An Englishman's View of the Battle between the Alabama and the Kearsarge: An Account of the Naval Engagement in the British Channel, on Sunday June 19th, 1864

In Short

This historical report reconstructs the famous Civil War naval duel fought off Cherbourg, France, on June 19, 1864, between the U.S.S. Kearsarge and the Confederate raider Alabama. Written by an English observer who boarded the victor days after the fight, the text dismantles pervasive rumors regarding the vessels' sizes, armaments, and defenses. By combining technical measurements, official logs, and interviews with surviving sailors in hospital wards, the work endures as a primary record of early steam-powered iron-and-canvas warfare and a sharp critique of British press bias during the American conflict.

The Story

The narrative begins immediately after the sinking of the Confederate privateer Alabama off the port of Cherbourg. In the days following the battle, British newspapers and public rumors attempt to explain away the defeat of Captain Raphael Semmes by alleging that his vessel was outmatched by an iron-clad, heavily manned Federal warship. Seeking the truth, an English investigator travels from London to France to inspect the U.S.S. Kearsarge directly. Contrary to reports on shore that the vessel is closed to the public, Captain John A. Winslow welcomes visitors aboard. The author finds the Kearsarge sitting at anchor nearly undamaged, looking less like a battle-scarred warship and more like an ordinary yacht.

Through careful measurement and access to ship logs, the text systematically compares the two antagonists. The hulls and steam engines of both ships prove remarkably equal in tonnage, horsepower, and dimensions. In fact, the Alabama carried more guns, while the Kearsarge relied heavily on two 11-inch smooth-bore Dahlgren pivot guns. The author refutes Semmes's claim that he was unaware of the Kearsarge being iron-coated, presenting log entries showing that the Federal ship had hung ordinary sheet chain along its midsection a year prior, boxed in with thin pine boards that were clearly visible to any observer. Furthermore, this improvised armor was hit only once during the entire battle.

The battle itself is reconstructed through official logs, letters, and eyewitness testimony. Semmes initiated the challenge via a written note to a local French agent, lingering in Cherbourg for several days while securing his captured plunder on shore. On the morning of Sunday, June 19, the Alabama steamed out past French waters, accompanied by the French iron-clad La Couronne to enforce neutrality, and trailed closely by an English yacht, the Deerhound. The Kearsarge turned to meet her, taking deliberate, cool aim, while the Alabama fired rapidly and inaccurately.

Within sixty-two minutes, the heavy 11-inch shells from the Kearsarge tore massive gaps in the Alabama's hull. As the privateer began settling by the stern, her colors were struck. The Deerhound rushed in to pick up Semmes and several officers, rapidly fleeing toward Southampton rather than transferring the rescued men to the victorious Federal vessel. The author concludes by analyzing the wounded in Cherbourg hospitals and highlighting how the engagement demonstrated the clear superiority of American heavy naval artillery over European ordnance.

How It Unfolds

The journey to Cherbourg Prompted by conflicting accounts in the British press, the writer travels to the French coast to inspect the U.S.S. Kearsarge firsthand. He finds the ship lying at anchor near the French line-of-battle ship Napoleon, suffering minimal damage and fully open to public inspection.

Deconstructing the ships' specs A side-by-side comparison of dimensions, tonnage, and horsepower proves that both vessels were nearly identical in physical proportions. The author examines the logs and machinery, noting that the Kearsarge maintained excellent mechanical health without requiring shore repairs.

Exposing the chain-armor myth The writer examines the sheet chains hung over the Kearsarge's midsection, revealing they were simple anchor cables installed months earlier for seventy-five dollars. He proves that Confederate Captain Semmes was fully aware of this feature before issuing his challenge.

Reconstructing the Sunday combat The text details the hour-long duel, contrasting the rapid, erratic fire of the Alabama's British-trained gunners with the measured, devastating strikes of the Kearsarge's 11-inch Dahlgrens. The action ends as the Alabama fills with water and plunges into forty fathoms.

