There is a great colored steel engraving of the engagement on the cover of sheet music to "The Last of the Alabama," by "Eastburn," in the Levy Sheet Music Collection.

Interesting reading is the illustrated article from Century Magazine (in American Memory) by the surgeon of the Gunboat, John M. Browne, "The Duel Between the Alabama and the Kearsarge," He had this to say about the crews of the two ships:

"Most of the line officers of the Kearsarge were from the merchant service, and of the crew, only eleven were of foreign birth. Most of the officers of the Alabama were formerly officers in the United States Navy; nearly all the crew were English, Irish and Welsh, a few of whom were said to belong to the "Royal Naval Reserve."
Several quotes from Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, are included in the article.

The Union side bitterly resented the support and supplies given to the Confederacy by the British; this shows strongly in some of the broadsides about the Kearsarge-Alabama engagement.

The two vessels were about equal in tonnage and length (about 1000 tons and 1020-1030 feet in length. Captain Semmes of the Alabama in his report remarked on the steel plating of the Kearsarge, which was damaged but saved that ship.
Not mentioned in the songs are two French pilot boats, which saved some men. Seventy men were taken aboard the Kearsarge, including five officers. A 2nd Lt. Armstrong of the Alabama had refused to escape on the Deerhound (a British yacht) and was taken into parole by Captain Winslow at Cherbourg, where one of the pilot boats had taken him. Capt. Winslow of the Kearsarge gave him a letter of commendation for his conduct.


Alabama's assistant surgeon, a Dr. Llewellyn, is praised for the assistance he gave to the wounded. He was one of the last to leave the sinking ship, and was drowned. His father was a "British rector."