Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-17
NJ. /. HARRISON,
Colonel commanding post.
The Alabama and the Hatteras--Lieut
TtIake's Report.


U. S. CONSULATE AT KINGSTON, JAMAICA,
Jan. |, 1S63.-SW:-It 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 Ala
bama, on the night OF the lIth inst, off the
coast of Texas. The circumstances of the
disaster are as follows:
On the afternoon of the 18th inst, at IL
o'clock, while at anchor in company with the
fleet under commodore Bell, off Galveston,
Texas, was ordered by a signal from the U.
S. flag ship Brooklyn, to chase a sail to the
southwark and eastward, and l got under
weigh Immediately and steamed with all speed
in the direction indicated. After some time,
the strange sail could be seen from the HATTIE
ras, and was ascertained to be a steamer,
which fact being communicated to the flag
ship, by signal, | continued the chase, and
rapidly gained upon the suspicious vessel.
Knowing the slow rate of speed of the HATTIE
ras, | at once suspected that deception was
being practced, and hence ordered the ship
to be cleared for action, with everything in
readiness for a determined attack and Wig
orous defence.
When within about four miles of the vessel
| observed that she had ceased to steam, and
was lying broadsde to and awaiting us. twas
nearly Z o'clock and quite dark but notwth-
standing the Obscurity of the night, felt as
sured from the general character of the YES
sci and her maneuyres that | should soon
encounter the rebel steamer Alabama.
Being able to work but four guns on the
side of the Hatteras, two short 32-pounders,
one 30-pOunder rihed parrot gun, and one
twenty FOUNDER rihed gun, l concluded
to close with her, that my guns might be eff
fectiye if necessary. | came within easy
speaking range, about IS yards, and upon ask
ing ''what steamer is that?" received the an
swer cher Brittanic majesty's ship Vixen" l
replied that | would send a boat aboard and
Immediately gave the order. In the meantime
both vessels were changing their positions,
the stranger endeavoring to gain a desirable
position for a raking fire. Almost simultane-
ouSly with the piping away of the boat the
strange craft again replied, ''We are the con-
federate steamer Alabama" which was ac-
companied by a broadside.
at the same time returned the fire. Be-
ing well aware of the many vulnerable points
OF the Hatteras, | hoped by closing with the
Alabama to be able to board her, and thus rid
the seas OF this piratical craft. | steamed di-
rectly for the Alabama, but she was aided by
her great speed and the foulness of the bottom
OF the Hattcras, and consequently by her di-
minshed speed to thwart my design. When
| had gained a distance of but thirty yards
from her, at this distance musket and pistol
shots were exchanged. The firing contn-
ued with great vigor on both sides.
AT length a shell entered amidships in the
hold, setting fire to it, and at the same IN
slant, as | can hardly divide the time, a shell
passed through the sick bay, exploding in an adj
joining compartment, and also producing fire.
Another entered the cylinder, filling the en-
CINE room and deck with steam and depriv-
ing me Of any power to maneuver the vessel,
or to work the pumps, upon which the reduc-
ton of the fire depended. With the vessel on
fire in two places, and beyond human power
helpless wreck upon the water with her walk
lug beam shot away and her engine rendered
useless, still maintained an active fire with
double hoped of disabling the Alabama and
attracting the attention of the fleet off Gal
weston which was only twenty-eight miles
distant.
1t was soon reported to me that the shells
had entered the HGtteras at the water line,
tearing off entire sheets of iron, and that the
water was rushing in utterly detying every
attempt to remedy the evil, and that she was
rapidly sinking. Learning this melancholy
truth, and observing that the Alabama was on
my port bow entirely beyond range of my
guns, doubtless preparing for raking fire of
the deck, felt had not a right to sacrifice
useleSsy and without any desirable result the
lives of all under my command. To prevent
the blowing up of the Hatteras from the fire
which was making much progress l ordered
the magazine to be flooded, and afterwards
lee gun to be fired
The Alabama then asked if assistance was
desired, to which an affirmative answer was
given. The Hatteras was now going down,
and in order to save the lives of my officers
and men, | caused the armament on the port
side to be thrown overheard. Had not done
so l am confident she would have gone
down with many brave hearts and valuable
lives After considerable delay, caused by
a report that steamer was seen coming
from Galveston, the Alabama sent us assist
ance, and l have the pleasure of informing
the department that every living being was
conveyed safely from the Hatteras to the
Alabama. Ten minutes after leaving the
Hatteras, she went down bow first, with her
pennant at her mast head, with all her mus
kerry and stores OF every kind, the enemy
not being able. owing to her rapid sinking,
to obtain a single thing.
The battery upon the Alabama, brought into
action against the Hatteras, numbered seven
guns, consisting Of four long 32-pounders,
one lO0-pounder, one 6S-pounder, and one
24-pounder ritled guns. The great superiori-
ty OF the Alabama, with her powerful battery