the Alabama presented the port battery, with onlytwo guns bearing, and showed gaping sides, throughwhich the water washed. The Kearsarge pursued,
William smith, quartermaster oe the “ kearsarge ’and captain of the after pivot-gun, which it was
SAID INFLICTED THE MOST DAMAGE ON THE “ALA-BAMA .” FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN 1864.
keeping on a line nearer the shore, and with a fewwell-directed shots hastened the sinking. Thenthe Alabama was at our mercy. Her colors were
JAMES R. WHEELER, ACTING MASTER OF THE “KEAR-SARGE,” IN CHARGE OF THE FORWARD PIVOT-GUN.FROM A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE OFFICERS TAKEN IN 1864.
struck, and the Kearsarge ceased firing. I wastold by our prisoners that two of the junior offi-cers swore they would never surrender, and ina mutinous spirit rushed to the two port guns andopened fire upon the Kearsarge. [See page 610.]Captain "Winslow, amazed at this extraordinaryconduct of an enemy who had hauled down his flagin token of surrender, exclaimed, “ He is playingus a trick; give him another broadside.” Againthe shot and shell went crashing through her sides,and the Alabama continued to settle by the stern.The Kearsarge was laid across her bows for raking,and in position to use grape and canister.
A white flag was then shown over the stern ofthe Alabama and her ensign was half-masted, uniondown. Captain Winslow for the second time gaveorders to cease firing. Thus ended the fight, aftera duration of one hour and two minutes. CaptainSemmes, in his report, says: “Although we werenow but four hundred yards from each other, theenemy fired upon me five times after my colors hadbeen struck. It is charitable to suppose that aship-of-war of a Christian nation could not havedone this intentionally.” He is silent as to therenewal by the Alabama of the fight after his sur-render — an act which, in Christian warfare, wouldhave justified the Kearsarge in continuing the fireuntil the Alabama had sunk beneath the waters.
Boats were now lowered from the Alabama . Hermaster’s-mate, Fullam, an Englishman, came along-side the Kearsarge with a few of the wounded,reported the disabled and sinking condition of hisship, and asked for assistance. Captain Winslowinquired, “Does Captain Semmes surrender hisship?” “Yes,” was the reply. Fullam then so-licited permission to return with his boat and crewto assist in rescuing the drowning, pledging his