Southern Historical Society Papers
Vol. IV. Richmond, Virginia, November, 1877. No. 5.
Reminiscences Of Torpedo Service In Charleston Harbor
By W. T. Glassel, Commander Confederate States Navy
[excerpt](*) Pilot Cannon states, that not being able to swim, when the fires were extinguished he jumped overboard and clung to the unexposed side of the "David." The boat gradually drifted away from the "Ironsides," without being materially injured, though a bull's-eye lantern afforded a mark to the Federal cannoneers. After drifting about a quarter of a mile, Pilot C. got aboard. Seeing something in the water he hailed, and heard, to his surprise, a reply from Engineer Toombs. Toombs got aboard, caught up the fires with the light from the lantern, got up steam, and started for the city. They were fired at several times while passing the Federal monitors and picket boats, but escaped them unhurt, and reached Atlantic wharf at 12 P.M. -- Y.S.
Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol. V. Richmond, Virginia, April, 1870. No. 4.
Torpedo Service In The Harbor And Water Defences Of Charleston.
By General T. T. Beauregard.
(The following article from the distinguished engineer and accomplished soldier who made the heroic defence of Charleston, has been delayed much longer than we had intended by circumstances over which we had no control.)Letter From General Beauregard.
Rev. J. W. Jones, D.D.,Secretary Southern Historical Society,
Richmond, Virginia:
Narrative By General Beauregard.
[excerpt]The "David" reached the New Ironsides about ten o'clock P.M., striking her with a torpedo about six feet under water, but fortunately for that steamer she received the shock against one of her inner bulk heads, which saved her from destruction. The water, however, being thrown up in large volume, half filled her little assailant and extinguished its fires. It then drifted out to sea with the current, under a heavy grape and musketry fire from the much alarmed crew of the New Ironsides. Supposing the "David" disabled, Glassel and his men jumped into the sea to swim ashore; but after remaining in the water about one hour he was picked up by the boat of a Federal transport schooner, whence he was transferred to the guard ship "Ottowa," lying outside of the rest of the fleet. He was ordered at first, by Admiral Dahlgren, to be ironed, and in case of resistance, to be double ironed; but through the intercession of his friend, Captain W.D. Whiting, commanding the Ottawa, he was released on giving his parole not to attempt to escape from the ship. The fireman, Sullivan, had taken refuge on the rudder of the New Ironsides, where he was discovered, put in irons and kept in a dark cell until sent with Glassel to New York, to be tried and hung, as reported by Northern newspapers, for using an engine of war not recognized by civilized nations. But the government of the United States has now a torpedo corps, intended specially to study and develop that important branch of the military service. After a captivity of many months in Forts Lafayette and Warren, Glassel and Sullivan were finally exchanged for the captain and a sailor of the Federal steamer "Isaac Smith," a heavily armed gunboat which was captured in the Stono river, with its entire crew of one hundred and thirty officers and men, by a surprise I had prepared, with field artillery only, placed in ambuscade along the river bank, and under whose fire the Federal gunners were unable to man and use their powerful guns. Captain Glassel's other two companions, Engineer Tomb and Pilot Cannon, after swimming about for a while, espied the David still afloat, drifting with the current; they betook themselves to it, relit fires from its bull's eye lantern, got up steam and started back for the city; they had to repass through the fleet and they received the fire of several of its monitors and guard boats, fortunately without injury. With the assistance of the flood tide they returned to their point of departure, at the Atlantic wharf, about midnight, after having performed one of the most daring feats of the war The New Ironsides never fired another shot after this attack upon her. She remained some time at her anchorage off Morris Island, evidently undergoing repairs; she was then towed to Port Royal, probably to fit her for her voyage to Philadelphia, where she remained until destroyed by fire after the war.
[It is believed, by its application; it is used in the same way as a "Dark Lantern." Solid on one side, and illuminated on the other side-casting light in one direction towards a person, object, or target]
[See Dark Lantern]
Bringing the