FIGHT WITH THE HATTERAS.
On the 5th of January, 1863, the Alabama left the Arcas Keys for her
cruise to the northward. Full descriptions of the Banks expedition and its
destination had appeared in the northern newspapers, and Captain Semmes
was well supplied with information as to the character of the transport
fleet and the time when it might be expected to arrive off Galveston. It
was not likely that the transports would be accompanied by a great number
of war vessels, as the Confederacy had no fleet in the gulf, and the
northern papers had reported the Alabama as well on her way to the coast
of Brazil. As there was only twelve feet of water on the bar, most of the
transports would be obliged to anchor outside. A night attack--a quick
dash--firebrands flung from deck to deck--and the fleet might be half
destroyed before the gunboats could get up steam to pursue.
Semmes determined to run in by daylight far enough to get the bearings of
the fleet, and then draw off and wait for darkness. He had permitted
enough of his plan to leak through the ward room to the forecastle to put
his people on their mettle, and the entire crew were eager for the fray.
On January 11th the man at the masthead was instructed to keep a lookout
for a large fleet anchored near a lighthouse. His "sail ho! land ho!" came
almost simultaneously, and the captain began to feel certain of his game.
But later questioning brought the answer that there was no fleet of
transports--only five steamers, which looked like vessels of war. Soon
after a shell thrown by one of the steamers was distinctly seen to burst
over the city. It could not be that the Federals would be firing upon a
city which was in their own possession, and Semmes immediately came to the
correct conclusion that Galveston had been recaptured by the Confederates.
That the Banks expedition had been diverted to New Orleans, and would
proceed toward Texas by way of the Red River he could not know, but that
it had not reached Galveston was sufficiently apparent.
The Alabama's prow was turned off shore again, and presently the lookout
called down that one of the steamers was in pursuit. Commodore Bell, of
the Federal fleet had discovered the strange actions of the sail in the
offing, and had suspected an intention of running the blockade. The
gunboat Hatteras was therefore signalled to go in chase of the intruder.
The Alabama flew away under sail, but not so fast as to discourage her
pursuer. The propeller was finally let down, and about twenty miles out
she turned to meet the Hatteras. The engines on both vessels stopped at a
distance of about a hundred yards, and the Federal hailed.
"What ship is that?"
"This is Her Britannic Majesty's ship Petrel," shouted Lieutenant Kell.
He then demanded the name of the pursuer. The first answer was not clearly
heard. A second summons brought the reply:
"This is the United States ship--"
Again those on the Alabama failed to catch the name, and the people on the
Hatteras seemed to be in a like predicament, for her officer shouted:
"I don't understand you."
"I don't understand _you_," rejoined Kell.
After a few moments' delay the Hatteras hailed again.
"If you please, I will send a boat on board of you."
"Certainly," was the reply, "we shall be happy to receive your boat."
Word was passed to the gunners that the signal to fire would be the word
"Alabama." The creaking of the tackle as the boat was lowered was
distinctly heard. Meanwhile the Alabama's engines were started and she was
deftly maneuvered to get her into position for a raking fire. But
Lieutenant Blake, of the Hatteras, was not to be caught napping, and as
the boat cleared her side, the engines of the Hatteras were again started,
giving her headway enough so that she could again present her port
broadside. Seeing that further concealment was useless, Lieutenant Kell,
at a word from his captain, placed the trumpet to his lips and shouted
with all his lungs:
"This is the Confederate States steamer Alabama!"
Almost at the same instant the whole starboard broadside was fired. At
fifty yards there was little chance to miss, and the sharp clang of shot
and shell against the Hatteras' iron plates added to the din. The fire was
immediately returned by the Hatteras, and both vessels sprang forward at
full speed, leaving Master L. H. Partridge and his boat's crew making vain
endeavors to regain their own deck.
Although the Hatteras was built of iron, she was not iron clad. Her plates
had been made merely to resist the sea, not cannon shot, and the terrific
pounding which the Alabama's guns gave her was effective from the first.
Her walking beam was shot away, and great gaps appeared in her sides.
Gunners on the Alabama revelled in the chance to revenge the long suffered
newspaper abuse.
"That's from 'the scum of England'!" "That stops your wind!" "That's a
British pill for you to swallow!" were some of the expressions hurled at
the Hatteras along with the shot and shell.
[Illustration: "THAT'S FROM THE 'SCUM OF ENGLAND'!"]
Meanwhile the Alabama was not escaping punishment entirely, although none
of her wounds were of a serious nature. One shot through the stern passed
through the lamp room, smashing everything within it. A shell striking a
few feet abaft the foremast, ripped up the deck and lodged in the port
bulwarks without exploding. A shot a few feet forward of the bridge tore
up the deck. Two shells cut the main rigging and dropped into the coal
bunkers, and one of these in exploding made a hole through the side. A
shot demolished one of the boats and went completely through the smoke
stack, making the iron splinters fly like hail. Another shot struck the
muzzle of a 32-pounder gun and caused the truck to run back over a man's
foot. There was no damage below the water line.
The Hatteras was on fire in two places, and a shell broke the cylinder of
her engine, thus making it impossible either to handle the vessel or to
put out the fire. Finding his craft a helpless wreck, Lieutenant Blake
ordered the magazine flooded to prevent an explosion and fired a lee gun
in token of surrender.
To the inquiry from the Alabama whether he needed assistance Lieutenant
Blake gave an affirmative reply, and the Alabama lowered her boats. But
they were hastily hoisted again when it was reported that a steamer was
coming from Galveston. In this emergency the commander of the Hatteras
ordered her port battery thrown overboard, and this proceeding doubtless
kept her afloat during the few minutes needed for the Alabama's boats to
be again lowered and reach her side. Every man was taken off, and ten
minutes later she went down bow foremost. The action lasted less than
fifteen minutes.
Partridge and his boat's crew drew near as the battle closed, but the
officer having satisfied himself that the Hatteras had been defeated,
ordered his men to pull for Galveston. He was without a compass, but the
night was clear and starlit, and the tired crew succeeded in reaching a
Federal vessel near the city at daybreak.
Meanwhile Commodore Bell had heard the noise of the conflict, and had
started out with two of his remaining ships to give assistance to the
Hatteras. An all-night search revealed nothing, and returning next day, he
discovered the tops of the masts of his unlucky consort projecting a few
feet above the water.