Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of Rebellion, Series I, Volume 19 by United States Department of the Navy

Author:United States Department of the Navy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Official Records, Civil War
Publisher: United States Department of the Navy
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

See also Series 1, volume 2, pp. 1823, 683, 721, et al

Page 507

WEST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON. 507

Sons escaping from her, viz: Acting Master Leander H. Partridge, of Orland, Me.; John Beatty, ordinary seaman, of Forked River, N. J.; George H. Falkinberg, first-class boy, of Philadelphia, Pa.; James Wright, seaman, of Troy, N. Y.; William Brown, coxswain, of Boston, Mass., and William H. Jenkins, ordinary seaman, of Penns Grove, N. J. Their statement is, in substance, as follows:

The Hatteras having been sent in chase, the two vessels encountered at night. The strange steamer answered to the hail, Her Majestys steamer Spitfire. Captain Blake said he would send a boat on board. The boat was lowered, and immediately after she left the Hatteras the stranger opened fire at the distance of 100 yards with three broadside guns. The Hatteras returned it with spirit, and both vessels steamed ahead, leaving the boat behind. The firing ceased in fifteen or twenty minutes. The two vessels were observed to close, and cheers ensued. The party in the boat, feeling dubious, would not go alongside, but pulled north and reached the blockading ves- sels off Galveston next morning. Acting Master Leander H. Partridge has been permitted to proceed in the Clifton to New Orleans to report to you in person. The sailors are on board this ship. At 3 p. m. yesterday, 11th, the Hatteras was sent in chase of a sail which was reported from masthead. She was seen last after sunset, about 12 miles distant, bearing south. At 7:15 flashes were seen in that direction and the sound of heavy guns heard heavier than any carried by t~ie Hatteras. It lasted for near twenty minutes. The wind being light from S. S. E., I judged the firing to be 16 miles distant. At 7:30 the Brooklyn was underway, steering S. j~ E., in the direc- tion of the flashes seen. At the same time the Sciota steered S. S. E., and the Caynga S. by W. The Brooklyn cruised on several courses as far as 63 miles south of Galveston in search of the combatants, supposing the enemy to be 290. Returning, I reached this bar at 3 p. m. to-day. About 11 oclock a. m. I discovered two masts of a sunken vessel standing out of water. The tops and yards were awash, topmasts up, and a United States naval pennant gaily flying from the main truck. No ensign was found. The hurricane deck was adrift. The wreck was recognized as the Hatteras by certain marks which the Brooklyns head guys made upon her hurricane house in the river a short time ago. She lies in 9~ fathoms water about 20 miles south, true, from Galveston light-house. I should think there would be no difficulty in raising her if she be taken in hand imme- diately. I picked up three of her boats a few miles to the northward of her. I[ hasten off the Clifton to apprise you of the presence in the Gulf of this dangerous enemy.

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