The National tribune., 1910-04-07

engagement Between the u. >. >. Hat
teras and C. S. S. Alabama, Jan. IL,
1868.
The following is the official report OF
Lieut.. Commander H. C. Blake, COM
manding the L. S. S. Hatteras, as taken
from the official Naval Records, Vol z,
Series 1:
''U. S. Consulate, Kingston, jamaica
Jan. 81, 1863.
Sir: 1t is my painful duty to inform
the Department of the destruction ol
the L. S. S. Hatteras (recently under
my command) by the Confederate
steamer Alabama, on the night OF the
11th, inst, off the coast of Texas. The
circumstances of the sad disaster are
as follows: Upon the afternoon of the
18th inst, at $3.50 o'clock, While at
anchor in company with the fleet un-
der Commodore Bell, off Galveston,
Tex, 1 was ordered by a signal from
the U. S. S. flagship Brooklyn to chase
a sail to the southwark and eastward
got under way Immediately, and
steamed with all speed in the direction
indicated. After some time the strange
sail could be seen from the Hatteras,
and was ascertained to be steamer,
which fact / communicated to the flag
ship by signal. / continued the chase,
and rapidly gained upon the suspicious
vessel. knowing the slow speed of the
Hatteras, at once suspected that de-
ception was being practiced, and hence
ordered the ship to be cleared for ac-
tion, with everything in readiness for
a determined attack and vigorous de-
fense. When within about four miles
of the vessel I observed that she had
ceased to steam and was lying broad
side on, awaiting us. 1t was nearly Z
,nfNfrr IL
standing the obscurity of the night l
felt assured from the general character
of the vessel and her manuvering that
, q should encounter the rebel steamer
Alabama Being able TO work but four
guns on one side of the HatteraS, two
short .32-pounders, one 30-pounder
rif1ed Parrott gun and one 2O-pounder
rifle gun, concluded to close with her
in order that my guns might be effec-
tive if necessary. / came within easy
speaking range, about IS yards, and
upon asking, What steamer is that?''
received the answer: Her Britannia
Majesty's ship ViXen.'' I replied would
send a boat aboard, and Immediately
gave the order. In the meantime both
vessels were changing their positions,
the stranger endeavoring to gain a de-
sirable position for a raking fire. AL
most simultaneously with the piping
away of the boat the strange craft again
replied, I'VE are the Confederate steam
er Alabama" which was accompanied
by a breadside. 1 at the same moment
returned the fire. Being we'll aware of
the many vulnerable points of the Hat
teras, I hoped by closing with the Ala
bama to be able to board her, and thus
= rid the seas of this piratical craft.
The Ship on Fire.
I steamed directly for the Alabama,
kx..4 L.
and the foulness of the bottom of the
Hatteras, and consequently her dimin-
dshed speed, TO thwart my attempt.
When had gained a distance of but 30
yards from her. at this range musket
and pistol shots were exchanged, the
firing continuing with great ,vigor on
both sides. At length a shell entered
amidship in the hold. setting fire to it,
and at the same instant as can hardly
divide the time, a shell passed thru the
sick bay, exploding in an adjoining
compartment also producing fire; an
other entered the cylinder, filling the
engine room and deck with steam and
depriving me of all power to manuver
the vessel or to work the pumps upon
which the reduction of the fire depend
ed. With the vessel on firesin places and
beyond human power a hapless 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 at
tention of the feet off Galveston, which
was only % miles distant. 1t was soon
reported to me that shells had entered
the Hatteras at the water line tearing
off entire sheets of iron, and that the
water was rushing in, utterly defying
any 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 nv
guns. doubtless preparing for a rakjne
fire of the decks. / felt that I had nc
right to sacrifice uselessly and without
any desirable result the lives of all un-
der my command.
To prevent. the blowing I'D of the
Hatteras from the fire. which was MAX
ing much progress, ! ordered the mag
azine to be flooded and a lee gun to bc
Tired. The Alabama then asked if as
sistance was desired, to which an af-
hrmative answer was given. The Hat.
teras was now rapidly going down, and
an order to save the lives of my CfIi-
GERS and men | caused the armament
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
valuable lives.
After considerable delay caused by
report that a steamer was seen COM
Ing 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
The Hatteras Sank Rapidly.
Ten minutes after leaving the Hat.
teras she went down bow first, with her
pennant at the masthead, with all her
1nuskets and stores of every character
the enemy not being able, owing to her
rapid sinking, to obtain a single yyeap-
on. The battery upon the Alabama
brought into action against the Hat
teras numbered seven guns. consisting
of four long 32pounders. one 100
FOUNDER rife gun, one 6S-pounder and
12i-pounder rifle gun
The great superiority of the Alabama
with her powerful battery and her ma
chinery, etc, under the water line must
be at once recognized by the Depart-
ment. who are familiar with the con-
struction Of the Hatteras and her total
nnlitness for a contest with d regularly
built vessel Of war.
The distance between the Hatteras
and the Alabama during the action
varied from 25 TO 100 yards. Nearly
80 shots were fired from the Hatteras
and, | presume, a greater number from
The Alabama. / desire to refer the
efficient and active manner in which
Acting Master Henry o. Porter, eXecu-
tive officer. performed his duty. The
conduct Of Assistant Surg Edward S