Origina Poetry. THE GREAT NAVAL DUEL

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2096, 27 August 1864, Page 1

Origina Poetry.

THE GREAT NAVAL DUEL

Sing the glorious naval duel, When the Alabama got From a Federal ship her gruel, Sinking, riddled liy the shot; Her commander made a hlundur When he left the Cherbourg shore, " Guess he waa chawed up, by thunder," And his vessel ia no more. Homilies and sermons scorning, Eager for the murd'rous strife, Out they go one Sunday morning With designs on human life ; While a French ship is retiring, With the two to sea fair play; They must not commence the tiring 'Till from shore a league away. Now begins the naval battle, Alabama opens fire ; Winslow's twelve-inch Dahlgrens rattle, Doubtless to his heart's desire ; And his ship is iron-plated, Semmes of this wa9 not aware; To defeat that hero 's fated, Still he fights midst grim despair. Shells ara bursting all around them, No Confederate tries to shirk, Wounded sorely, still Death found them Faithful to the bloody work ; One man's arm a shot then shatters, But his duty isn't done, •Tis a limb less, but what matters, Still the bravo man Berves his gun. Goes on the unequal slaughter While the Alabama floats, Not till guns sink in the water Do her men take to the boata ; Their fierce rage is quite untiring, While the vessel settles down The Confederates keep on firing, Then jump in the sea to drown. There's the steam-sloop Deerhound viewing. This fell strife a mile away, Drowning men she's now rescuing, Precious lives she saves this day. Semmes is sinking; hard though trying But in vain to keep afloat, 11 Save me for I drown" he's crying, And he's dragged into the boat. 11 Take me quick on board your yacht now Save me from the Federal crew, Hide me in a secret spot now, And my blessings be on you." To be caught he'd no ambition, Of the Kearsarge he fights shy, Fearing in his moist condition, They might han Blum tip to dry. Licker up each Northern Yankee, As your journals ye peruse; New York will go nearly cranky, No doubt, when it hears the news; Not because of the correction, Th' Alabama napp'd that day, But of course at the reflection, Captain Semmes has got away. Spec. Wellington, 22nd Aug., 1804.