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.