On Commander Blake surrendering his sword, he said that “it was with deep regret he did it.”  Captain Semmes smacked his lips and invited him down to his cabin.  On Blake giving his rank to Captain Semmes, he gave up his state-room for Blake’s special use, the rest of the officers being accommodated according to their rank in the wardroom and steerages, all having previously been paroled, the crew being placed on the berth-deck, our men sleeping anywhere, so that the prisoners might take their places.  Of the enemy’s loss we could obtain no correct accounts, a difference of seventeen being in their number of killed, the Hatteras having on board men she was going to transfer to other ships.  Their acknowledged loss was only two killed and seven wounded.  A boat had been lowered just before the action to board us; as we anticipated, and learnt afterwards, it pulled in for the fleet and reached Galveston.  From conversation with her First-Lieutenant, I learnt that as soon as we gave our name and our first broadside, the whole after division on board her left the guns, apparently paralyzed; it was some time before they recovered themselves.  The conduct of one of her officers was cowardly and disgraceful in the extreme.  Some of our shells went completely through her before exploding, others burst inside her, and set her on fire in three places.  One went through her engines, completely disabling her; another exploding in her steam chest, scalding all within reach.  Thus was fought, twenty-eight miles from Galveston, a battle, though small, yet the first yard-arm action between two steamers at sea.  She was only inferior in weight of metal—­her guns being nine in number, viz., four thirty-two pounders, two rifled thirty pounders, carrying 60lb. shot (conical), one rifled twenty pounder, and a couple of small twelve pounders.  On account of the conflicting statements made by her officers, we could never arrive at a correct estimate of her crew.  Our prisoners numbered seventeen officers, one hundred and one seamen.  We further learnt that the Hatteras was one of seven vessels sent to recapture Galveston, it being (although unknown to us) in the possession of our troops.  We also found that the flag-ship Brooklyn, twenty-two guns, and the Oneida, nine guns, sailed in search of us.  By their account of the course they steered they could not fail to have seen us.

No.  V.

THE ALABAMA IN TABLE BAY.

[From the Cape Argus.]

August 6th, 1863.

Yesterday, at almost noon, a steamer from the northward was made down from the signal-post, Lion’s-hill.  The Governor had, on the previous day, received a letter from Captain Semmes, dated Saldanha Bay, informing his Excellency that the gallant captain had put his ship into Saldanha Bay for repairs.  This letter had been made public in the morning, and had caused no little excitement.  Cape Town, that has been more than dull—­that has been dismal for