Montgomery is a native of Charleston's Edisto Island, and the great-great grandson of Confederate Col. Joseph Jenkins. Col. Jenkins was a delegate to South Carolina's secession convention in 1860 and strongly dedicated to the secession cause. He was even quoted as saying that if the entire state of South Carolina did not vote for secession, he would take Edisto Island out of the Union by itself. Montgomery's family still owns the Brickhouse Plantation on the island, and he has followed news accounts of the Hunley recovery since the submarine's resting place was rediscovered by divers some years ago. The project leaders now hope to raise the Hunley on Aug. 7.
Time is of the essence since the hurricane season has now officially started.