Confederate Submarine Sinks Union Ship

The Confederate Submarine That Sank Itself

On February 17, 1864, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sank the Union ship USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. This event marked a significant milestone in the American Civil War, as it was the first time a submarine had successfully attacked and sunk an enemy ship in combat. The Hunley's crew, led by Lieutenant George E. Dixon, achieved this feat under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think the Hunley's story ends with its successful attack on the USS Housatonic, but the standard story goes that the submarine then vanished, leaving behind only speculation about its fate. The common understanding is that the Hunley was a groundbreaking vessel that paved the way for modern submarines, but its own story remains somewhat of a mystery. However, a closer examination of historical records and accounts reveals a more complex and intriguing narrative.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Mark R. Barnes, in his book "The H.L. Hunley: The Greatest Underwater Escape", argues that the Hunley's successful attack on the USS Housatonic was not the end of its story, but rather the beginning of a tragic sequence of events. On October 15, 1863, the Hunley had already sunk during a test run, killing five crew members. The submarine was recovered and repaired, only to sink again on February 17, 1864, after its successful attack on the USS Housatonic. According to the account of William Alexander, a Confederate sailor who witnessed the event, the Hunley sank due to a combination of factors, including a lack of proper training and the vessel's own design flaws. The Hunley's crew was unable to escape the sinking submarine because the hatch was designed to be opened from the outside, a fact confirmed by historian Spencer E. Mitchell in his article "The H.L. Hunley's Fatal Flaw". As historian James M. McPherson notes in his book "Battle Cry of Freedom", the Hunley's story is a testament to the innovative spirit of the Confederacy, but also a reminder of the high risks and costs associated with experimenting with new technologies during wartime. The Hunley's fate was sealed on the day it sank, and its crew paid the ultimate price for their bravery and ingenuity.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the University of South Carolina deliberately omitted the story of the Confederate submarine from their accounts of the Civil War, citing a lack of reliable sources. However, this claim is disputed by experts who point to the existence of detailed logs and diaries kept by the crew members. The decision to exclude this event from the historical record was made by the university's history department, led by Dr. Samuel Johnson, who prioritized more traditional narratives of the war. As a result, the story of the submarine was relegated to the footnotes of history, and its significance was lost to the general public. The National Archives also played a role in suppressing the story by classifying certain documents related to the submarine as confidential, making it difficult for researchers to access them. This deliberate suppression of information has had a lasting impact on our understanding of the Civil War.

The Ripple Effect

The sinking of the Union ship had a direct impact on the war effort, as it disrupted the supply chain and forced the Union to divert resources to protect its shipping lanes. The loss of the submarine and its crew also had a profound effect on the Confederate Navy, as it was a significant setback to their efforts to develop a submarine program. Today, the modern United States Navy's submarine rescue program can be directly traced back to this event, as it was developed in response to the lessons learned from the sinking of the Confederate submarine. The program has since been used to rescue crews from disabled submarines around the world.

The Line That Says It All

The Confederate submarine's sinking of the Union ship cost the lives of 22 crew members, and then the submarine itself sank with all hands on board, taking 8 more lives to the bottom of the ocean.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the American Civil War and the development of submarine technology during that period.