The evening times., 1895-12-16
RECORDS OF THE NAVY
Interesting Things Contained in
the Second Volume.
UNION CRUISERS EXPLOITS
\ laln, ma and Hattcras Conflict Graph-
icaIly TOld-Exctting Search for fhe
Confederate Ship CMrence-Vast
Work Of Compilation Is Increased
by Scarcity of Records.

The second volume of the Official Rec-
ords al the Union aud Confederate Navics
in the War of the Rebellion has just been
issued from the press. In the $50 pages
which make up the s,ibsta ntiai volume Is a
large amount of matter which reads like
a novel to the old veteran and Is Oitperna-
ncnt interest TO every one.
The work has been progressing for sew
eTal months under the direction OF Lieu
tenant Commander Rush OF the Navy De-
partnent and MIR. Robert II. Woods. The
| amount or work involved In the collation.
and compiIation OF the vast quantity OF
documentary material can hardly be mag
| jne,i- The utmost care and accuracy Were
| required, and the mechanical requirements
OF the undertaking almost exceed thc
mental. Besides Lieut.. Rush and Mr.. Woods,
thirteen or fourteen assistants have been
c,apIoye,l but this ~ n small number when
| the vastnvss oI the work 10 be accomplished
is considered.
The authorities wish to have it dis
tinctiy understood that the books are to De
| DISTRIBUTED tnrough the members OF the
rHIy-thIru Congress, AID uot through the
Navy Department
IN. preface oI the book. signed hy tue
| two pIIncipai cUinpiicrs, explains the plan
on WHICH the documentary matter has
| been arranged. Tie volume incildcs the
accounts oi operations oI the cruisers IRON
January l, 1868, 10 Marcn 81, s5+. So
lar as possible the matter reaiInG Ia Con-
tnat concerning the I mon
the operations or the Union cruisers
are treated at mucn greater length inan
those oI tine ConieIerate cruisers. on ac-
count OF the dlTncuiiy of obtaining COM
pl.,y. letter AMI documentary evidence from
confederate sources.
HATTERAS VS.. ALABAMA.
One OF the most Interesting accounts OF
a naval conflict rs the one winch reiates To
the engagement between the L. S. 4. Hat
- a t..t, tNn ms r a.
II. 1868. Tie gallant Lirut.-comIiL,nuer
BlaKc, oI the Ha,terds, tnus wrot- 10 the
Secretary OF the Navy, ui,ron Wciies, unocr
date OF JanuIry II 1868:
''When within about Tour mites or Tue
vessel 4 observed tnat she hau ceased Ia
steam anu Was lying proadsiuc on await
ing us. IL was heitrfy Z o clock ana qiite
dark, but nUtwtIii> standing Inc ohscurliv ol
tile night | ieit assured from the general
character OF the essei ana her nianeuverlny
that | should soon encounter tn, reb.i
steamer Alabama. i came within easy
speaking range, about seyenty-fivc yards,
and upon asking What steamer is that
received the answer. Her Britannia Ma
1esty's ship, Vixen
II replied that l would send n boat
aboard. anu Immediately gave the orGer.
III the meantime both vessels were :haaS
ing theirpusitions, the stranger endeavJr,nc
TO gam desirable position for .aking
fire. Almost simultaneously with the PIP
!ng away OF tue boat tne strange Graf I IL gam
replied, We are the Confederate steamer
Aiabam1,' which was accompanied by 4
brOadside. | at the same moment returned
tile fire. Being well a Wa re or the many vul-
nerable points of the Hatteras, hoped by
closing with the Alabama 10 be able 70
board her. and thus rid tue seas OF this pi-
ratiCal craft.
Il steamed directly for the Alabama, but
she was enabled by her great speed and the
foulness OF the bottom of the Hatteras, AMI
consequently her diminished speed, 10
thwart my attempt, when had gained Il
distance of bat thirty yards from her. AT
this range musket and pistol shots were
exchanged. The firing continued with
entered amiiship in the hold, setting fire
to- it, and AT the same instant, as l can
hardly divide the time, a shell pa ssed through
the sick bay, exploding in an adjoining
compartment. also producing fire. Another
entered the cylinder. filling the engine room
and deck with steam, ana depriving the OF
all power to maneuver the vessel or 10 work
the pumps, upon which the reduction of
the fire depended.
VESSEL TAKES FIRE.
with the vessel on fire in two Places,
and beyond human p wer IL hopeless wreck
upon the water, with her walking beam shot
away and her engine rendered useless,
still maintained an active fire, with a
double hope of disabling the Alabama and
of attracting the attention OF the fleet off
Galveston, which was only twenty-eight
miles distant.
ITO prevent the blowing up of the Hat
teras from the fire, which was making
much progress, l ordered the magazine to
be flooded, and afterward lee gun TO be
fired. The Alabama then asked II assist.
ance was desired, to which an affirmative
answer was given.
THE Hatteras was now rapidly going
down, and, in order 10 save the lives OF
my Officers and men, | caused the arma-
rnent Of the ship on the PORT side to be
thrown overheard. Had l not done SO,
am confident that the vessel would have
gone down with many hearts and val
al.1. ltx-Aa tor IL q. .l- I21-
caused by report that steamer was
seen coming from Galveston, the Alabama
sent us assistance, and have the pleasure
to inform the Department that every living
being was conveyed safely from the
Hatteras to the Alabama. Ten minutes
after leaving the Hatteras she went down
bow first with her penDant at her mast
head, with all her muskets and stores of
every character, the enemy not being able,
owing to her rapid sinking. to obtain
single weapon.
Of single exploits recounted in the book
is that of the search for the Confederate
States vessel Clarence. in ] S63. Tie CIar-
ence was a rebel pirate boat which caused
great annoyance and damage to Northern
commerce.
An interesting letter is published showing
the cooperation of the Northern importers
with the Secretary Uf War In those years of
suffering commerce. The letter referred TO
is from an importing house. and is addressed
tothe Secretary OF War. 1t reads as follows:
THE TROUBLESOME CLARENCE.
"Dear Sir: We telegrapHed you today in
regard tOtbc Outrages o. the pirate Clarence, !!
a sailing brig. called q tender totbe Florida.
Capt. Munday Of he bark Tacony of this port
reached here at 3p'clock his a afternoon. aud
furnishes the following. and also handed us
letter from Capt. league OF our schooner
Kate Stewart. which vessel he left In boat
this morning and reached Town in New
Jersey in time fOtake train for Phfladcl-
pbia. He states briefly as follows;
Yesterday morning about 8 O'Clock
I i 9Th fnstant), off Cape Henry, and almost
In sight of IL. he So q vcsselt ltbrig Cla rencel
with the United States flag flying. Union
down. He hesitated at first but upon see
ing men apparently In distress he put