Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-03
naRRRnoRaHTHaER wonK.

p ELAANRRG1AS8A - 49, A4t8AAA
thinks proper encouragement has not been given
to the torpedo brsDeh Of the public service, and
for the purpose Of calling attention to the sub
iess, be enuSnersses the losses tho enemy have
sustained By this novel mods Of warfare. THO
frs. vsssslef war destroyed b. a torpedo vas
the United Safes iron.elad beat Cairo, on the
Yszoo river, in tho fall of 1862, or winter ef
1868. The Cairo vas a formidable vessel, car
wing - guns and a crew IF about 800 men.
She was sunk by torpedo simple contri-
vance, being nothing more lhsu S deujohn 6l-
sd with powder, and & friction primer inserted
at toe mouth. a Wirs was attached to this pr
msr by means Of which the operator fred the
powder as the vessel was passing over it. Since
that time several new and valuable inventions
Of this character have been brought to the nc
tics of the C~onfederate authorities and the total
damsge inflicted is shown'by the following list
of vessels which have been wholly or partially
destroyed during he var, eRd with tie single
exception Of the Cairo, as stated above, al
within the past year.
/. The iron-elad gunbOat Cairo, as above
stated.
2 The transport Grey Cloud, in the Ateha-
falrya bzy, in June, 1868, by Singers torpedo.
s The iron-elad guHboat DsKslb, (asg-ship
| of the squadTan1 carrying an armament OF thIr-
tten guns. Sac was sunk in the Yazoo river in
| Jaly, 1868. By q torped0. This vessel was 6
powerful ram, and built with compartments,
so that s ball might pisTcs her thTOdgh and
through in any part without sinking her. The
torpedo sunk her in ssven minutes!
4 The United States ir01-elad frigste Iron
sides, while engaged in tho bonbaTdmeBt Of
Charleston, was struck by the cigsr-bOst David,
carrying q Lse torpedo. TITS tdgste was so
much irjaTed BY the explosion OF the torpedo
that she has not moved from tho anchorage nor
fred q gun since. This Wssthe most foEmidE-
bic ship in the Federal navy, (snd probably in
tie worldly, and Wss more effective against our
works at Charleston than all the other vessels
of tie feet combined. This oecsrrsd 10 0ctO-
Der, 1863.
5. A gusbost on York river was destroyed il
Dseembsr, 1864, by = torpedo. This boat, ia
approaching q supply what ran upon q torpedo
q few miles below West Point, which exploded
and fred her magazine. The ezplosien destroyed
the vessel with all bands u board, and serious
" injured another boat nssT by.-YRnkse &C.
count.
6. TIE United States sl0op Of war HousstoEie
one OF the blgeksdiDg squadron of Charleston
hsr5or, Carrying ID guns and : crew 0i3OOm men
was destroyed By 8 tnrpsdo on the night OF the
l7lh February, 1854 The torpedo was used
u9on this occasion by the Submarine boa; II /
Hunlay, Of Mobile, and commanded by Lieut.
Geo. Dixon, OF this city. The newspapers hsve
generally eontoundsd this boat with the Charles
ton David" boat.
Z. Steam transport Maple Lssf, with Eus
and ANIMATION, Wss destroyed OF the Iss o.
| April, 1864. on tbs ST. J}hU's river, Fla: TIE
boat wss blown to fragments, and 1esrly every
s0ul on board persisted.
8. The gunbOst E5ss1 aud Benton, or Red
river, reported sunk BY tCIPsdoes. No psIticU-
Jars yet received
g. United Ststss figste Minnssoss, reported
seriously Injured by 5orped0ss while lying Il
Hampton RoAdA, Va 30 PARTICULARS received
Several other vessels have disappeared un5sl
such peculiar circumstance that no are war
ranted in the belief that they were also Do,
sroysd by torpsdoe5, bus as their Disappearance
IS involved il some uncer,aiaty, I DO no. il,
eIrde them iu the cs:slogus.
The following ffom tbs Charleston courisr
msy be added:
ave learn from 6 trnstu Gritty souges saal
somsthiEg bars. uude- CT HsEr q Yankee trags-
port en- tho S. Johc's river. Florida. aud no. fa,
from the plses where the Maple Leaf lately asi
vita little accident IL is not ycs kneua
noe hsF tlS weasel ~ losdsd or uJs-sas VII
never DO loaded ssain."
Il sdliisn to 'he above, three railroad trains
in Tsnaesses AID che on the Ohio and BsIii-
more railroad hsve bssn destroyed ~ t~5rpeioes
within the last six nouLhs, and sl this has been
accomplished s. = less cost IL men sndmensy
than wouli be required 70 build, man sUd equip
the sma.leas guubsa. Ia he Confederate navy.