Kell, John McIntosh (1823-1900) [Account of battle between C.S.S. Alabama and U.S.S. Kearsarge]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04022 Author/Creator: Kell, John McIntosh (1823-1900) Place Written: [s.l.] Type: Autograph manuscript Date: circa 1880 Pagination: 19 p. ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Writes about the battle between the C.S.S. Alabama and U.S.S. Kearsarge, which "took place in the English Channel, about seven miles distant from the port of Cherbourg, France on the 19th day of June 1864." On first and second pages, gives details about the building of the Alabama and its capabilities as "a complete Steamer & Sailing ship" with eight guns. On the third page, describes the Alabama's captain, "the Gallant Semmes, Brainy in intellect, Wiry in build & indefatigable in work." Lists the rest of the crew. From the fifth to the eighth page, describes the action of the Alabama prior to the Battle of Kearsarge. Between the eighth and ninth page, a description of the start of the battle appears to be missing. On the twelfth page, describes how he and the surgeon, Dr. Francis Galt, saved the wounded from the sinking ship before jumping overboard. On the thirteenth page, describes his rescue by the Deerhound, the captain "prompted solely by the Christian obligation of saving human life." Complains of the violence of the Kearsarge's attack once the Alabama had surrendered, and notes that "the battle would never have been fought had [Semmes] known that the Kearsarge wore an armor of chain beneath her outer covering." Writes: "... it took me but a moment to return to the deck & report to the Capt that the ship could not float ten minutes, he replied to me 'Then Sir cease firing, shorten sail and [text loss] down the colors, it will never do in the nineteenth century for us to go down with the colors flying and the deck covered with the gallant wounded'...The Alabama ... her bow high in the air graceful even in her death ... in a moment disappeared from the face of the water, the sea now presented a mass of living heads striving for their lives...."Appears to be a draft written on different types of paper in both ink and pencil.
[excerpts]
the Chief Engineer came on deck & reported that the fires were put out [text loss] could no longer work the Engine, Capt Semmes said to me to go fellow him & see how long the ship can flat ...The opening in the side of the ship ... which the water was fast filling the ship, it took me but a moment to return to the deck & report to the Capt that the ship could not float ten minutes, he replied to me "Then Sir cease firing, shorten sail and [text loss] down the colors, it will never do in the nineteenth century for us to go down with the colors flying and the deck covered with the gallant wounded" ... the Kearsarge deliberately fired into us five shot I ordered the men to stand to this quarter & not to flinch from the shot of the Enemy ... (p. 9)
when the firing [started] Capt. Semmes ordered me to dispatch an officer ... to say that our ship was sinking & to ask that they send a boat to save our wounded ... no boats appearing I ordered one of the quarter boats toward which was slightly injured fortunately she was not as badly damaged as she appeared & floated sufficiently to take the wounded. Dr Galt the Surgeon who was in charge of the magazine & shell room Division came on deck at the that moment & was at once put in charge of the boat with orders to take the wounded to the Kearsarge & [text loss] off just in time to save the poor fellows from going down in the Ship ... the order we now given for every man to jump overboard ... to save himself from the sinking ship as soon as the decks were cleared save the bodies of the dead I returned to the Stem port where stood Capt. Semmes with one or two of the men & his faithful Steward who poor fellow was doomed to watery grave as he could not swim ... The Alabama ... launching her bow high in the air graceful even in her death ... she in a moment disappeared from the face of the water, the sea now presented a mass of living heads striving for their lives, many poor fellows for the want of timely aid found a watery grave; near me I saw on a float of empty shell boxes & called to our men, a good swimmer to examine it he did so & replied, it is the Dr, Sir, dead ...(p.12)
our crew in the boat ... were alongside of a little steam yacht which had steered into the midst of our floating men & by throwing them ropes were getting them on board so fast as possible thus saving many lives, prompted solely by the Christian obligation of saving human life upon reaching the deck. ... in looking around I saw two French pilot boats engaged saving our crew & [illegible] two boats from the Kearsarge engaged in like manner to my surprise I found on board if the yacht Mr. Fulton, who had dispatched ... that boats be sent to save our wounded he reported to ma that our shot had literally tore the [illegible] from the chain armor of the Kearsarge indenting the chain in many places, which explained satisfactorily Capt. Semmes observation of the effect of our shot upon the Enemy that they struck the sides & fell into the water; Capt [Winelow?] in his report states I think that his ship was struck 28 times, and I doubt if the Alabama was struck a greater number of times ... he told in [assisting] that had not the Kearsarge been protected by the iron cables the result of the fight would have been different. (p. 13)
The Kearsarge came into action magnificently ... she took her own position & fought gallantly, but the sequel to the fight must also be told with candor, trusting the public opinion after the lapse of 20 years can judge dispassionately at the close of the action, for the Alabama had ceased firing & hauled down her colors, the Kearsarge continued to fire shot deliberately into us - again thus was our response to our request that boats be sent to the wounded ... if actions speak louder than words, the mission of the Kearsarge was to destroy, not to save ... the boat worked heroically until every man was saved that was afloat on the waters ... (p. 14)
the battle would never have been fought had [Semmes] known that the Kearsarge wore an armor of chain beneath her outer covering: Thus was the Alabama lost by error [struck: in judgment] if you please it must be admitted a most pardonable one ... (p.16)
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