The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-02-25

Btuicc.
Z. s. CONSULATE, KINGSTON, JAMAICA,
January Dist, 1863
SIR:-Tt is my painful duty to inform
the Department of the destruction OF the
Unitod States steamer Hatteras, recently
under my command, by the, rebel steamer
Alabama, on the night of the 11th inst,
off the coast of Texas. The circumstances
of the disaster are as follows: 3s @
On the afternoon of the 1th inst, at
$3.50 O'Clock, while at anchor in company
the feet with Commander Bell, off Gal
weston, was ordered by signal from the
Flag ship Brooklyn to chase sail to
southwark of eastward. I got under way
Immediately, and steamed with all speed
in the direction, indicated. After some
time strange sail could be seen from the
Hatteras, and it was ascertained to be a
steamer; whieh fact communicated to
the flag ship by signal. continued the
chase rapidly, and gained upon the suspi-
cious vessel. When within about four
miles of the vessel, | observed she had
ceased to steam and was lying broadside
and awaiting .ss s
1t was nearly Z o'clock and quite dark,
but notwithstanding the obscurity of the
night, / felt assured from, the general
character of the vessel and her maneu-
yers, that I 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
3O-pounder rifed gun, and one 90 FOUNDER
rifed gum concluded to close with her,
that my guns might be as effective as pos
sible. came within easy speaking range
and upon asking, g What steameris that?"
I. received the, answer, :. Her Britanic
Majesty's ship Vixen. / replied |"
would send a boat aboard" !" and immedi-
ately gave orders. In the meantime both
vessels were changing theirfpositions, the
stranger endeayoring to gain,a desirable
position fora raking fire. Almost stimuli
taneously with piping away the boat, the
stranger again replied, e.We are the Con-
iederate steamer Alabama which was
accompanied with a broadside. I at the
same moment returned the FIRE. I steered
directly toward to Alabama, but she was
enabled by her great speed and by the
fouldess of bottom of the Hatteras. and
consequently her diminished speed, to
thwart my attempt, when | had gained a
distance of but thirty yards from her
At this range musketry and pistol shots
were exchanged. sf sd 81 5aas
Firing continued with great yigor on
both sides. At length, shell entered
amidspips in the hold. setting fire to it,
and at the same instant a shell passed
through the sick bay, exploding in an
adjoining apartment, also producing fre.
Another entered the cylinder, filing the
engine-room and deck with steam, and
depriving me of any power to maneuver
the vessel or to work the pumps, upon
which the reduction Of the FIRE depended.
With the vessel on fire in two places, and
beyond human power hopeless wreck,
with her walking beam shot away, and her
engine rendered useless, [ still maintained
aneaetive FIRE, with the. double hope ofdis-.
abliHg the Alabama and attracting the
attention of theft off Galveston, which
was only twenty eight miles distant.
II Itiw soon reported to me that shells
had entered the Hatteras at the waters
line, tearing off entire sheets of iron,
and the water rushing in, utterly defying
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 pre-
pairing for raking fire OF the deck, / felt
L had no right to sacrifice uselessly and
without any desirable result, the lives of
all under my command. To prevent the
blowing up Of the Hattefas from fire,
which was making much progress, / or
dered the magazine flooded, aad afterward
IA bee gun to be fred. tF sd