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If his suspicions were well founded, however, he had nothing to do but to keep on his course and fight, and he prepared for a vigorous attack.
When he had left the flagship, between three and four in the afternoon, the chase was not in sight from the Hatteras; and it was only after he had proceeded some distance that he discovered her to be a bark-rigged steamer, standing on under topsails away from the bar, and occasionally steaming a little.
The fact was immediately signalled to the flagship, but the signals were not observed.
At dusk the Alabama lay to, being then about twenty miles from the squadron, and waited for the Hatteras to come up. Blake had resolved to run up as close as possible, and if his surmises were correct, to endeavor to board.
With the Alabama it was his only chance.
As he approached he hailed, and the other vessel replied, giving as her name, ‘Her Majesty's ship Petrel.’
This gentle ruse lulled Blake's suspicions, and he gave orders to send a boat on board the stranger.
The Alabama only waited for Blake's reply to her hail, to make sure of his nationality; and on receiving it, before the boat had gone more than its length from the ship, she discharged a broadside at the Hatteras.
During the hailing, Semmes had endeavored to get a raking position astern of the Hatteras, but the latter had thwarted the attempt.
After the firing began, both vessels moved forward, the Hatteras trying to get on board; but the Alabama passed ahead, and Blake, though he came very near—being not more than thirty or forty yards off at one time—failed to accomplish his object.
The firing was sharp on both sides; but out of fifty shots estimated by Blake to have been fired from his vessel, only seven hit the mark.
One struck the Alabama under the counter, penetrating as far as a timber, and then glanced off; a second struck the
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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