DUELS.
Monitor and Merrimac,
March 9, 1862.
On the morning of the 9th the Merrimac steamed into Hampton Roads to finish the destruction of the wooden squadron which she had attacked the day previous ([see page 166]). The Monitor having arrived during the night steamed out to meet her after she had approached within gunshot of the Minnesota. After a short engagement at a distance of 200 yards, the Merrimac attempted to ram or force a surrender of the Minnesota, in doing which she ran ashore, and was for a short time exposed to the full broadside fire of the frigate. Getting clear, she again turned to the Monitor, and attempted to ram her, striking a slight ineffectual blow. The Merrimac kept on down the channel, the Monitor chasing for some distance, but hauling out of action when she found her speed and artillery power not sufficient to bring the Merrimac to terms. Casualties on the Monitor, 1 wounded, 2 temporarily disabled by the shock of the projectiles striking the turret against which they happened to be leaning. Action indecisive.
Alabama and Hatteras,
January 11, 1863.
The Hatteras (6 guns) proceeding to blockade duty off Galveston went in chase of a sail on the morning of the 11th, and running close to her, stopped and hailed. The answer returned was “Her Majesty’s Steamer Vixen.” The Hatteras then lowered a boat and sent it alongside. Before the boat was fairly started the hail came, “We are the Confederate steamer Alabama,” accompanied by a broadside. The fire was returned at once, and the Hatteras attempted to close and board, but could not. In about five minutes she had been set on fire by one shell and her boiler was pierced by another. The Alabama then took a position under her stern, and in a few minutes forced her to surrender, the crew being transferred to the Alabama, and the Hatteras left to burn and blow up. Casualties: on the Hatteras, killed, 2; wounded, 5. Action decisive. (For fighting power of ships, [see page 172].)
Weehawken and Atlanta,
June 17, 1863.
At early daylight the Confederate ram Atlanta was seen coming down the Wilmington River, and the Federal monitors Weehawken and Nahant steamed in to meet her. The Atlanta opened fire at 1500 yards, and a few moments afterwards grounded. The Weehawken approaching within 300 yards opened fire, and forced the surrender of the ram in fifteen minutes. Five shots were fired by the Weehawken, all striking and three penetrating the ram, killing and wounding many people at the guns. The ram was taken possession of and sent in as a prize. Action decisive.
Kearsarge and Alabama,
June 19, 1864.
The Alabama steamed out of Cherbourg Harbor on the morning of the 19th to meet the Kearsarge in accordance with a challenge sent out two days before. The Kearsarge, steaming out clear of neutral water, turned when at a good distance and headed for the Alabama. The action commenced at 1200 yards, the Alabama sending the first broadside, which was immediately returned by the Kearsarge. The action continued for 65 minutes at a distance of 900 yards, the two ships steaming in a circle. At the end of this time the Alabama surrendered, and in about twenty minutes after sunk. Action decisive.
Fighting Powers of the Hatteras, Alabama,
and Kearsarge.
| Hatteras. | Alabama | Kearsarge. |
|---|---|---|
| Battery. | Battery. | Battery. |
| I 20-pdr. rifle. | I 100-pdr. rifle. | I 30-pdr. rifle. |
| I 30-pdr. ” | I 68-pdr. ” | II 11-inch smooth-bores. |
| IV 32-pdr. smooth-bores. | IV 32-pdr. smooth-bores. | IV 32-pdr.” |
| Battery Fought. | Battery Fought. | Battery Fought. |
| II rifles, II 32-pdrs. | II rifles, III smooth-bores. | I rifle, II 11-inch, II 32-pdrs. |
| Crew, 125 men. | Crew, about 170 men. | Crew, 163 men. |
Meteor and Bouvet,
November 9, 1870.
On the morning of November 8th the French gun-boat Bouvet (5 guns) steamed out of Havana and beyond the neutral limit to wait for the Prussian gun-boat Meteor (3 guns) to come out in answer to a challenge. The Meteor, after waiting in port twenty-four hours as prescribed by law for the sailing of belligerent vessels, steamed out, and the action commenced about two miles outside of the neutral limit, the Bouvet firing the first gun. After a few manœuvres the Bouvet closed with the intention of ramming, and was partially avoided, striking a glancing blow abeam and slipping along, carrying away the Prussian’s main and mizzen masts, the rigging fouling the Meteor’s screw. In return, the Meteor put a shot through the Bouvet’s steam-chest, partially disabling her. The latter made sail at once and escaped into neutral water, the Meteor keeping up a fire but unable for a time to chase owing to the fouled screw. Action indecisive on account of the proximity of neutral water. Casualties: Bouvet, 3 wounded. Meteor, 3 killed; 1 wounded. Duration of action, less than one hour.
RÉSUMÉ.
Number of duels noted, 5. Decisive, 3. Indecisive, 2. Of the indecisive fights, one was due to lack of speed for overhauling the opponent and continuing the action; the other to the temporary disability of fouling the screw and the proximity of neutral water. In the decisive actions, two were decided by sinking, although in both cases the ship surrendered first.
Action off Point Tetas,
October 8, 1879.
At daylight on the 8th the Chilian iron-clad corvette Blanco Encalada sighted the Peruvian iron-clad turret-ship Huascar, and gave chase. The Huascar, running to the northward, and slowly distancing the Blanco, was headed by the Chilian iron-clad corvette Almirante Cochrane. These two ships then engaged, and in about half an hour the Blanco closed and opened on the Huascar, placing her between two fires. After an action of one hour and a half the Huascar surrendered, having been much cut up, and having lost her three senior officers. Casualties: Blanco Encalada, none. Almirante Cochrane, 2 killed, 10 wounded.
Note.—After careful research it has been found that in every case cited in which boilers were penetrated by projectiles, the part of the boiler hit was above the water-line.