Capt. Raphael Semmes, C. S. N., with the following officers: Lieuts. John M. Kell, Richard F. Armstrong, Joseph D. Wilson, Arthur Sinclair, and John Low; Surg. Francis L. Gait; Asst. Surg. David H. Llewellyn; Paymaster Clarence R. Yonge; Lieut, of Marines B. K. Howell; Engineers M. J. Freeman, William P. Brooks, S. W. Cummings, Matthew O'Brien, and John W. Pundt; Midshipmen William H. Sinclair, Irvine S. Bulloch, Eugene Maffitt, and Edwin M. Anderson; Master's Mates George T. Fulham and James Evans; Boatswain B. P. McCaskey; Gunner J. O. Cuddy; Carpenter William Robinson; Sailmaker Henry Alcott, and Captain's Clerk William B. Smith.
Captain Semmes first cruised off the Western islands and the banks of Newfoundland, taking many prizes; next off the coast of the United States, and on November 18th he anchored at Port of France, Martinique. From Martinique he went to the Gulf of Mexico, capturing the Pacific Mail company's steamer Ariel on the way. Arriving off Galveston he decoyed the United States steamer Hatteras from the fleet, engaged and sunk her in fifteen minutes, and proceeded to Port Royal, Jamaica, with his prisoners. Sailing from Port Royal, Semmes cruised down the Brazilian coast, and on July 28, 1863, anchored at Saldanha bay. For the remainder of the year he cruised in the straits of Sunda, the China sea, and the Bay of Bengal. From the time of leaving Port Royal to April 27, 1864, the Alabama took some thirty prizes.
On the 11th of June, 1864, she anchored at Cherbourg, France, and on the 19th she went out and engaged the United States steamer Kearsarge, a vessel slightly her superior. After an engagement of about one hour, the Alabama was reduced to a sinking condition. Her loss in killed, wounded and drowned was 40 ; the loss of the Kearsarge was but i killed and 2 wounded. The survivors of the Alabama were saved by her own boats and those of the Kearsarge and the English yacht Deerhound.
