“You have, at length, another opportunity of meeting the enemy—­the first that has been presented to you since you sunk the Hatteras!  In the meantime, you have been all over the world, and it is not too much to say that you have destroyed, and driven for protection under neutral flags, one-half of the enemy’s commerce, which, at the beginning of the war, covered every sea.  This is an achievement of which you may well be proud; and a grateful country will not be unmindful of it.  The name of your ship has become a household word wherever civilization extends.  Shall that name be tarnished by defeat?  The thing is impossible!  Remember that you are in the English Channel, the theatre of so much of the naval glory of our race, and that the eyes of all Europe are at this moment upon you.  The flag that floats over you is that of a young republic, which bids defiance to her enemy’s, whenever and wherever found.  Show the world that you know how to uphold it.  Go to your quarters."[16]

[Footnote 16:  The above is a correct report of Captain Semmes’ address on this occasion.  Various statements have appeared as to the way in which it was continued:  received.  Captain Semmes states, “The only replies that were made were shouts from the seamen of ‘Never! never!’ when I spoke of the name of their ship being tarnished by defeat.”]

It took three-quarters of an hour for the Alabama to come within range of the Kearsarge.  At the distance of one mile, the Alabama opened fire with solid shot.  The Kearsarge took time to reply.  After ten minutes the firing was sharp on both sides.

According to the statement of the Captain of the Kearsarge, her battery consisted of seven guns—­to wit, two 11-inch Dahlgrens—­very powerful pieces of ordnance; four 32 pounders, one light rifle 28 pounder.  She went into action with a crew of 162 officers and men.

The armament of the Alabama consisted of one 7-inch Blakeley rifled gun, one 8-inch smooth-bore pivot gun, six 32 pounders, smooth-bore, in broadside.  The Alabama’s crew numbered not more than 120.  On this head Captain Winslow speaks erroneously.  He sets down the Alabama’s crew at 150 officers and men.  The Alabama had a formidable piece in the Blakeley rifled gun, but she was destitute of steel shot.

It will thus be seen that there was inequality between the antagonists.  Captain Winslow speaks of the Alabama having “one gun more” than the Kearsarge.  His two great Dahlgrens gave the balance altogether in his favour.  But in an estimate of the rival capabilities of the two vessels, the deteriorated speed of the Alabama should be considered as her principal weakness.  Cherbourg had done little to repair the copper of her bottom, which spread out in broad fans and seriously impeded her cutting of the water; and it had been found impossible to do more than to patch up the boilers for the day’s business.  They were not in a state to inspire the engineers with confidence.  The Kearsarge,