A Chinese Oil Painting of the Sinking of the CSS Alabama

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A Chinese Oil Painting of the Sinking of the CSS Alabama

About the Item

A Chinese Oil Painting of the Sinking of the Alabama at the Battle of Cherboug,
Circa 1865-70

A rare Chinese oil on canvas painting depicting the sinking of the CSS Alabama by the Kearsarge in 1864.

Provenance: Martin Gregory.
After five successful commerce raiding missions in the Atlantic Ocean. CSS Alabama turned into Cherboug Harbor on June 11, 1864. The rebel sloop of war commanded by Captain Raphael Semmes, formerly of CSS Sumter. It was Captain Semmes intention to dry dock his ship and receive repairs at the French port. The Confederate Navy vessel was crewed by about 170. The Alabama had been pursued for two years by the screw sloop -of-war USS Kearsarge , under Captain John Winslow . She was manned by around 150 sailors and officers.
Kearsarge had armor-clad, chain cable triced in tiers along her port and starboard midsections. This armor protection gave the Union warship a good advantage over the rebel raider. On June 14, Kearsarge finally caught up with Alabama as she was receiving repairs. Kearsarge did not attack, instead she waited, initiating a blockade of CSS Alabama in Cherbourg Harbor. Union Captain Winslow telegraphed USS St. Louis to request her assistance. Confederate Captain Semmes used the time to drill his men for the coming battle. On June 19, CSS Alabama, with nowhere else to go, ran up French Navy vessel whose mission was to ensure that the ensuing battle occurred outside the French harbor.

Men aboard USS Kearsarge spotted the incoming Confederate raider and turned about to take the following battle out French territorial waters. Once out she turned around again, hoisted the U.S. Navy Jack and lined up for a broadside. Captain Winslow ordered his gunners to hold their fire until the range closed. CSS Alabama fired the first shots, they are not known to have hit. Eventually Kearsarge was under way and the range closed to within 1,000 yards (900 m) when she fired her first shot. The two warships manouevered on opposite courses throughout the battle. Kearsarge and Alabama made seven spiraling circles around each other's ship, moving southwest in water moving at a current of 3-knots. Both Captain Semmes and Captain Winslow attempted to cross each others bow, hoping to inflict heavy raking fire . The battle continued in this manner for several minutes, in the meantime, on the French Coast, hundreds of Cherbourg citizens watched the battle as it slowly drew closer to a Union victory. Kearsarge armor clad sustained two hits during the engagement.
The gunnery of USS Kearsarge was reportedly more accurate than of the Confederates, she fired slowly well-aimed shots while Alabama fired rapidly. CSS Alabama fired a total of over 370 rounds during the fighting, it is not known how many Kearsarge fired but it is known that she fired much less than the rebels did. Eventually after just over an hour of exchanging artillery fire, Alabama had received shot-holes beneath the waterline from Kearsarge Dahlgren guns and began to sink. Captain Semmes struck the Confederate colors but still the Kearsarge continued firing until a white flag was seen, raised by one of the rebel sailors with his hand. The battle was over so Captain Semmes sent his remaining dinghy to Captain Winslow, to ask for aid.
During the battle, over forty rebel sailors were killed in action or drowned. Another seventy or so were picked up by Kearsarge. Thirty or so were rescued by the Deerhound, a British yacht , which Captain Winslow asked to help evacuate Alabama's crew. Captain Semmes and fourteen of his officers were among the sailors rescued by Deerhound.
For many years after the battle, Confederate Captain Semmes stated that he would never have chosen to test USS Kearsarge had he known of her armor clad protection. CSS Alabama destroyed or captured dozens of Union merchant vessels during her Atlantic cruises, when word of Alabama's sinking reached the northeastern United States, many Northerners were joyful. Edouard Manet produced a painting of the fight, The Battle of the Kearsarge and the Alabama, now at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Dimensions:
Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 29.5 in (74.93 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Canvas
Place of Origin:
China
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1865-70
Condition:
Relined.
Seller Location:
Downingtown, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: VM980171stDibs: U1005278610130