Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-02-20
The Sinking of the Hatteras.


U. s. Consulate, KRstoa Jamdiea i'm. al, j
lS63-Sir;-lt is my painful duty to inform
the Department OF the destruction of the U. S.
steamer Hniteras, recently under my command,
by the confederate steamer Alabama, on the
night Of the lth inst, oil the coast Of Texas.
The circumstances Of the disaster ARE as follows
Upon the afternoon Of the 10Th inst at 30 o.,
clock. while at nuchor, ia company with the ieet
under Commodore Bell, oil, the cpast of Texas,
was ordered, by signal, from the U. s. flag shin
Brooklyn to chase a sail to The southward and
eastward got under way Immediately and
steamed with all speed in the direction indicaied
After some time the strange sail coull be seen
from the lintteTns, and was asoertained tn he IL
steamer, which fact communicated to the flag
ship by sgual. / contiDued the chase. aud
rapidly gained upon the suspicious vessel,
Knowing the slow rate of speed OF the flatterns,
] at once suspected that deception was being
praciised, and hence Immediately ordered the
ship to be cleared for action, with everything 10
readiness for determined attack and vigorous
defence. When within about four miles Of the
vessel observed she had CEASED stenming, and
was lying brOadsde on, awaiting us ID was
nearly seven O'Clock, and quite dark but, not
wilhstanding the obscuriy of the night, felt
assured from the general character of the vessel
and her mdheuvering, that should soon epcOun.
4
Being able to work but tour guns upon the
side Of the lIatteras, two short 32,pounders, one
SO-pounder, and one 20 pounder rifed gun, /
concluded to close with Ler in order that nv
guns might be effective If necessary. | came
within easy speaking range, about IS yards, and
upon asking what steamer is that, receiving the
answer, cher Britanic AI0jes;y steamer Vixen.
rephed that would send n boat aboard, and
Immediately gave the order. ln the meantine
both vessels were changing their positions the
stranger endeavoring to gain u desirable position
for a rakng fire, Almost simultaneously with
the passing away of the boat the strange craft
again replied, tive ars the c1nfsd ,rats steamer
Alabama, which was accompanied with brOad.
side. Mt the same moment returned the fire,
Beng well aware Of the many vulnerable points
of the Hatteras, hoped, by closing with the
Alabama, 10 be able to board her, aud thus rid
the seas of this piratical craft steamed direct
y for the Alabama, but she was enabled, by her
great speed mud the foulness OF the bottom Of the
liatteras, and consequently her diminished speed,
to thwArt my attempt when had gained a dis
tsnce of but thirty yards from her. At this
range mnsket aud pistol shots were exchanged.
The firing continued with great vgor on both
sides. Al length shell entered amidships in
the hold, setting FIRE to it, aud at the same in
stant as | can hardly divide the time, IA shell
passed through the sick bay, exploding in anoth.
er compartment, also producing fire another
entered the cylinder, filling the engine room aud
deck with steam, aud depriving me of any power
to mangnvre the vessel or work the pumps,
upon which the reduction of the fire depended,
With the vessel on free in two places, and beyond
human power helpless wreck upon the water.
with her walking beam shot away and her engine
rendered useless, still maintained an active fire
with double hope Of disabling the Alabama and
attracting the attention Of the fleet off Galveston.
which was only twenty eight miles distant.
1t was soon reported 10 me that the shells Ind
entered the Hatteras at the water line, tearing
off entire sheets of iron, aud that the wafer was
rushing in, utterly defying every attempt TO
remedy the evil and that she was rApidlv sink.
ing. Learning this melancholy truth, and OBJ
serving thnt tho Alabama Was on my port bow
entirely beyond the range of the guns, and
doubtless preparing for araking fire Of the deck,
felt that had no right to sacrifice uselessly
and without any desirable result the lives OF al
under my command 70 prevent tho blowing
up of the llatteras from the fire which was
making much progress, ordered the magazine
to be flooded and afterwards lee gun to be frei.
The Alabama then asked II assistance was
desired to which an affirmative answer was
given, The Haterns was now going down. and
in order to save the lives Of my officers and men
caused the armament on the port side 10 he
thrown overheard. Had | not done so am
confident that tbs vessel would have game down
with many brave hearts and valuable liveu
After considerable delay caused by report
that a steamer was coming from Galveston, the
! Alabama sent us assistance, and | have the
pleasure to inform the Department that every
living being was conveyed safely from the Hat
taras to the Alabama. Ten minutes after
leaving the llatteras she went down tow first.
with her penuant at her mast head, with all her
muskets and stores of every character the enemy
not being able. owing to her rapid sinking. to
obtain single weapon.
The battery upon the Alabama brought into
action against the Ilatteras numbered seven
guns, consisting Of four long 32 Founders, one
lOO-pounder, Que g. FOUNDER md one "a mound
er rihed gun. The great superiority Of the
., Alabama with her powerful battery, and her
machinery under the water line, must be at once
recognized by The Department, who are familiar
with the construction of the 1latteras, and her
total unftness for contest with regularly
built vessel of war. The distance between the
! Hatteras aud Alabama during the action varied
from 20 to 100 yards. Nearly fifty shots were
fired from the Hatteras, and presume a greater
number from the Alabama.
desire 10 refer to the efficient and active
manner in which Acting Master Porter Exesu.
tive officer, performed his duty. The conduct Of
Assistant Surgeon Edward s. Matthews, both
during the action and afterwards, in his attention
to the wounded. demands my unqualified COM
incubation. ! would also bring TO the favorable
notice Of the Department Acting Masters Mate
.. Il. AlcGrath, temporarily performing luty as
TunneF. Owing to the darkness of tie night and
.ho '"uliar construction Of the Iatteras, am
hIo ponlv IN afer to the conduct OF those officers
Who came under my especial attention, but from
the character Of the contest and tue amour, o.