Page 526. Kearsarge. On Sunday morning, June 19, 1864, the noise of the cannons during the fight between the Kearsarge and the Alabama was heard in English churches near the Channel.—Author's note.
Page 527. Though unequal in strength. The Kearsarge had a displacement of 1031 tons, carried a crew of 163, and mounted seven guns, throwing 366 pounds. The Alabama was of 1016 tons displacement, carried a crew of 149 and eight guns, throwing 328 pounds. The ships were remarkably well matched.
Page 527. Shall shine in tradition the valor of Semmes. A bitter controversy followed the fight as to whether the Alabama actually surrendered. The preponderance of evidence shows that her colors were hauled down and a white flag displayed a few minutes before she sank. The British steam yacht Deerhound picked up forty-two men, including Semmes and fourteen officers, and made off with them to Southampton. The British Government afterwards refused to surrender these men. It is consoling to reflect that England's aid to Confederate privateers cost her, in the end, over fifteen million dollars.
Page 527. Craven. Craven has been called the Sidney of the American navy. His pilot's name was John Collins, and as the Tecumseh was going down, he and Craven met at the foot of the ladder leading to the top of the turret. Craven stepped back, saying, "After you, Pilot." As the pilot reached the top round of the ladder, the vessel seemed "to drop from under him," and no one followed. A buoy marks the spot.
Page 528. Sidney. Sir Philip Sidney, who is said to have refused a cup of water while lying mortally wounded on the battlefield of Zutphen, in order to give it to a wounded soldier.
Page 528. Nelson. Admiral Horatio Nelson. The reference is to the Battle of the Nile, where Nelson was severely wounded.
Page 528. Lucas. A young English captain, who was imprisoned by Hyder Ali in 1780. To relieve a wounded comrade, Captain Baird, he assumed two sets of chains.
Page 528. Outram. Sir James Outram, who, in admiration for the brilliant deeds of his subordinate, General Havelock, conceded him the glory of relieving Lucknow, in 1857, waiving his own rank and tendering his services as a volunteer.
Page 530. The Bay Fight. Farragut took only a short vacation after his triumphant "River Fight," and began at once to prepare for another desperate encounter. The defences of Mobile were among the strongest in the South. Three forts, mounting seventy-one guns, guarded the channel, which was further defended by a double row of torpedoes, one hundred and eighty in number. Besides this, there was in the bay itself a Confederate fleet of four vessels, one of which was the great ram Tennessee.
Farragut's fleet was the most formidable collection of war vessels that had ever been assembled under command of one man. It surpassed in power for destruction the combined English, French, and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar. Yet, in spite of the desperate nature of the struggle which followed, the loss was less than in many a skirmish on land, that in the Union fleet being 52 killed and 170 wounded, besides 93 drowned in the Tecumseh, while the Confederate loss was only 12 killed and 20 wounded.