C.S.S. St. Patrick, Torpedo Boat/Submarine

Battalion

Banned
Joined
Dec 30, 2005
Letter from Catesby Jones, Commandant of the Naval Gun Foundry and Ordnance Works, Selma, to Major-General Maury, C.S. Army, 16 June 1864, regarding torpedo boat under construction-

"...The boat will be launched in a few days. It combines a number of ingenious contrivances, which if experiments show that they will answer the purposes expected, will render the boat very formidable. It is propelled by steam (the engine is very compact), though under water by hand. There are also arrangements for raising and descending at will, for attaching the torpedo to the bottom of vessels, etc. Its first field of operation will be off Mobile Bay, and I hope you may soon have evidence of its success..."

Official Records (Navies), Series 1, Volume 21, page 902-903.


*


Report of Federal spy, 20 November 1864-

"...At Selma, Ala., has just been built a torpedo boat. Length, about 30 feet; has water-tight compartments; can be sunk or raised as desired; is propelled by a very small engine, and will just stow in 5 [7] men. It has some arrangement of machinery that times the explosions of torpedoes, to enable the operators to retire at a safe distance. The boat proves to be a good sailer on the river and has gone to Mobile to make last preparations for trying its efficacy on the Federal vessels. Was built and is commanded by Halligan. What I have stated you can rely on as strictly true; as to the danger to be anticipated from the boat, you can judge better than I."

Official Records (Navies), Series 1, Volume 21, page 748.
 
Das Boat ist kaput!

SAVANNAH [GA] REPUBLICAN, May 22, 1861, p. 1, c. 5

A Submarine Boat Captured in the Delaware.

Philadelphia, May 17.—Quite an excitement was created in the upper part of the city this morning, by the seizure of a submarine boat, the invention of De Villerol, a Frenchman. It was going down the river, and struck on an island. Four men were found aboard.
Villerol says he was about taking it to the Navy Yard to test, but the officers of the Yard disclaim any knowledge of him. The boat was constructed some time since for raising wrecks and other submarine work, but was never put in active use. It is cigar shaped and made of iron, thirty feet long. It supplies its own air and will be useful in running under a fleet.
 
How did the south have all this access to technology? Didnt they have the very first under water submarine? What about the North did they have anything to counter attack?
 
Back
Top