Report of Commander Ronckendorff, U.S. navy, commanding U.S.S. San Jacinto, enclosing correspondence and reports on the subject.

U.S. STEAM SLOOP SAN JACINTO,
Fort Royal, Island of Martinique, November 21, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following statement with reference to the escape of the rebel steamer Alabama, or 290, from this port:

I arrived here on the morning of the 19th instant, and finding the Alabama at anchor off the town and under the guns of the fort, I at once prepared to attack in case she attempted to escape. Of course I did not anchor, as that would have involved the necessity of remaining twenty-four hours. Shortly after my arrival a French war steamer came out from the arsenal and anchored near the Alabama. The commanding officer came on board with a communication from the governor of the island, a translation of which I herewith enclose, with my reply.

I sent by a fishing boat an invitation to the captain of the brig Hampden, of Bangor, Me. ( which is here discharging cargo), to cooperate with me by signaling during the night the movements of the Alabama. He came on board and took back with him several rockets, with instructions to use them if the Alabama should get underway, firing them to the north if she should go by the north shore of the bay and to the south if by the south shore of the bay. This was near evening. As soon as it was dark I dispatched two boats, one under charge of Acting Master Baker, the other under charge of Acting Master's Mate Keene, who were placed near the beach on each side of the bay with red and blue signal lights, so as to communicate the movements of the rebel vessel in the event of her going out. I kept the San Jacinto near the middle of the bay, so as to command both sides, if possible.

At 8:10 p.m. three rockets were sent up in a southerly direction. We immediately steamed over along the southern shore, opening the point so in case she passed I could see her. I would here remark that the bay is 6 miles wide where, by the direction of the governor's letter, I had leave to operate, and the land quite high on both sides.

Officers with glasses were stationed in the most favorable parts of the vessel, but were unable to see anything of the rebel steamer. The night was dark and cloudy, with a light rain falling, and the opinion of all was that she could not have been seen over half a mile, and not over 300 yards when covered with so dark a background of hills. The officers and men were kept at quarters during the night, and all seemed as zealous as possible, but from the width of the bay and the darkness of the night our efforts were fruitless. The enemy escaped, notwithstanding all our vigilance . . . .