, 1863-02-17
The LOSS OF The HATTERAS,
Official Report Of Her Com
mander.

SIZE: 1t Is my painful duty to inform your
Department Of the destruction of the United
States steamer Hatteras, recently under my
command, by the rebel steamer Alabama, on
tue night of the 11th inst, of tile coast Of
Texas. The circumstances Of this disaster
we're as follows:
On the l1th inst, at $50 o'clock, while at
anchor, in company with tue fleet with Com
mander Bell, off Galveston. / wns ordered, By
signal from the flagship Brooklyn, to CHASE
got under way immediately, and steamed,
With oil speed. in the direction indicated.
After some time, strange sail could
be- seen from the Hattcras, and was
asccr,aincd to be steamer, which fact
communicated ;1e to the hng ship oy signal
The suspicious vessel. When Within about
fire 1ailes Of the vessel I observed tint she
had ceased to etea,n, and that sho was lying
broAdside aud awaiting us. Il WIS nearly. I
O'clock, and quite dark: but notwithstanding
the olscurlty Of the night fit assured, from
n'ancayers, that should soon encounter the
rebel steamer Alabama. Being able to work
but four, guns Oh each side q the IIatterns.
two short S-ponndcrs, one &-pound rilcd
FUN, and one 20. pound rihcd gun, concluded
70 cl"se with her, TINT my guns might be as
speaking range. and upon. asking "Wlat
steamer Is tl,at:' / received as nj, answer,
Her Britannia Mnjcsty's ship Vixen"
replied tlat I would send boat
anoata, ana amneaiateiy gave orders.
~. ~ tne h!eantlhc to;h vesselswcr changing
| gain 4 desirable position for raking fire.
Almost simultaneously with piping away the
| boat the stranger again replied IS NC arc the
Confederate steamer Alabama," which was
accompanied with broadeldc- at thc same
moment returned tile tire. steered directly
towards the Alabama, but she WAS enabled by
| her greet speed, and the foulncss Of the bot
tom Of the Hattcrns and consequently her d.
ininIEhcd speed, to thwart my attempt. When
| had gained DISTANCE OF but thirty yards
from her, at this range Inushetry and pistol
sh"ts were exchanged: Firing continued With
Entered anidsl,ips in the hold, setting are to
1t. 1t the same instant 4 shell passed
| through the sick room, exploding in
at adjoining compartment, also rro-
ducing fire. Another entered our cylen-
| der, filing tIc engine room and deck Viii,
| steam, aid deprlyfnc me Of any power to
| mauc,1yre tho weasel to work the pumps
| upon which the reduction Of the Are ID.
! pended.
viii mr vcsse1 q, fro IN +,vo n1,ces
xt ~ n.aina n hn aat ,a S,
onn;na -sr3arad eo1ose Iii ino ~,
'i;ra ~ eiti I,',,I .a ~ ~
sin1te e ~ - 49, avas " LIZ
hat ~ I,t, ann ns a''eno4 I ~ ~
h.I. ,. ~ "1,;,.n 5;t "nlen ".ls oa5 ."eatS
e,si .it ales sn usta. t ~ w N SUN teporsgu 20
s .1; suens Iiau e'tetfso IT, .ne es u;a " sne
ma.cr ',ue 'tSag ; ~ tEc siaiae sneeL: ol II
1tG,. gp.eI, alu % .n'5a Int natet WAS 1!snlns n,
t, u.tes1s oestFHy1s LEI tG e'e[y a.tempt 10 remedy
'AG ~, ai,o .1.: 1i:'.' sitI VIZ larlay sinh
.:. uin1's 'u's 4 Als,ahpnViy y sLoui, anu w.
fHeNfs .n.t tue AHapalila Was OH ny po1t
poN, ehIileis oeyona w range ol
ny Runs, 1ougltsss ~. pieArLls a9l lnhlh ~
u tHe ueeh, - Lso ~ t!SAl ~ sacauet
useiEssa5 anu wtnon. any aesiF.ole T lesul,