Interviews in the hospital Visiting the naval hospital at Cherbourg, the author speaks with wounded sailors from both sides lying in adjacent beds. He discovers that the majority of the Alabama's crew were English subjects who expressed regret over fighting without understanding their cause.

The People

• Captain John A. Winslow

The commander of the U.S.S. Kearsarge, a citizen of Massachusetts who leads his crew with calm restraint. He seeks to execute his duty efficiently without unnecessary bloodshed, leaving his decks loaded with unused grape and canister shot, and opening his vessel to complete public scrutiny after the victory.

• Captain Raphael Semmes

The commander of the Confederate privateer Alabama, known for his aggressive raids against Northern merchant ships. He seeks to maintain his heroic reputation by challenging the Kearsarge, but later attempts to excuse his defeat by falsely claiming ignorance of his opponent's structural advantages and crew size.

• Frederick Milnes Edge

The author and narrator, an English gentleman who travels to France to investigate the battle independently. He seeks to correct press distortions using direct physical evidence, vessel logs, and hospital interviews, dedicating his written work to the United States Sanitary Commission.

• John M. Browne

The surgeon aboard the Kearsarge, who provides meticulous medical reports detailing the injuries sustained by the Federal crew during the action, including those of seamen Dempsey, Gowen, and McBeath.

• Mr. Lancaster

The owner of the English yacht Deerhound, who observes the battle from a close distance and subsequently rescues Captain Semmes and key officers from the water, fleeing to Southampton rather than surrendering them to the victors.

In Its Own Voice

"I had thus full opportunity to examine the extent of her damage, and she certainly did not look at all like a vessel which had just been engaged in one of the hottest conflicts of modern times."

Upon reaching the Kearsarge in Cherbourg harbor, the author notes how remarkably unscathed the victorious Federal ship appears after her historic duel.

"Confound them; they've been fighting twenty minutes, and they're as cool as posts."

Captain Semmes expresses his frustration midway through the engagement upon realizing that the crew of the Kearsarge remains entirely unbothered by his rapid opening salvos.

"Ah, it serves me right! they won't catch me fighting again without knowing what I'm fighting for."

A wounded English sailor lying in the Cherbourg hospital reflects bitterly to the author on his decision to join the Confederate privateer's crew.

What It's Really About

Beneath the tactical account of naval broadsides, the book is an argument for objective truth over political spin. Writing for a British audience heavily influenced by pro-Confederate press coverage, the author exposes how narrative distortion takes root in wartime. He systematically dismantles excuses made for the Alabama's defeat, showing that failure stemmed not from unfair odds, but from overconfidence and inferior gunnery.

The text also addresses the broader technological shift in 19th-century naval warfare. By contrasting European rifled guns with heavy American smooth-bores, it highlights the dawn of modern steam-powered artillery. Finally, it highlights the moral contradiction of British sailors taking up arms for the Confederate cause, revealing how ordinary working seamen were drawn into a foreign war without understanding the ideological stakes.

Why Read It Today

This concise historical document appeals to military history enthusiasts, naval buffs, and readers interested in Civil War diplomacy. It offers a rare, real-time slice of investigative reporting written just weeks after the event took place. Rather than relying on second-hand accounts, the text draws its strength from immediate physical inspection, logbook transcriptions, and raw conversations with surviving combatants on both sides.

The reading experience is crisp, fast-paced, and filled with technical details regarding broadsides, coal tonnage, and shell trajectory. The tone remains surprisingly objective and analytical, though the author does not hide his disdain for press fabrications and the dubious neutrality of the English yacht Deerhound. Readers should expect historical naval terminology, precise artillery measurements, and period-specific list formats containing crew rosters and casualty records. Its lasting value lies in its refusal to print rumors, choosing instead to let physical evidence, hospital interviews, and official ship logs settle a bitter international controversy.

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