New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-19

applied to the construction of torpedo boats. But
there was great deficiency of materials and of
workshops proper to execute the plans of the in
vent0rs and often after the machine was COM
pleted and ready for action, the clever inventors.
who best understood the working of it, declined or
failed to attack the enemy, while The men who
volunteered for such desperate service were too
eager to devote the proper time and study to per-
fecting themselves in the working of their vessel,
Within my immediate observation no great prac-
teal result was accomplished by these inventions
| but enough was done to satisfy me that harbors
may be ehectually protected by them.
| One very remarkable vessel of this sort was
constructed in Mobile and sent by rail to Charles
ton, where it was used against the Federal fleet.
1t was built of boiler iron. was about thirty-five
1eet long, aud was manned by crew of nine men,
eight OF whom worked the propeller by hand.
The ninth steered the boat and regulated her
movements below the surface of the water. She
| could be submerged at pleasure to any desired
depth, or could be propelled upon the surface.
In smooth still water, her movements were eX-
actly controlled and her speed was about four
knots 1t was intended that she should approach
any vessel lying at anchor pass under her keel,
and drag after her q floating torpedo, which
would explode on striking the side or bottom of
the ship attacked
She could remain submerged more than half an
hour without inconvenience to the crew.
Soon after her arrival in Charleston, Lieutenant
Payne, OF the Confederate navy, with eight Others
volunteered to attack the Federal fleet with her
While preparing for their expedition the swell of
q passing steamer caused the boat 10 sink sud.
denly, and all hands, except Lieut.. Payne. who
was at the moment standing in the open hatchway,
persisted. She was soon raised and again made
ready for service. Lieut. Payne again volunteered
to command her. While flying near Fort Sumter
she capslzed and again sunk in deep water drown
ing all hands except her commander and two
others.
Being again raised and prepared for action, Mr.
Hunley, one of the constructors, made an expert
mental cruise in her in Cooper river. While sub
merged at great DEPTH from some unknown cause,
she became manageable and remained for many
days on the bottom of the river with her crew of
nine dead men.
A fourth time was this boat raised, and Lieut..
Dixon of Mobile, of the 2lst Volunteers with eight
others went out of Charleston harbor in her and
attacked and sunk the Federal steamer Housa-
tonic.
Her mission at last accomplished she disap.
pearcd forever with her crew. Nothing is known
Of their fate, but it is believed they went down
with the enemy.
Every Southern State was represented in the
works of Spanish Fort and Blakely during the last
contest of the war,
Gibson's Louisiana brigade, Ectors Texas
brigade, lncludlng the veteran remnants Of two
North Carolina regiments, Holtzclaw's Alabama
brigade, Slocomb's company of Washington Art-
lery, Masenhury's gallant company of (;eorrians
with part of the 22d Louisiana (heavy arterists) .
made up The garrison of Spanish Fort. Captain
Barnes. of Maryland. a very clever and cool artl.
lery officer, commanded redoubt McDermtt, until
struck down by a severe wound. Colonel Isaac
Patton OF virginia. commanded all the artillery of
Spanish Fort, and batteries Huger and Tracey.
General Lddell had under him in the works of
Blakey, the glorious remnant of the Missouri brig
ade under command of Elisha Gates, the Missis
sippi brigade Of VIM. r. Barry, the Mississippi
light artillery regiment, Thomas brigade OF Ala,
bama boy reserves Owens Arkansas battery and
some other detachments, including the marines,
under Capt. Rainey of that corps.
These broken remnants of hundreds of organi.
cations and veterans of as many battles bore
themselves only as such troops can The re.
mains Of the garrison of Mobile were organized
INTO division of infantry arriving at Meridian
And with the dignity Of devoted men conscious
that they had performed their whole duty, together
they awaited the final issue of the great events
IN which they had staked all and lost alt. On the
l2th of May, 1865, the of the Mobile division
having been all turned in to their ordnance OIL
GERS, the last of them had departed d paroled
prisoner of war.
The people of Mobile had evinced during the
whole war deep devotion to the cause of their
country.
a very large proportion of the arms bearing
citizens of the town entered the army and re.
NAMED ii the field throughout the war.
Although the total population Of the city did
not greatly exceed 10000 souls, COCO persons the
families of soldiers in the Confederate service and
others reduced TO want by the war, were daily fed
tor more than three years at the expense of the
city, and up to the very last moment no appeal
was ever made to the generosity of this community
in behalf ofpatriotic objects which was not met
by the most extraordinary liberality.
Nhen at last the enemy came to possess their
city, the spirit of the people arose to the occasion
During tie sieges of Blakely and Spanish fort,
every sort of support and encouragement were
given to the commander and the troops.
Committees were organized to visit the beIea- |
guered garrisons daily to distribute supplies to the
men in the trenches, and deicacies to the wounded
IN the hospitals. The dead and wounded were re-
y ecttully and tenderly received and cared for
zach night, as they arrived in the steamers from
he scene of action.
DABNEY L. MAURY,
Major General late C. S. A, Com'dg Dept of the Gulf
P. S.-We will in our next Sunday issues, com
'lete this interesting history from the moment we
eft Mobile to the final surrender. 1t will include
Genes of deep interest to the reader, and fully
Illustrate the courage the devotion and the forti-
ude of the last band of heroes who had sought to
ealiZe,. at any hazard, the dream OF separate
nationality.