-----------------+------------------------+------------------------- 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. | IV 32-pdr. | IV 32-pdr. ” smooth-bores. | smooth-bores. | | | Battery Fought. | Battery Fought. | Battery Fought. II rifles, | II rifles, | I rifle, II 11-inch, II 32-pdrs. | III smooth-bores. | 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. _Action off Point Tetas, October 8, 1879._