Barrycdog
Major
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Location
- Buford, Georgia
Atlanta Intelligencer
Thursday March 31st 1864
Destruction of the Yankee War Steamer Housatonic
The particulars of one of the most brilliant and successful achievements of this war have been kept, till now, from the people under the impression that a publication might be prejudicial to our interests. A few articles on the subject however having been published in Confederate Papers, and letters having appeared in the North render further secrecy unnecessary, justice to several noble spirits who deliberately devoted their lives to their country's service demands that an account of their gallant deeds should now be laid before their appreciating countrymen.
Over two years ago, Horace L. Hunley, of New Orleans, a young lawyer of much learning and earnest patriotism, conceived that the gunboats the obstructing intercourse between New Orleans and Mobile might be destroyed by Torpedo boats of a peculiar construction, originating, we believe with himself. After the fall of New Orleans, he associated himself with the construction of a boat on his plan with J.R. McClintock, of Mobile, a worthy and reliable engineer. With their private means they constructed a vessel whose ingenuity attracted much attention in Mobile. She was , however, lost. The enterprising builders did nto despair - aided somewhat by the means of others, Hunley and McClintock built another boat which pleased General Maury and Commodore Buchanan, in Mobile, that they have continued to follow he advise of the builders and send her to Charleston. United with the boat was an ingenious torpedo, invented we believe by, Mr. Whitney. One peculiarity connected with the boat was the invention of Mr. Baxter Watson, and it contributed much to the success of the enterprise.
It would be contrary to public interest to divulge the character of these various inventions. They will some time be made known, and will redound to the credit of several ingenious gentlemen who so successfully directed their minds to the service of our cause.
One of the saddest accidents connected with the enterprise was the loss of Captain Hunley. In one of his experiments, he sacrificed his life in Charleston Harbor. His remains were interred in Magnolia Cemetery, and overlook the placid bay, beneath which his life was surrendered in the performance of his duties.
Lieutenant George E. Dixon, of Mobile, superseded the lamented Hunley in command of the torpedo boat - thence named the H. L. Hunley. Firm, enthusiastic, courageous, and devoted to the cause of the Confederacy, Lieutenant Dixon was eminently qualified for the hazardous enterprise.
As the weather proved propitious, the Lieutenant with a crew of six men, started to destroy the Housatonic. - It was about 10 o'clock P.M. The torpedo struck the enemy's vessel on the stern, three minutes time sufficed for the work. At the end of that period teh vessel was beneath the sea, and three hundred human beings were struggling on the surface for existence. Some protion of her rigging remained above water, and in this most men were saved.
The Housatonic was quite new. She carried twelve guns, had a crew of three hundred men, and was valued with her armament at over three hundred thousand dollars.
The Charleston Courier thus refers to her loss, the information being derived by Yankee prisoners:
" by the prisoners we learn that the blockader sunk by our torpedo boat on the night of the 16th instant, was the United States steam sloop of war Housatonic, carrying twelve guns and a crew of three hundred men. They state that the torpedo boat, segar shape, was first seen approaching by the watch on board the Housatonic, The alarm was given and immediately all hands beat to quarters. A rapid musketry fire was opened upon the boat, but without effect. Being unable to depress their guns the order was given to slip the cable. In doing this the Housatonic backed some distance and came in collision with the segar boat. The torpedo exploded almost immediately carrying away the whole stern of the boat.
" The steamer sunk in three minutes time, the officers and crew barely escaping to the rigging. Everything else, on board, guns, stores, ammunition etc, together with the sma;; boats, went down with her. The explosion made no noise and the whole affair was not known to the fleet until day break, when the crew was discovered and released from their uneasy positions. They had remained their all night. Two officers and three men were reported missing and supposed to be drowned.
" The loss of the Housatonic caused great consternation in the fleet. All the wooden vessels are ordered to keep up steam and go out to sea every night, not being allowed to anchor inside. The picket boats have been doubled and the force in each boat increased.
" The glorious success of our little torpedo boat, under the command of Lieutenant Dixon, of Mobile, has raised the hopes of our people, and the most sanguine expectations are now entertained of our being able to raise the siege in a way little dreamed of by the enemy."
he only unfortunate feature connected with this brilliant exploit is the supposed loss of Lieutenant Dixon and his men.
It will be seen by the account taken from the Courier, that the Housatonic backed against the Hunley, and it is supposed that the latter was crushed. Some faint hope is still entertained that Dixon is a prisoner with the enemy.
This individual enterprise , aided by unsurpassed heroism, has struck a blow at the United States Navy unsurpassed by any act yet preformed by the government navy.
General Beauregard, in this success, displayed his usual soundness of judgement; while others were disposed to deny the use of the torpedo boat, he did not fail to appreciate its value and to aid the inventors with all the means at his disposal. If he hesitated at all, it was because he sought to avoid the sacrifice of valuable lives.
We will not say whether other torpedo boats are in Charleston of not, or what number may be under construction. The enemy, in course of time, will probably obtain this information themselves, and it is to be hoped the knowledge will cause them not less loss than some of their best vessels.
"It is due to the owners of the "Hunley" that their names should be made public.
J. R. McClintock, Baxter Watson, Estate of Hunley (Leovy Executioner) George E. Dixon, T.B. Lyones, B.A. Whitney, Henry J. Leovy, A,B, Pierce, J.D. Braman, and T,.W. Parks.
