The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-02-27
The Fight between the Steamers Hat
teras and Alabama.

KIEGsToN, JAMAICA, Jan. 81.

kIEGSTON, JAMAICA, Jan. u |
S1R-It is my painful luty 10 inform the
department Of the destruction Of tie u. S.
steamer IIat.eras, recently under nay com
mend, bv the rebel steamer Alabama, on
the night Of the ith inst, off the coast Of
Texas. The circumstances are as follows ::
On the afternoon Of the 11th inst, at
$50 o'clock, while at anchor in COMPANY
with The feet with Commander Bel, of
Galveston. was ordered by Signals from
the flag ship BROOKLYN 10 chase sail to
the south ard of eastward.
got under way Immediately and steam
el with all speed in the direction indicated
After some tirne a strange sail could be
seen from the HatteIas and it vas asGer-
tanned to be a steamer which fact com
municated to flagship by signal. con
tinued to chase and rapidly gained upon
lie suspicious vessel. When within about
four miles of the vessel | observed she
had ceased to steam and was lying broad
side awaiting us.
I; was ncatly se"en o'clock and quite
dark. but notwithstanding the obscnritv
pi bj1il i !G't o>Sti q! NOM t'it GCtfCE a.
character Of The vessel, Of her nanouyers,
that should soon encounter tha reheI
steamer Alabama. Being able TO work
but four guns on the siie Of the Iiattera4
two short 81 FOUNDERS, one 80 pound r.ie,l
gun and one 20 FOUNDER Tiied gun. |
concluded TO close with her that my guns
nigat be as effective as possible [ came
within easy speaking range aud upon ask
iug what steamer is that Ireceiyed ans
wer. " Her Brltanic Majestv's ship Vixen =
replied ] would send boat aboard
and Immediately gave the order. In the
meantime both vessas were changing
their positions, the stranger endeavorine 9
10 gain desirable position for Iakin4
fire. Almost simultaneously with piping
, away the boat the stranger again replied
we are the confederate steamer Alabama
which was accompanied with broadsiJe
| [ At the same moment returned hTe. /
steered directly tovalIs the Alabai,i,c, but
she was enabled oy her greater speed and
bv the foulness Of the bottom Of The Hat
teras aud consequently her diminished
speed to thwart my attempt; when | had
gained distance OF about 80 wards from
her at this range nu>ketry and pistol Shots
were exchanged. The firing continued
with great vigor on both sides. At length
she'll entered ;he arilships hold set
/ ting fire to it ard at the same instant q
shell passed through the sicl, bav cxplol-
ing in an adjoining compartment also pro
ducing fra. Another entered The cylinder
filing the engine room and deck with
steam and depriying me of any power &c
mauoeuvrs the vessel or TO work the pump:
upon which the reduction of the Are &c
pended
With the vessel on Ere in two plaza:
and beyond human power hopeless wreck
with her walking beam shot away, and
her engine rendered useless, still main
tainsi an active fire with doubtful hope O
! disabling the Alabama, and attracting the
| attention Of the fleet off Galveston. whici
wa. onIv twenty eight miles distant.
/ l. was soon reported to me that she'll
/ had entered the Hatteras st the water line
/ tearing off entire Sheets of iron, and :ht
water rushing in, utterly defying every at
temp. to remedy the evil, aud that she va
rapidly sinking.
! Learning this melancholy truth and ob
serving that the hlsbsma was on my por
bow, entirely beyond the range Of n,
guns, doubtless preparing for rakius frt
| Of deck. felt ;ha, hsd no righ, to sacri
Ecc uselessly, aud visboa. any des! all.