Off Ylo, Peru,
May 29, 1877.
The Peruvian iron-clad Huascar, having been taken possession of by a party of insurgents, and having committed depredations against British commercial vessels, was attacked off Iquique by the British frigate Shah and the corvette Amethyst. The Huascar running into shoal water prevented the close approach of the enemy, and the action was continued for about three hours, during which time neither of the British vessels was struck and no notable damage had been done to the Huascar. Just before dark the Huascar cleared the shoals and ran down the coast followed by the British until dark. One Whitehead torpedo was sent at her, but ineffectually.
After dark a launch was sent into the bay of Ylo with Whitehead torpedoes for the purpose of sinking the vessel, but she had escaped. Action indecisive. Casualties: Peruvian, killed, 1; wounded, 1. British, none. Neither vessel injured sufficiently to affect her fighting power. The Huascar was manned by a raw crew, causing her fire to be entirely ineffective.
Iquique Harbor,
May 21, 1879.
The Peruvian iron-clads Independencia and Huascar appeared off Iquique Harbor on the morning of May 21st, finding there the Chilian gun-boats Esmeralda and Covadonga. The latter on discovering the enemy ran into shoal water, the iron-clads taking a position about 2000 yards away. After a short action, the Covadonga (apparently with the intention of dividing the fire and possibly escaping) attempted to run down the coast, the Independencia giving chase. The Huascar continued to engage the Esmeralda, and notwithstanding the short range, failed to hit her. At length a shore battery drove the Esmeralda into deep water, and before she could commence to manœuvre a shot from the Huascar disabled her engines. The Huascar then rammed her three times, the first two blows being total failures on account of stopping the ship too quick. The third was a success, sinking the Esmeralda with her colors flying. The Covadonga, keeping in shoal water as much as possible, ran for two hours, the Independencia making three attempts to ram her and failing. At the fourth attempt the ship was missed, and the Independencia struck a rock and hung fast. The Covadonga at once turned, and taking a position under the Peruvian’s stern, opened fire on him and forced him to surrender. The Huascar appearing at this time, possession could not be taken, and the Covadonga escaped. Attempts to haul the Peruvian off the rocks proving unavailing, she was fired and burned. In this action the Chilians lost the greatest number of men owing to the sinking of the Esmeralda, but the loss of the Independencia more than counterbalanced it.
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].)