But within a few days the U. S. steamer Kearsarge, commanded by capt. Winslow, a former shipmate of capt. Semmes, arrived at Cherbourg; and she made a demonstration which the officers and crew of the A.—writhing under the abuse that had been heaped upon them, and aware that their career had been inglorious—regarded and resented as a challenge. Capt. Semmes knew and probably shared their feelings, and determined to gratify them. He sent notice to the U. S. consul that he would sail out and fight the Kearsarge. The two ships were to appearance not unequally matched, in reality the Kearsarge had considerably the advantage in number of crew, armament, speed, and gen eral condition; besides, that she was protected amid-ships by armor. The fact of her being thus protected, and the extent of her superiority, seem to have been unknown to capt. Semmes. The fight took place on Sunday, the 10th of June, outside the port of Cherbourg, all Cherbourg gazing at it from the neighboring heights. The Kearsarge hav ing the superiority in sailing, was able to keep at a distance of about 500 yds. from her enemy; her armor in a great measure protected her from the enemy's shot; and, as might be expected. her guns were better served than those of the A. Before the fight had lasted an hour, capt. Semmes found his ship was sinking, and gave orders to pull down his flag. The boats were got out and the wounded placed in them; but before the Kemsarge could come to the rescue the A. went to the bottom. The boats of the Kear sarge saved many of the crew. Others, including capt. Semmes, were picked up by an
English yacht, the Deerhound, which had been allowed by capt. Winslow to help in res cuing the A.'s crew. These the Deerhound immediately carried within the neutral juris diction. Semmes and the others saved by this vessel were afterwards charged with hav ing broken their faith as prisoners who had asked for quarter from the Aearsarge. As regards the Deerhound, the seamen of the A., once upon its deck, were entitled to the protection of Great Britain, and no previous compact could have deprived them of it.- See 2 he Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter, compiled from the papers of capt. Semmes.
The "Alabama question" was fairly raised in the winter of 1862-63, when Mr. Seward, in his diplomatic correspondence, declared that the Union held itself entitled at a suitable time to demand full compensation for the damages inflicted on American prop erty by the Anglo-rebel vessels; sod the question never ceased to be a source of irrita tion between the two peoples till its final settlement by special tribunal of arbitration. This court, consisting of the representatives of England and the United States, and of three other members appointed by the king of Italy, the president of the Swiss confederation. and the emperor of Brazil, met at Geneva, 17th Dec., 1871, and, the claim for indirect damages to American commerce having been allowed to drop, gave its final award, 15th Sep., 1872. It was decreed that Great Britain should pay a sum of a,22,9,166 138. 4d.