When the two ships were within a third of a mile of each other the fire became terrible; but from the first that of the _Kearsarge_ was more accurate and did vast damage.
This was impressively shown by the fact that although the _Kearsarge_ fired only 173 shots during the fight, nearly every one struck the _Alabama_, which fired 370, of which only 28 landed.
One of the _Alabama's_ 60-pound Blakely shells passed through the bulwarks of the _Kearsarge_, and, bursting on the quarter deck, wounded three men, of whom William Gowin was mortally hurt.

When carried to the surgeon, the intensely suffering man smiled.

"We are whipping the _Alabama_," he said, "and I am willing to give my life for such a victory." Another Confederate shell burst in the hammock nettings and started a fire, which was easily extinguished.

A third lodged in the sternpost, but failed to explode.

Had it done so, its effect would have been terrific.