USS Hatteras (1861)

USS "Hatteras" (1861) was a heavy 1,126-ton steamer purchased by the Union Navy at the beginning of the American Civil War. She was outfitted as a gunboat and assigned to the Union blockade of the ports and waterways of the Confederate States of America. During an engagement with a disguised blockade runner, she was taken by surprise and was sunk.

Fitted out at Philadelphia

"Hatteras", formerly "St. Mary", was purchased by the Navy from Harland and Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Delaware, on 25 September 1861. She was fitted out at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and commissioned in October 1861, Comdr. George F. Emmons in command.

Civil War service

Assigned to the South Atlantic blockade

"Hatteras" – the first American Naval ship to be so named – sailed for Key West, Florida, on 5 November 1861, arriving there 13 November to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron which was destined to choke off the South's economic lifeline. After blockade duty off Apalachicola, Florida, she was reassigned to Cedar Key, Florida, reaching there 7 January 1862. Nine days later "Hatteras" made a highly successful raid on the Cedar Keys harbor, burning seven small would-be blockade runners loaded with turpentine and cotton, the Florida Railroad wharf (an important Southern railroad terminus), several flat-cars, and various buildings.

To cap this day's work, "Hatteras" also captured 14 of the 22-man garrison stationed there, and their commanding officer. Such unceasing attack from the sea on any point of her long coastline and inland waterways cost the South sorely in losses, economic disruption, and dispersion of strength of defense.

Transferred to the Gulf blockade

After this exploit, "Hatteras" was transferred to the Gulf Blockading Squadron and arrived off Berwick, Louisiana, 26 January. The next day she engaged CSS "Mobile" but failed to do any serious damage when the light-draft ship withdrew to the safety of shallow water.

Nevertheless the Gulf of Mexico proved to he a profitable hunting ground for "Hatteras", as, in less than a year, she captured seven blockade runners with assorted cargoes of cotton, sugar, and other goods the South was desperately striving to export. These captures netted "Hatteras", among other things, some 534 bales of valuable cotton. Commander Emmons stationed four of his own men on board one prize, 20-ton sloop "Poody", and, rechristening her "Hatteras Jr"., turned the erstwhile blockade runner into a unit of the Gulf Blockading Squadron.

Other Confederate ships taken as prizes by "Hatteras" included: steamer "Indian No. 2", "schooner" "Magnolia", steamer "Governor A. Mouton", schooner "Sarah", sloop "Elizabeth", and brig "Josephine". The majority of these ships were captured off Vermilion Bay, Louisiana, as they ran toward either Havana, Cuba, or the Sabine River area of Texas. However, "Hatteras" illustrious blockading career was cut short in early 1863 not long after she was ordered to joint the squadron under Real Admiral David Farragut, who was attempting to retake the key Texas port of Galveston. Under a new skipper, Comdr. Henry T. Blake, who had relieved Captain Emmons in November 1862, "Hatteras" joined Farragut's squadron off Galveston on 6 January 1863.

Encounter with the CSS Alabama

As the blockading fleet lay to off the coast near Galveston on the afternoon of 11 January 1863, a set of sails was sighted just over the horizon and "Hatteras" was ordered to give chase. She took off in pursuit of the strange ship at about 3 p.m. and for the next 4 hours followed her closer and closer into shore. Finally, as dusk was falling, "Hatteras" came within hailing distance of the square-rigged ship. Commander Blake demanded to know her identity. "HBMS Spitfire," came the reply. Still suspicious, Blake ordered one of "Hatteras"' boats to inspect this "Britisher."

Scarcely had the boat pulled away from "Hatteras" than a new reply to Blake's question rang through the night. "We're the "CSS Alabama"." With this, the famed Confederate raider commanded by Raphael Semmes broke the Stars and Bars and began raking "Hatteras" with her guns. Through the gloom, for about 20 minutes, the two ships exchanged heavy fire at distances ranging from 25 to 200 yards. The flashes of the guns and their rumbling were heard in the Union squadron some 16 miles away, and the cruiser "Brooklyn" was dispatched to investigate and render aid if necessary.

"Hatteras" is holed by the "Alabama"

But "Hatteras" had already been badly holed in two places by the rebel raider and was on fire and beginning to sink. Captain Blake ordered the magazines flooded to prevent explosion and reluctantly fired a single bow gun, indicating surrender and a need for assistance. "Alabama", promptly sent over her boats to help remove "Hatteras"' crew, and the last boatload of men had barely pulled away when the Union blockader sank, some 45 minutes from the beginning of the action.

Of "Hatteras"' crew of 126, two had been killed and five wounded; six had escaped back to the squadron in the boat originally sent out to board and investigate "HBMS Spitfire;" and the remainder, including Captain Blake, were taken to Port Royal, Jamaica, and from there paroled back to the United States. "Alabama" suffered 2 wounded.

Sunk, but still flying her flag

When "Brooklyn" reached the site of the battle early the following morning, she found the hulk of "Hatteras" upright in the water about 20 miles south of Galveston Light. Only Hatteras' masts reached out of water, and from the topmast the U.S. Navy pendant was still whipping in the breeze. Even in defeat the gallant blockader had not struck her colors.

Caring for the shipwreck

The hull of "Hatteras" rests in approximately 60 ft (20 m) of water 20 miles (40 km) off of Galveston, Texas and buried under about three feet (1 m) of sand. Her steam engine and two iron paddle wheels remain on the ocean bottom. The wreck is monitored to ensure that it is not damaged by oil and gas development in the area.

The wreck of "Hatteras" is the property of the United States Navy though the Texas Historical Commission and Texas A&M University at Galveston cooperate in preserving this important historical site.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War
* Confederate States Navy

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-h/hatteras.htm USS Hatteras (1861-1863)]