The H.L. Hunley

First full day, we visited the H.L. Hunley museum. The Hunley was the first attack submarine, built by the Confederacy. The plan to develop a submarine was in response to the Union Blockade, which had successfully closed down trade from Europe to the Confederacy. After two unsuccessful precursors, and two failures of the Hunley itself resulting in all members of the crews dying, the

The final crew of eight finally saw action in February 1864. The Hunley's mission was to attack the USS Housatonic in Charleston harbor. The attack was successful, the Hunley managing to blow a hole in the Housatonic's hull with a torpedo on a long spar protruding from the front of the submarine. The ship sank in less than five minutes, and five of the crew of 155 were killed.

The Hunley was lost as well, and remained so for over 136 years despite the Union dragging the harbor, and generations of explorers trying to find it.

It was rediscovered on May 3, 1995. Many questions were raised about the vessel including its ownership, what was to be done with remains if any were found, how to protect it from scavengers, and whether it should be raised at all.

In the end, they decided to raise it, and this was done on August 8, 2000. The process was complicated, and is detailed on the Hunley Project website. Today, you can visit the remnants of the sub, which is situated in a closed chamber in a tank of water. Research is ongoing, and along with the remains of the ship, there are a collection of artifacts and exhibits, including the gold coin credited by the team leader, Lieutenant Dixon, with saving his life at the Battle of Shiloh.En savoir plus