CSS Alabama sinks USS Hatteras January 11, 1863
I missed this as I was combing through the Seneca County, New York newspaper clippings from 1863:
We are rejoiced to learn of the safety of our young friend John Arnett, who was known to have been on board the gunboat Hatteras when she engagedthe rebel steamer Alabama, and from whom no intelligence had been received until Tuesday, when his father received a brief letter from him, from which we are permitted to make the following extract:
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jan. 24, 1863.
DEAR FATHER – After the “Westfield” was destroyed I was ordered on board the steamer Hatteras which was sunk after a desperate engagement with the Confederate steamer Alabama, about thirty miles out of Galveston on the 11th inst. I am released on parole with the rest of the officers and crew of the “Hatteras,” and shall take passage for New York in about six days. My health is very good and I feel first-rate. I lost all my clothes as I did not leave the ship until within five minutes before she went down.
150 years ago today the crew of the Hatteras made it to New York City. Since John Arnett was said to be a Master’s Mate, I’m assuming the “John P. Arnot” in this story is probably him.
From The New-York Times February 26, 1863:
NEWS FROM KEY WEST.; Arrival of the Star of the South. The Officers and Crew of the Hatteras Among the Passengers.
Key West, 1862
The steamship Star of the South, Capt. M.S. WOODHULL, arrived at this port, yesterday morning, from Key West, whence she sailed on Feb. 21.
She left in that harbor the bark Sallie Bonsall, from Abaco, with Government stores saved from the wreck of the ship Planter. The Sallie Bonsall is undoubted by the vessel which was reported by the Richmond papers as having been sunk by the Alabama. The Star of the South brings as passengers Acting Assistant-Engineer W.M. BURR, U.S.N.; W.H. NELSON, U.S.N.; Capt. EDWARD E. PARKER, and twenty in the steerage. Also, the officers and crew of the United States steamer Hatteras, viz.:
HOMER C. BLAKE, Lieut. Commanding; Henry O. Porter, Acting Master and Executive Officer; Edward S. Mathews, Assistant Surgeon; Fred. A. Conkling, Acting Assistant Paymaster; A.M. Covert, First Assistant Engineer, acting Chief; James C. Cru, Acting Third Assistant Engineer; Jacob Colp, Third Assistant Engineer; Benjamin C. Bourne, Third Assistant Engineer; Acting Ensign, John H. Bateman; Master’s Mates, F.L. McGrath, Jas. W. Haylitt, Abm. H. Berry, David Hawey, John P. Arnot, Jas. G. Crocker; Captain’s Clerk, Thos. W. Weisenthal, and 102 seamen, (crew.)
Besides the boat’s crew which escaped at Galveston only two persons are missing, viz.: JOHN C. CLAREY and WILLIAM HEALEY, firemen.
CSS Alabama treated Hatteras crew well
The Alabama reached Kingston on the 19th of January, and remained six days making repairs. She was much strained, and leaked badly. She was struck thirteen times during the engagement, which lasted seventeen minutes.
The officers and crew of the Hatteras were well treated while on board the enemy’s ship.
The officers and crew of the Hatteras sailed from Jamaica on the 4th inst., in the ship Borodino, of BOSTON, Capt. SAMUEL FLOWERS, and reached Key West on the 15th inst. The Borodino sailed for New-York on the 19th inst.
landfall February 25, 1863 John Arnett and others (image c.1851)
