American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-02-13
THE SINKING OF THE HATTERAS
By THE ALABAMA
of the New York Herald

Correspondence of the New York Heraldl
KEY WEST. January %
7 have converssd with Acting Master De-
Hurst. United States navy. who was attached
to the United States steamer Brooklyn. du-
ring the recent affair between the Alabama
and the United States steamer Hatteras He
states that the mast heads of the Hstteras were
discovered above water that they removed
the pennHnt, which was still flying from the
main truck. and they discovered two boats
dashed together. apparently belonging To the
Hatteras besides the ones that contained the
men From this they are of opinion that
these boats We're used tn transport the crew
of the Hatteras TO the Alabama after she was
captured. and that IN all probability the ma
ioritv are prisoners on board the pirate
l have also seen copy of the report made
TO Admiral Farragut by Acting Master l. II.
Partridge. United States navy, the officers of
the Capt Blake sent to board the stranger
He SAYS that in chasing the stranger they
came up with her rapidly. and when close up
with her she stopped. As the Hatteras
ranged along side within pistol shot. Capt.
Blake hailed, and the reply vas, Her Brit
tanic Maiesty's ship Spitfre." Mr. Partridge
was then ordered to board, and he says that
he had not showed off ships length before
tie Alabama poured in her first broadslde.
which was immediately replied to by the
Hatteras. This occurred just at dark As
the first broadside was exchanged both yes
sells put head. side by side. exchanging
broadsides fast the guns could be loaded
and fired. and within very shout distance OF
each other Mr.. Partridge was pulling ahead
all the time to endeayor to reach his vessel,
but did not succeed He says the cannonade
lasted about twenty minutes, when he heard
the sound of musketry. BY dlnt of hard
pulling he came again in sight OF the vessel,
and found them stopped. with the Alabama
alongside and the Hatteras blowing of steam,
and heard cheering from the Alabama, proved
/ Il haa., tr.a1h ~ hfklr
ing Deeming it best not to be taken pris-
oner he pulled back in the direction of our
squadron. and was picked up.
The Hatteras was small iron steamer,
slightly built with engines and boilers ex-
posed to shot and she'll She mounted prob
ably six guns of small calibre and possibly
less She has been doing blockade duty
in the gulf for over year past. and was the
vessel that took possession of Cedar KEYS
She was nothing in comparison with the
Alabama, either in size. speed, or IN the
number and calibre of her battery
The rescued seamen say that 1t was the
Alabama who did the deed but their de-
scription of the rig is that of the evieto.
The Alabama is bark rugged /. but these men
say that the vessel they encountered was
square rugged forward only. This answers
the description of the Ovieto Semnes may
have sent dewn his main. maintopsail and
topgallant yards to disguise his vessel but
that is not probable for he knows that with
the Alabama, in case of her being disabled
in her machinery. his only dependence for
safety is in his canvass. Consequently he
would not be likely to disable his vessel in
the manner | speak of. The mischief is
done, no matter who did it. and it would not
be surprising to hear that other actions of
similar nature by the same vessel have been
perpetrated in our Immediate vicinity. /
here assert that the blockade of the entire line
of coast, comprised within the limits of the
Eastern Gulf hlockading squadron. could be
raised and the blockading vessels destroyed
the Hatteras.