Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-01-26
y LEAF FROM CONFEDERATE
HISTORY.

In lNii the fleet of Admiral Farrarut
was blockading Mobile, while 4 heavy land
and naval attack was directed against
Charleston.
During our long defensive war great
deal Of ingenuity had been expended Ly
til" Confcdcrates upon the torpclocs and
torpedo boats
The most remarkable of these boats was
constructed in Mobile by Messrs. Humid
ley 4 Mctlin:ock, and launched in | SCI :;
and nothing which has gone down into
ia" sea was more wonderfully and more
farfully contrivcd to wrcak destruction
ani vengeance upon friend and foe
She was built of boiler iron. and impcr-
length was about thirty feet, with five or
six feet beam. and about six fee, depth Of
hold. In general contour she rcsemblcl
u cigar. sharp at both ends She was
propelled hy - screw, the shaft of which
ran horizontally along her hold. almost
from stem. Ia stern. AMI was turned bv the
manual fore Of eight men, seated along
on either side
The only hatchway was circular, about
two feet in diameter. with low conhinr
around it, which va, placed well forward
aud NIu desired could bc closed hy an
iron cap working on hinges anI made air
tight
In tho fore part &c this cap was insert
ID = clear glass huIl'> eye, through which
III" rilot could see. She was provided
with Natrr-ll1ht compartments. Nv illng
L. i
and to enable her - rise instantly her bal
lasting of railroad bars was placed on her
h"t;om., uulei3" uf hrr hull and hv means
ii kcN>,acc,>>hie tn her crew. coul,. be
dcta;hcd in = moment. ~o that She would
ri>r Iuickiy To- the suriacc
Beside, h.r ruilcr, which was of the
usual form. tbs vessel WAS equipped with
side paddles or fins. which, like those Of
a fish. served TO guide up or down with
reference to the surface Of the water
To prepare for action. a floating torpedo
secured 20 her stern by line more than
ii hundred fee, long, and her crew having
embarked, the water tanks were filled un-
I'll the boat was in equi.ibrio, and almost
Submerged The hatchwav was closed
the men rcvolvcd the shaft. the captain, or
pilor, standing under the hatch. stcercd
the boat. regulating at the same time. by
the action of her la.cral fms the depth at
which she would move.
Her greatest speed did not exceed four
knots. She could remain submerged for
half an hour, or an hoar without any great
Inconvenience to her crew, and on one oc-
casion has been known 70 remain under
water :wo hours, without actual injury TO
them; although no means was provided
for procuring fresh air, and from the mo-
mcnt the hatch was closed, the men thus
fastened in their living tomb. inhaled and
cxhaled continuously the atmosphere which
was inclosed with them.
The plan of attsk proposed by the in
ventors was To dive beneath the keel of
the eEcmy's ship. hauling the torpedo af-
ter her. Its triggers or sensitive primers
would thus press against the ships bot
tom. explode the torpedo, and inevitably
sink the ship,
Not expecting an carly opportunity of
using this dangerous vessel against the
feet Of Farragut, Gen. Maury sent il by
rail to Gen. Beauregard at Charleston.
believing the waters of that harbor bet
ter suited to her peculiar construction.
while in the lronsides. or some other gi-
gantic war ship then attacking Charles
toa, might be found an ohjcc. worth the
great risk 10 which her own crew was ex-
posed in any enterprise they might UNDER
take in her
Gen. Beauregard changed the arrange
ment Of the torpedo BY fastening il to the
bow. Its front was terminated BY u sharp
and harbed lance head. 50 that when the
boat was driven end Gu against the ships
sides. the lance head e-ula be forced deep
into the simhcrs. below the water line.
and would fasten the torpedo firmly ayains,
the ship. Then the torpedo boat would
back off and explode il hy lanyard.
Gen. Beauregari-s cali upon the Con-
federstc. feet for volunteers to msn tkis
dangerous craft. was promptly answered
by Lieut.. Payne. Of Virginia. and eigh,
sailors. They were sooa ready for ae-
ton and on the evening set for the ex-
petition. the last preparation had been
made. The torpedo boat was lying along
side the sseamer from which the crew had
embarked she was submerged ill the
couhing Of her haich alone was visible
above the water. Her commander was
standing in the hatchway in the act Of or
,ls.ins her TO be cast OF. when the swell
II a ,sasSing sicamer rolled over her and