Steam turbine generators (this was back in the 1970s, the ship was decommissioned in 2003). No motor to start turning the turbines, just apply steam. The main engines were also steam turbines, and likewise started just by opening the throttle valves--one for forward, another for backing. We did have a jacking gear powered by an electric motor, but it was only used to prevent warping as the engine cooled down when we went cold iron. And of course the boilers ran on fuel oil, not coal--coal went out on naval ships in the early 20th century.

As for how the generators' fields were started, now that you mention it I'm not sure. We did have emergency diesel generators (and of course shore power when we were pier-side), so maybe those supplied electricity to jump-start the generators. But they were 750 kw generators (upgraded in 1974 from 500 kw generators), so I don't imagine batteries would have sufficed.