Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-02-16

o'clock, vhils y eseAos. 81 eepgany wtsA, As
TsxaC ~ cfeefed ~ cisaa nom tAs O.
5. naa-.hip Btoeklyn 70 chase sii 70 ~
Imn-disieiy, and sseaned VITA al - 81 In s.
direct on iEdieAf~Ht sAAAeN
AnsI sans ire thu ssraass .sali could b.
ts-H .tamsr, which fat tconasssoat>d -
ire hag-shiP by signal. I coarinusd the ehsss.
1na rApieiy Eaiasd on the Suspicious v-ss~g.
I At once susIe etad o.. assption va. hs,s-
pr-cticed, and hence ordered the ssss a a, -
cleared ior aeuon, with svery thing On r~sas-
ccferse. When within about four miles ,Y the
vessel. oeesT we'd that she al e-a<ed TO .tesu
and as lying .broadside on" awaitias "a. n
withsianding the obscurity OF The nirht fsi.
ASSERT d, from the general character OF ths -
sci, and her mancuyerins, that should soou
encounter the rebel stramer Aiahama
Being ahie TO work bat four gGas up one ada
OF the aatteras-two short D. Founders, oss
3o-pounder rifed Parrot GUn, aud one a.
Pounder rifed gum concluded 70 close with
her, in crder that my guns might be effective n
necessary. i came within easy speaking range
(sboul IS yards,) and upon asking "Waas
steamer 70 that 2, reeeiyed the answer. "Her
i replied that world send q boat aboard
and Immediately gave the order. In the mean
lire, rh- stranger endesyvrfng TO gain destra-
blc position tor "a raking fire. Almost simuI
tsbeously with the " piping away" OF the boaS
the stranger craft again replied we are The
Corfrdcrate STEAMER Alabama, which WA &C.
compauied with n broaos,dn. 1 at the sam.
moment returned the Hr,, being well awass OF
thr m any vulnerable pJints OF the Hatteras. 4
hoprd by closing with the Aiaoama 70 be able
TO bosrd her. and ihus rid the seas OF this ~
ratical craft / stear-d directly fIr the Alaoa-
ma, but she was enabled by her great speed,
and the foulnees Of the lotion OF the Batteras
and consequently her diminished speed, 70
thwaTt my attempt, when had gained dis
pf AZ n ri NJ har a en-
muskft and pistol shots were exchanged. The
firing continued with great vigur on both siass
At l-ngth sheli entered amicsh.p n the mold,
setting fire 70 10, and at the same instant as L
can hardly divide the time, q shell passed
through The sssick bay" exploding In au ad-
Joining compartment, also producing fre;
another entered the cylinder, filling the engins
room and deck with steam, and depriviag me
OF all power TO maneuver the vessel, or 70 .oTs
thespump, upon which the reduction OF the lire
d. peEded.
With the vessel on fire in two places. aud
beyond human power, a HOPELESS wreck upon
the water, with her walking beam shot awe
and her engine rendered useless, sun main.
tanned an active fire, with q double hop- of
disabling The Alabama or Of attracting lhr art,n
tior of the feet of Galveston, which was onIr
- miles distant -- -
entei ed the Eatteras at the water line ,aar.n,
Oh entire sheets of iron, and that rhs, alter vas
iushing M, ntt-riy drfying every attempt 10
remedy the evil, and that she was rapidly
sinking.
Learning this melanc holy tru,ll, ard obs,,x-
ing maj the Alabama Was on nv port boyv 20
hrely bryond range OF my guns, doubtless pre-
pairing 1oT rSkihg fire VI the DECKS, lei, maj
! had no iight 10 sacrifice uselessly ana VIII
cut any oesnable result, The lives OF all under
ny command.
TO prevent the blowing M OF the Hat,eras
fIom The fire, which was niskpng r,ucb -
eress, / ordered the magazine 10 he aoa5aS
oBd aftPrward a lie gun - De flied. Ths All
lama theh asEed II assistance was desired, TO
" IN We
The Hatteras was now rapidly gon- dow,
ano IN oroer 10 save The lives al my OH ce-s and
men, / caused the armament on the port side 20
be thrown overheard. Had net done "a I ann
confident that the vessel would Az eous daxs.
with many brave hearts and valuable i've.
Afti'r considerable delay, caused by a rsport
TOT, TIE Alabama sent US assistance; sad have
the pl.asure To inform the Department that
every living being WAS conveyed safely from
the HatieIas TO the Alabama
Ten minutes after leaving the Hatteras she
went down n, bow FIRST, with her pennapt az her
masthead, with al her mussets and stores OF
every character; the enemy not being able,
owing 10 her rapid sinking, 70 obtain A single
weapon. The hIt;sry upon the Alabama
brought into action against the Hatteras num-
pered seven guns, consisting of four long "a
Pioneers, one lUc-pounder r1fed gun, oae ss.
FOUNDER, and one 2i-poSnder rified gun
The great superiority OF the Alabama, with
her powerful battery, and her machinery, &c.
und.r the water lice, must De at once recog.
q
The construction of the Hattaras, and her total ,
unntness for q contest with q regularly buiIt
vessel OF war. The distance between the Hat.
teras and the Alabama during the action varied
from twenty FIVE 10 one hundred yards Nearly
nifty shots We're fired from the HatterSs and
presu greater number from the Alanma
Edesire 10 refer TO the efficient and active
manner in which Acting Master Henry Porter,
executive officer. performed his duty. Ths
conduct Of Assistant Surgeon Edward \. Mat
thews, both during the action aud after wards,
IN attention 10 the wounded, demands nv un-
qnalifed condemnation. i would also bring
&c The IA vorahie notice ofthe Department Actin.
NJ sster's bate Z. j. McGraih, temporarily per-
forming duty as gunner. Owing - ID. darknsss
cf the night and the peculiar corstru ctior Of
the Hatteras, Il am able Only 20 refer TO ths
conduct OF those officers W no came under nv
especial attention, but from the character of the
contest and the amount OF damage done 70 the
Ai5eama, have personally no reason 70 be-
lieve that any officer failed An has duty. -
To the men OF the Hatteras I canno. give
too much praise; their enth Vi iasm and bear-
ing was OF the highest order.
i enclose the report OF Assistant Surgeon
Edward =. Matthews, by which you viii
observe that I'VE men have been wounded aud
two killed; the missing, II Is hoped, have
reached the fret NJ Galveston.
i shall communicate TO the Department in
command from the time Of our transser To -
Alabama until the departure OF the earliest.
all rom this place TO he United Slstes-
am, very respectfully, yosr oh't servant,
II. @. BLAKE
Tt Commander ". N.
Hon. GIDEos WHLLRs, Secretary OF the Navy.