Thursday March 31st 1864
Destruction of the Yankee War Steamer Housatonic
The particulars of one of the most brilliant and successful achievements of this war have been kept, till now, from the people under the impression that a publication might be prejudicial to our interests. A few articles on the subject however having been published in Confederate Papers, and letters having appeared in the North render further secrecy unnecessary, justice to several noble spirits who deliberately devoted their lives to their country's service demands that an account of their gallant deeds should now be laid before their appreciating countrymen.
Over two years ago, Horace L. Hunley, of New Orleans, a young lawyer of much learning and earnest patriotism, conceived that the gunboats the obstructing intercourse between New Orleans and Mobile might be destroyed by Torpedo boats of a peculiar construction, originating, we believe with himself. After the fall of New Orleans, he associated himself with the construction of a boat on his plan with J.R. McClintock, of Mobile, a worthy and reliable engineer. With their private means they constructed a vessel whose ingenuity attracted much attention in Mobile. She was , however, lost. The enterprising builders did nto despair - aided somewhat by the means of others, Hunley and McClintock built another boat which pleased General Maury and Commodore Buchanan, in Mobile, that they have continued to follow he advise of the builders and send her to Charleston. United with the boat was an ingenious torpedo, invented we believe by, Mr. Whitney. One peculiarity connected with the boat was the invention of Mr. Baxter Watson, and it contributed much to the success of the enterprise.
It would be contrary to public interest to divulge the character of these various inventions. They will some time be made known, and will redound to the credit of several ingenious gentlemen who so successfully directed their minds to the service of our cause.
One of the saddest accidents connected with the enterprise was the loss of Captain Hunley. In one of his experiments, he sacrificed his life in Charleston Harbor. His remains were interred in Magnolia Cemetery, and overlook the placid bay, beneath which his life was surrendered in the performance of his duties.
Lieutenant George E. Dixon, of Mobile, superseded the lamented Hunley in command of the torpedo boat - thence named the H. L. Hunley. Firm, enthusiastic, courageous, and devoted to the cause of the Confederacy, Lieutenant Dixon was eminently qualified for the hazardous enterprise.
As the weather proved propitious, the Lieutenant with a crew of six men, started to destroy the Housatonic. - It was about 10 o'clock P.M. The torpedo struck the enemy's vessel on the stern, three minutes time sufficed for the work. At the end of that period teh vessel was beneath the sea, and three hundred human beings were struggling on the surface for existence. Some protion of her rigging remained above water, and in this most men were saved.
The Housatonic was quite new. She carried twelve guns, had a crew of three hundred men, and was valued with her armament at over three hundred thousand dollars.
The Charleston Courier thus refers to her loss, the information being derived by Yankee prisoners:
" by the prisoners we learn that the blockader sunk by our torpedo boat on the night of the 16th instant, was the United States steam sloop of war Housatonic, carrying twelve guns and a crew of three hundred men. They state that the torpedo boat, segar shape, was first seen approaching by the watch on board the Housatonic, The alarm was given and immediately all hands beat to quarters. A rapid musketry fire was opened upon the boat, but without effect. Being unable to depress their guns the order was given to slip the cable. In doing this the Housatonic backed some distance and came in collision with the segar boat. The torpedo exploded almost immediately carrying away the whole stern of the boat.
" The steamer sunk in three minutes time, the officers and crew barely escaping to the rigging. Everything else, on board, guns, stores, ammunition etc, together with the sma;; boats, went down with her. The explosion made no noise and the whole affair was not known to the fleet until day break, when the crew was discovered and released from their uneasy positions. They had remained their all night. Two officers and three men were reported missing and supposed to be drowned.
" The loss of the Housatonic caused great consternation in the fleet. All the wooden vessels are ordered to keep up steam and go out to sea every night, not being allowed to anchor inside. The picket boats have been doubled and the force in each boat increased.
" The glorious success of our little torpedo boat, under the command of Lieutenant Dixon, of Mobile, has raised the hopes of our people, and the most sanguine expectations are now entertained of our being able to raise the siege in a way little dreamed of by the enemy."
he only unfortunate feature connected with this brilliant exploit is the supposed loss of Lieutenant Dixon and his men.
It will be seen by the account taken from the Courier, that the Housatonic backed against the Hunley, and it is supposed that the latter was crushed. Some faint hope is still entertained that Dixon is a prisoner with the enemy.
This individual enterprise , aided by unsurpassed heroism, has struck a blow at the United States Navy unsurpassed by any act yet preformed by the government navy.
General Beauregard, in this success, displayed his usual soundness of judgement; while others were disposed to deny the use of the torpedo boat, he did not fail to appreciate its value and to aid the inventors with all the means at his disposal. If he hesitated at all, it was because he sought to avoid the sacrifice of valuable lives.
We will not say whether other torpedo boats are in Charleston of not, or what number may be under construction. The enemy, in course of time, will probably obtain this information themselves, and it is to be hoped the knowledge will cause them not less loss than some of their best vessels.
"It is due to the owners of the "Hunley" that their names should be made public.
J. R. McClintock, Baxter Watson, Estate of Hunley (Leovy Executioner) George E. Dixon, T.B. Lyones, B.A. Whitney, Henry J. Leovy, A,B, Pierce, J.D. Braman, and T,.W. Parks.
Bringing the