The wounded of the two vessels were transferred shortly after the action
to the Naval Hospital at Cherbourg. I paid a visit to that establishment
on the Sunday following the engagement, and found the sufferers lying in
comfortable beds alongside each other in a long and admirably ventilated
ward on the first floor. Poor Gowen, who died the following Tuesday, was
in great pain, and already had the seal of death upon his face. James
McBeath, a young fellow of apparently twenty years, with a compound
fracture of the leg, chatted with much animation; while Dempsey, the stump
of his right arm laid on the pillow, was comfortably smoking a cigar, and
laughing and talking with one of the Alabama crew, in the bed alongside
him. The wounded men of the sunken privateer were unmistakably English in
physiognomy, and I failed to discover any who were not countrymen of ours.
I conversed with all of them, stating at the outset that I was an
Englishman like themselves, and the information seemed to open their
hearts to me. They represented themselves as very comfortable at the
hospital, that every thing they asked for was given to them, and that
they were surprised at the kindness of the Kearsarge men who came to visit
the establishment, when they were assured by their own officers before the
action that foul treatment would only be shown them in the event of their
capture. Condoling with one poor fellow who had his leg carried away by a
shell, he remarked to me, "Ah, it serves me right! they won't catch me
fighting again without knowing what I'm fighting for." "That's me too,"
said another poor Englishman alongside of him.
The paroled prisoners (four officers) on shore at Cherbourg, evinced no
hostility whatever to their captors, but were always on the friendliest of
terms with them. All alike frequented the same hotel in the town
(curiously enough--"The Eagle,") played billiards at the same _café_, and
bought their pipes, cigars, and tobacco from the same pretty little
_brunette_ on the _Quai du Port_.
The following are the names of the officers and crew of the Alabama, saved
by the Kearsarge:
Francis L. Galt, of Virginia, Assistant Surgeon.
Joseph Wilson, Third Lieutenant.
Miles J. Freeman, Engineer, _Englishman_.
John W. Pundt, Third Assistant Engineer.
Benjamin L. McCaskey, Boatswain.
William Forrestall, Quartermaster, _Englishman_.
Thomas Potter, Fireman, "
Samuel Williams, " _Welshman_.
Patrick Bradley, " _Englishman_.
John Orrigin, Fireman, _Irishman_.
George Freemantle, Seaman, _Englishman_.
Edgar Tripp, " "
John Neil, " "
Thomas Winter, Fireman, "
Martin King, Seaman.
Joseph Pearson, " "
James Hicks, Capt. Hold, "
R. Parkinson, Wardroom Steward, "
John Emory, Seaman, "
Thomas L. Parker, boy, "
Peter Hughes, Capt. Top, "
(All the above belonged to the Alabama when she first sailed from the
Mersey, and John Neil, John Emory, and Peter Hughes belong to the "Royal
Naval Reserve.")
Seamen.--William Clark, David Leggett, Samuel Henry, John Russell, John
Smith, Henry McCoy, Edward Bussell, James Ochure, John Casen, Henry
Higgin, Frank Hammond, Michael Shields, David Thurston, George Peasey,
Henry Yates.
Ordinary Seamen.--Henry Godsen, David Williams, Henry Hestlake, Thomas
Watson, John Johnson, Match Maddock, Richard Evans, William Miller, George
Cousey, Thomas Brandon.
Coxswains.--William McKenzie, James Broderick, William Wilson.
Edward Rawes, Master-at-Arms.
Henry Tucker, Officers' Cook.
William Barnes, Quarter-gunner.
Jacob Verbor, Seaman, }
Robert Wright, Capt. M. Top, } _Wounded_.
Wm. McGuire, Capt. F. Top, }
Wm. McGinley, Coxswain, }
John Benson, Coal-Heaver.
James McGuire, "
Frank Currian, Fireman.
Peter Laperty, "
John Riley, "
Nicholas Adams, Landsman.
James Clemens, Yeoman.
James Wilson, Boy.
These men, almost without exception, are subjects of Her Majesty the
Queen. There were also three others, who died in the boats, names not
known.
The following are those reported to have been killed or drowned:
David Herbert Llewellyn, Surgeon, _Welshman_.
William Robinson, Carpenter.
James King, Master-at-Arms, _Savannah Pilot_.
Peter Duncan, Fireman, _Englishman_.
Andrew Shillings, _Scotchman_.
Charles Puist, Coal-passer, _German_.
Frederick Johns, Purser's Steward, _Englishman_.
Samuel Henry, Seaman, "
John Roberts, " _Welshman_.
Peter Henry, " _Irishman_.
George Appleby, Yeoman, _Englishman_.
A. G. Bartelli, Seaman, _Portuguese_.
Henry Fisher, " _Englishman_.
The above all belonged to the original crew of the Alabama.
The Deerhound carried off, according to her own account, forty-one; the
names of the following are known:
Raphael Semmes, Captain.
John M. Kell, First Lieutenant.
Arthur Sinclair, Jun., Second Lieutenant.
R. K. Howell, Lieutenant of Marines.
(This person is brother-in-law of Mr. Jefferson Davis.)
W. H. Sinclair, Midshipman.
J. S. Bullock, Acting Master.
E. A. Maffit, Midshipman.
E. M. Anderson, "
M. O'Brien, Third Assistant Surgeon.
George T. Fullam, Master's Mate, _Englishman_.
James Evans, "
Max Meulnier, "
J. Schrader, "
W. B. Smith, Captain's Clerk.
J. O. Cuddy, Gunner.
J. G. Dent, Quartermaster.
James McFadgen, Fireman, _Englishman_.
Orran Duffy, Fireman, _Irishman_.
W. Crawford, _Englishman_.
Brent Johnson, Second Boat Mate, "
William Nevins, "
William Hearn, Seaman, "