Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-17
THE Loss OF THE HATTERAs.
o. s. CONSULATE, KINGSTON, JAMAICA, !
January 2I. 1888

January q, 1858,
SIR 1t is my painful duty to inform
the Department of the destruction Of the
United States steamer Hatteras, recently
under my command, by the rebel steamer
Alabama, on the night of the 11th inst. off
the coast Of Texas. The circumstances Of
the disaster are as follow:
On the afternoon of the 11th inst. at
$50, while at anchor in company with the
feet, with commander Bell, off Galveston,
1 was ordered by signal from the flag
ship Brooklyn to chase a sail TO the south
ward Of eastward. I got under way i'm.
mediately and steamed with all speed in
the direction stated After some time q
strange sail could be seen from the Hat
teras, and was ascertained to be 6 steamer,
which fact I communicated to the flagship
by signals.
I continued the chase and rapidly gain
ed upon the suspicious vessel. When with
in about four miles Of the vessel, observ-
ed she had ceased to steam and was lying
broadside and awaiting US. It was nearly
seven o'clock and quite dark, but, notWith-
standing the Obseurity of the night, felt
assured, from the general character Of the
vessel and her maneuvers, that I should
soon encounter the rebel steamer Alabama.
Being able to work but four guns on the
side Of the Hatteras-tWo short 80 pound
ers, one 90-pounder riAed gun and one
20-pounder rihed gun-I concluded to
close with her, that my guns might
be as effective as necessary. I came
within easy speaking range, and
upon asking what steamer that was,
received an an sWer that it was Her Ma
jestY's ship, the Vixen. replied that 1
would send boat aboard, and immediate
ly gave orders In the meantime both
vessels were changing their position, the
stranger endeaVoring to get q desirable
position for a raking FIRE. Almost simul-
tsneously, with piping away the boat, the
Stranger replied, We are the Confederate
steamer Alabama" which was aecompani-
ed with broadside.
at the same moment returned the fire.
steered directly towards the Alabama
but she was enabled by her great speed,
and by the fOulness Of the bottom Of the
Hatteras, and consequently her diminish
ed speed, to thwart my attempt, when
had gained a distance Of but thirty yards
from her. At this range, musketry and
pistol shot were exchanged. The firing
continued with great yigor on both sides.
At length, she'll entered amidships in
the hold, setting FIRE to it; at the same in
slant the shell passed through the sick
bay, exploding in an adjoining coupart-
ment, and also producing fire Another
entered the cylinder, filing the engine
room and deck with steam, and depriving
me OF any power to man the vessel or to
work her pumps, upon which reduction
the fire depended.
With the vessel on FIRE in two places,
and beyond human power, a hopeless
wreck, with her walking beam shot away,
and her engine rendered useless, main
tained an active FIRE with double hope of
disabling the Alabama and attracting the
attention of the feet of Galveston, which
was only tWenty-eight miles distant 1t
was soon reported to me that shells had
entered the Hatteras, at the water line,
tearing off entire sheets of iron, and the
water rushing in, utterly defying every
attempt to remedy the evil, and that she
was rapidly sinking. Learning this mel
ancholly truth, and observing that the
Alabama was on my port bow entirely,
/ beyond range Of my guns, doubtless pre-
pairing for raking FIRE, felt 1 had no
right to sacrifice, without q desirable re-
suit, the lives of all under my command.
To prevent the blowing up Of the Hatteras
| from fire, which was making much pro
/ grsss, ordered the magazines TO be flooded
and afterwards a lea gun TO be fired
| The Alabama then asked IL assistance was
desired, to which an Affirmative answer
was given. The Halteras was now goine
down and in order to save the lives Of my
officers and men caused the armament
on the port side to be thrown overheard
After considerable delay caused by the re
port that a steamer was seen coming from
Galveston, the Alabama sent US aid, and
take plessurei in informing the Department
that every living being was conveyed safe
ly from the Hatteras to the Alabama. Ter
minutes after leaving the Hatteras sh'
went down, bow first, with her pennan
at her mast head, with all her muskets
and stores Of every character, the enemy
not being able, owing to her rapid sink
ing, to obtain q single weapon.
The battery upon the Alabama, whicl
was brought into action against the Hat
teras, numbered. seven guns. From tn
character Of the contest and the amount o
damage done to the Alabama, have per
sonally no reason to believe that any OH
Ger failed in his duty. The men Of tn
Hatteras cannot give too much praise
Their bravery was Of the highest order.
enclose the report of the Assistan
Surgeon, by which you will observe tha
five men were wounded and two killed.
am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
R. C. BLAKE, Lieut.. COmd' g