Rocket Ship Attack?

[DaveBrt]

While browsing the outgoing letter book of BG Leadbetter, Chief Engineer at Mobile, I found a brief statement that the rocket ship had been completed and was only waiting for the opportunity to attack one of the blockaders. The date of the comment was April of 1863. Has anyone heard of such a boat or attack?

 

[georgew]

While browsing the outgoing letter book of BG Leadbetter, Chief Engineer at Mobile, I found a brief statement that the rocket ship had been completed and was only waiting for the opportunity to attack one of the blockaders. The date of the comment was April of 1863. Has anyone heard of such a boat or attack?

E.H. Angamar designer & builder. Angamar had a pre-war patent on a means of stopping cravasses in the levees. He did minor supply work at New Orleans, promoted his patent with Gen. Polk for use on the river and at Mobile worked on rope type obstructions and his rocket torpedo, launched by a rocket powered catamaran. Found one citation that he defected to the Union and sold plans of the defenses of Mobile for $30,000. Mark Ragan's book on Union and Confederate submarines has a bit about him. He also shows up in the Fold 3 citizen files.

 

[AndyHall]

Another thread here:

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/confederate-rocket-powered-boat.81817/