we supposed.  The watch below came on deck, and of their own accord began preparing the guns, &c., for action.  Those whose watch it was on deck were engaged in getting the propeller ready for lowering; others were bending a cable to a kedge and putting it over the bow—­the engineers firing up for steam, officers looking to their side-arms, &c., and discussing the size of their expected adversary or adversaries.  At 2.30 shortened sail and tacked to the southward. 4 P.M.:  A steamer reported standing out from the fleet toward us.  Backed maintopsail and lowered propeller. 4.50:  Every thing reported ready for action.  Chase bearing N.N.E., distant ten miles.  Twilight set in about 5.45.  Took in all sail.  At 6.20 beat up to quarters, manned the starboard battery, and loaded with five second shell; turned round, stood for the steamer, having previously made her out to be a two-masted side-wheel, of apparent 1,200 tons, though at the distance she was before dark we could not form any correct estimate of her size, &c.

At 6.30 the strange steamer hailed and asked, “What steamer is that?” We replied (in order to be certain who he was), “Her Majesty’s ship Petrel!  What steamer is that?” Two or three times we asked the question, until we heard, “This is the United States steamer——­,” not hearing the name.  However, United States steamer was sufficient.  As no doubt existed as to her character, we said, at 6.35, that this was the “Confederate States steamer, Alabama,” accompanying the last syllable of our name with a shell fired over him.  The signal being given, the other guns took up the refrain, and a tremendous volley from our whole broadside given to him, every shell striking his side, the shot striking being distinctly heard on board our vessel, and thus found that she was iron.

The enemy replied, and the action became general.  A most sharp spirited firing was kept up on both sides, our fellows peppering away as though the action depended on each individual.  And so it did.  Pistols and rifles were continually pouring from our quarter-deck messengers most deadly, the distance during the hottest of the fight not being more than forty yards!  It was a grand, though fearful sight, to see the guns belching forth, in the darkness of the night, sheets of living flame, the deadly missiles striking the enemy with a force that we could feel.  Then, when the shells struck her sides, especially the percussion ones, her whole side was lit up, and showing rents of five or six feet in length.  One shot had just struck our smoke-stack, and wounding one man in the cheek, when the enemy ceased his firing, and fired a lee gun; then a second, and a third.  The order was given to “Cease firing.”  This was at 6.52.  A tremendous cheering commenced, and it was not till everybody had cleared his throat to his own satisfaction, that silence could be obtained.  We then hailed him, and in reply he stated that he had surrendered, was on fire, and also that he was