File:The naval history of the United States (1896) (14781324031).jpg

Identifier: navalhistoryofun02abbo (find matches)
Title: The naval history of the United States
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Abbot, Willis J. (Willis John), 1863-1934
Subjects: United States -- History, Naval To 1900
Publisher: New York, Dodd, Mead and company
Contributing Library: University of Massachusetts, Boston
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Boston

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and began getting his ship in shape for the battle. Themen, too, said that they had had a plum-pudding voyage of it so far,and they were perfectly ready for a fight. The forecastle poet was setto work, and soon ground out a song, of which the refrain was, — Were homeward bound, were homeward bound!And soon shall stand on English ground;But, ere our native land we see,We first must fight the Kearsargee. This was the last song made on board the Alabama, and the poet wasnever more seen after the fight with the Kearsargee. The Kearsarge had hardly hove in sight when Capt. Semmes begantaking in coal, and ordered the yards sent down from aloft, and the shipput in trim for action. Outside the breakwater, the Kearsarge wasdoing the same thing. In armament, the two vessels were nearly equal;the Alabama having eight guns to the Kearsarges seven, but theguns of the latter vessel were heavier and of greater range. In the matterof speed, the Kearsarge had a slight advantage. The great advantage
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RESCUE OF CAPT. SEMMES. 715 7l6 . BLUE-JACKETS OF 61. which the Kearsarge had was gained by the forethought of her com-mander, who had chains hung down her sides, protecting the boilers andmachinery. Semmes might easily have done the same thing had theidea occurred to him. It was on Sunday, June 19, that the Alabama started out to the duelthat was to end in her destruction. Though Sunday was Capt. Semmesslucky day, his luck this time seemed to have deserted him. The Ala-bama was accompanied in her outward voyage by a large French iron-clad frigate. The broad breakwater was black with people waiting tosee the fight. The news had spread as far as Paris, and throngs had comedown by special trains to view the great naval duel. A purple haze hungover the placid water, through which could be seen the Kearsarge, withher colors flying defiantly, steaming slowly ahead, and ready for theAlabama to come up. Small steamers on every side followed theAlabama, as near the scene of conflict as they d

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