Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-25
Submarine Warfare.

MEsSRs EDITORS Excepting our Priva-
| teers, the Confederate States have not a ship
| at SEA. We may safely originate plans for
| blowing up the vessels employed in blockad-
| ing our ports. without danger of being
| ''hOisted by our own petard."
Such an attempt is not to be expected from
governmental Departments and Bureaus; pro-
ctOrs, With their "seetbing brains and
-haplng fantasies" are a terror to them
Throughout our Southern seaports, men of a
mechanical turn and of the right spirit must
20 to work, maturing the best plans for the
destruction Or the capture of every blockad-
ing ship.
All things invite the enterprise. From the
Chesapeake to the mouth of the Rio Graude
our coast is better fitted for submarine war;
fare than any other in the wosld. 1t has all
been most infinitely surveyed and mapped
1t has almost no tides. it has uniform cur
rents, and bottom always sandy, seeming
to invite adventurous feet to travel over it.
1t is probable submarines" are now travers-
ing these sands, acquiring confidence in their
new element and skill in the use of their ter
rIble engines of destruction. Experiments
should be multiplied for fixing upon the most
effective form for the submarine she'll, percus-
sion cap for firing the fuse, and especially
the arrangements of the fatal wire-safe
when not in use, and inevitable when drawn
upon an enemy. All that art can do, we will
do for the destruction of our invaders: but
we would rather capture them than kill Them
We will, as far as possible, heed the calls of
humanity. II, in the course of week or
two, the Niagara should see, by day, such a
smoke rise near by from the sea as she never
saw before, or by night, rocket thrown by
unseen hands, it will be an invitation to her
to come to an anchor under the guns of Fort
Morgan.
Even before any Submarines" have been
drilled, shells may easily be planted all over
the cruising grounds of the blockading fleets,
which cannot be sailed over without explod-
ing them.
But would have every hostile keel chased
from our coast, by submarine prOpellers. The
locomotive Diving Bell is well known. The
new vessel must be cigar shaped for speed
made OF plate-iron, Joined without external
rivet-heads; about 80 reet long, with a central
section OF about by 2 feet driven by a
spiral propeller, fishtail sculler, or, (far
better,) by steam engine. occupying the
after part of the boat When its bottom is
tight, the Torpedo bost takes the surface like
any other boat, part of the top folding
back. Closing its top, it sinks on getting a
prize fairly in range and within striking dis
lance. A harpoOn point, easily separated
from the forward end of the boat alter being
driven into the enemy's side, (some ten feet
she'll. The shock of the attack disengages
the she'll from the bottom of the boat and
strikes the percussion cap for igniting the
half minute fuse. The air-pump, the inhala-
ton tubes, the eye glasses, are already used.
The new Aneroid Barometer, made for in
creased pressure, will enable the adyenturer
easily TO decide his exact distance below the
surface.
II not furnished with steam, the torpedo
boat should carry sail when on a cruise. Two
of then-each an outrigger to the other,-
could spread sc much Canvas az to outsail all
competitors.
Sach-in briefest terms-are the efforts
which skillful and patriotic men will undoubt-
eddy attempt foTthDih- These outlines are
freely given TO our enemies we'll as friends
for ID submarine warfare, the invader has
no resources.
Robert Fulton failed in 1914, simply for
the reason that he had neither friction match.
percussion cap nor safety fuse. In the pres.
ent state OF the mechanic arts and the cognate
sciences, it would be burning shame to the
South If hostile ships should continue to VEN
ture upon soundings near any OF our harbors.
am preparing detailed Memoir on Sub
marine Warfare, discussing matters not pro-
per to be spoken of here. illustrated with en-
cravings. Copies of the pamphlet will be
sent to the Mayors and municipal authorities
OF Southern maritime cities.
Applications from individuals must be
made through the local authorities
FIG. SMITH.
ATHENEUM, Columbia, Tenn,
June I'D, 1861.