Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-02-21


4. 8. CONSULATE, KISesToS, Jamaica, Feb. 81.
Sir sit is my painful duty to inform the
Depa riment Of the destruction Of the U. s.
steamer Hdiieras, recently under my command,
by the rebel steamer .aiGbGma, on the night Of
the llth inst. off the coast OF Texas. The
circumstances Of the disaster are as follows:
On the afternoon Of the lth inst. at $3.50
o'clock. while at anchor in company with
the feet with Commander Bell, OF Calves.
ton / was ordered by q signal from the
ase ship BrOoklyH 10 chase sail 10 South
ward. got under way Immediately, and
steamed all speed in the direction stated.
After some time strange sail could be
seen from the HaheraS, aud was asceriaiued
to be steamer, which fact commuucat.
ed to the flag ship by signal.
continued the chase rapidly, and gain.
cd upon the suspicious vessel when with.
in about four miles Cf the vessel observed
she had ceased to steam, and was lying
brnsdside aud awaiting US. II was nearly
seven o'clock, aud quite dark, but notwi b.
standing the obseuii'y OF the night felt
assured, from the general character of the
vessel and her maneuvres, that shond
soon encounter the rebel steamer Alabama
Being able TO work but four guns on the
side OF the Hafterds-two short 39.pound.
ers, one 50-pounder rife gun, and one 20
FOUNDER riied gum concluded to close
with her that my guns might be as effective
as necessary. / came within easy speak
ing range, and upon asking What steamer
is that 7" received the answer, "IIer
Brtauic Majrsiy's ship Firsn" replied
1 will send boat aboard and immediate
ly gave the order.
In the meantime bOth vessels were chang.
ing their positions and endcavoring TO get q
desirable position for rsking Gre. AL.
most simultaneously with piping away the
boat, the stranger again replied We are
the Confederate steamer Alabama, which
was pcct mpaned with brond,ide, at
the same lime returned fire. / stcered
directly iowards he Aid6ama, but she was
enabled by her great fpSed, and by foulness
quenily her diminished speed TO thSnrt my
attempt when ] had gained q distance of
but 80 yards from her, At this range the
musketry and pistol shots we're exchanged.
Firing continued with great vigor on both
sides, at length she'll entered amidship
the hole, setting fire to it, at the same in.
slant she'll passed through the sick bay,
exploding in an adjoining compartments,
and also producing FIRE. Another entered
the cylinder, filling the engine room and
deck with seam and depIiving me of any
power TO manage the vessel or to work
With the vessel on FIRE intwo places, and
beyond the reach OF human power, hope
less wreck, with her walking beam shot
away, and her engine rendered useless, |
still maintained an active fire with the
double hope Of disabling the alabama, and
attracting the attention of the feet eff Gal
weston, which was % miles distant. 1t was
soon reported 10 me that shells had entered
the Hatterdg at the water line, tearing of
the entire sheets of iron, and water rushing
in, utterly defying every attempt 10 remedy
the evil, and that she was rapidly sinking
Learning this melancholy truth, and observ-
ing that the Alabama was on my port bow
doubtless preparing for a raklug fire of
deck, felt that had no right 10 sacrifice
uselessly and without desirable result the
lives Of ell uRder my command, and 10 pre-.
vent the blowing up Of the HaHeras from
fire which was makeing much progress, ]
ordered the magazine to be hoUded, and
afterwards lee gun 10 be fred.
The alabama then osked if assistance
was desired. TO which on affirmative on.
swer was given. The HaIteras was now
going down, aud in order to save The
lives Of my offers and men | caused the
armament on the port side to be thrown o.
YER board. Af,er considerable delay caus.
ed by the report that steamer was seen
s.esmng from Galveston, the ALabana sent
Of assistance, and l have the pleasure Of
informing the Department that every liv
ing being was conveyed in safety from tho
HafterGS 10 the ALa6qma. Ten minutes
after leaving The Hetteras she went down
bow FIRST with her penant at her mast head
with all her Duskets aud stores of every
character, the enemy not being able owing
to her rapid sinking TO obtain single wea
pon.
The battery upon the ALaJama brought
into action against the HattraS numbered
seven guns. From this character of the
contest and amount Of damage done TO the
alabama, personally have no reason to
believe that any officer failed in his duty
To The men Of the HaIIeras can not giS,
too much praise. Their enthusiasm brave
ry we're Of the highest order. enclose lhG
report Of The Assist. Surgeon, by which yoI
will observe that Eve men were wounded
and two killed.
Your Obsdien. Servant
r. c. BLAKE, Lieut. comd'nS.
To Hon. GIDBoS WELLS, seeretAy Navy.