Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-08-14

Captain Raphael Semmes, Commanding G
S. steamer Alabama, to the Secretary Q,
the Navy, gives correct statement of the
action bet ween the Alabama and Hatteras
b. S. STEAMER ALABAMA
Bahia, May 18th 1863.
1 arritoa at Galveston (under sally onthse
18th Of Jauuart, and just before nightfall
made the ehemy's feet lying of the. bar,
consisting Of five ships Of war. One of Che
steamers was soon after perceived to get un-
der way, and steer in our direction. / or
dered steam to be got up, but kept sail on
the ship as decoy; that | might entice the
enemy's ship sufficiently far from the feet
to offer her battle / wore ship, aud stood
away from the bar, permitting the enemy
to approach me by slow degrees When
the enemy had approached sufficiently near,
took In allsails, aud wearing short around
ran tip within hail It sas now dark, ii
being about seven o'clock. Thessenemy
hailed, ,"What ship Is .that2" We rasnen-
ded, aHer Majesty steamer Petrel." The
reply was, II will send boat on board
We now hailed in turn, to know who the
enemy was, and when we had received the
reply, that he was the. United States steam
er Hatteras," we again hailed aim, and in
formed him that we were the Confederated
STEAMER Alabama; and at the same | direc-
ted my 1st. Lieutenant to open fire upon
him. Our fire was promptlyreturned and
brisk action ensued, which lasted, how
ever, only thirteen minutes, as at the end
ef that time the enemy fred an off gun and
showed light and upon being hailed BY
us to know If he had surrendered, be rapli
ed that he had, and that he was in sinking
condition ! Immediately dispatched boats
to his assistance, and had Just time to re-
move the crew when the ship went down
The casualties were slight OF both sides.
although the sctionswas fought at 3 dis
lance Of from enc hundred and fifty to four
hundred yards. Our shot all told on his
hull about the water lire, and hence the
small number of killed and wounded on the
part Of tie enemy-tyc of the former and
three of tie lattef. We. had none killed,
and only one wo;inded The Hatteras noun
ted eight guns, and had,a crew Of Is off
GERS and l08 men. The Alabama also
m bunted s guns with a. small captured
pieces. a "a FOUNDER, too light to be of any
service. and had crew Of 10 men. ex
elusive of officers -Four of the Hatteras'
guns were a2-poundcrs the same calibre
as our broadside guns, but our pivot. guns
were heavier than hers-this being the on
ly disparity between the two ships,
We received few shot holes from the
enemy. doing no material damage. The
eneiiiy's steamer Brooklyn and another
steamer steamed out in pursuit Of US soon
after the action commenced but missed us
in The darkness of the night. Being en-
barrassed with large number Of prisoners,
I steamed rectly for Jamaica, where ar
rived on the 25th of January Here [
landed my prisoners. repaired. damages,
coaled ship, and on the Goth Of January 1
proceeded to sea again. On the. 2eth of
January, touched at the city Of St. Do
miugo, in the island Of the same name, and
landed tile crews Of two Of the eaemy's ships
which [ bad huren d. sailed again on the
same day, and made my way to. thence
to The island Of, and thence to this place,
where 1 arrived yesterday burning, bond
ing, and destroying enemy's ships as per
list enclosed.
have the honor to be,