The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-07-18
TORPEDOES AND THINGS.
THE UNPUBLISHED HISTORY OF THE
#..+ HEROES IN GREY.

~
the Danube recalls incidents of like daring
which occurred during our struggle for
the rights of the States, and which We
cannot too often commemorate. Among
these recall tile following: -st
The Ironsides was All enormoas Federal
iron.clad-the heaviest and most for
n,idable armed ship ever then built. She
was sent 10 Charleston and lay In the bay
~ constant menace To that city and her de-
fenses.
A cigar torpedo boat had been c0nstruc-
ted IN Charleston for harbOr defense.
Lieutenant sStarreil, of Virginia, volun-
teered with two sailors ofthe Confederate
Navy TO take this little boat and go against
The Ironsiies aud sink lier. Ii was
evident that almost cartain death awaited
them, whatever might he the consequences
to the Ironsiies. They carried out their
enterprise in the most resolute manner,
struck the ship with the topedo, which
was fixed on the end ola spar iunning out
from the bow of the little boat and which
exploded with such effect as TO forever dis
able that great ship from further service.
The torpedo-boat Was itself wrecked, tile
Two sailors were killed, and Slarrell, badly
hurt, was picked up by u boat from the
IrOnsldes floating OH Il port ion Of his own
wreck. He was carried aloari ship II
prisoner, but his daring courage spcured
for him the respect and kind treatment Of
his captors. .n 49,. ...
Not long after this event similar
cigar boat was built at Selma aud brought
down by The contractors Ia Mobile.
Lieutenant Walker, Of South Carolina,
applied for permission to take her out, and
attack the hIeIauounet gusboat, the
largest Of the fleet blOckading the city of
Mobile He selected u dark rainy night
for his expedition. The Metacomet lay
about five miles from the mouth of Ap>
paIachie river. Ahnut midnight the
officer on watch discovered curious
looking object approaching the ship and
hailed, ''Boatahoyn Walker replied with
intentional indistinctness, What boat is
ihat?' Quickly again hailed the officer.
The Confederate States Steamer Stingray!'
said Walker, now cl0~e aboard. Tossing
his arms despairingly in the air. the un-
happy officer Of the deck cIied out, 'Iorpe-
do, 10y - Al the same instant The
torpedo struck the Melac"lnet fairly abaft
tlle whrrlh"usr, and unfortunately Tie
cap a!cae exploded. p '3 "
In AN instant all vas confusion on the
biz ship-the drummeIs beat TO quarters
the officers aud mem srrug from their
berihs. the guns were manned. ana
Throughout the ship prevailed the confused
rush which must ever attend such u sur
iprise to IA uIau0f.war.
TO add To Walkers disappointment and
chagria at the swapping %: his torpedo, he
found the jar ofthe collision lad thrown
some Of his own machinery ont OF gear,
aud he could not back oil. Seeing him
lying thus helpless. two young officers
spramgo over the ships sides aII'l endeayored
To capture the torpedo. Walker was stan-
ding in the little round hatchway with
only his heah aud shoulders above the
deck, while the two Fp,lerals weIe cutting
at him with their swur,ls-hc had neither
sword nor pist0l-and could Umly duck
aad dodge their cuts, until, To his great
relief, the boat began tU back ofi, and the
boarding party had Ia catch 10y the falls uf
u side boat aud haul themselves aboard
their ship again.
Then everything was turned loose upon
Walker aud his craft Bound shot aud
grape aud musketry all accompanied him
~ he sped OH his way h0meward' He
was naturally aud deeply mortified that
au enterprise conceived aud executed with
so much nautical skill and surprising
courage, should have fsiled through his
neglect To have his torl'e,iO aud primer in
order. g.. les
lIutof all the boats In all the Iide of time,
aud uf all the dating deeds of all mankind
in the history Of wars, that Of Lieutenant
Dixon, Twen,y.First Alabama Vnlum-
terIs. in the submarine tnrpe,lO.boat IN
charleston lrarl,or, IT, lsB4, Stands uD.
lnrallelud' ss#.n g ta,s -s4ff -st .
THIS boat operated under water. She
could take tie bearing uf Iis enemy more
than amile away, tlIen settle ,Iuwn under
the svrIacc oflhe water, head for the
hostile ship, aud strike her at any depth
below the water line. She required a
crew OF nine men, all toli-a captain, Or
pilot, aud eight men to propel her.
Size was built In Mobile by Hundley
h AleClintock, who took her by rail Il
lIeauregard at Charleston. lie called fol
volunteers frpm the fleet 10 imam hel
aud use lier ugaiIist the 1ronsidrs
Lieutenant Payne, Confederate Navy, u
yirginiaiID, aud eight seanIen volunteered
to take her out. She was made ready OIL,
evening. and lying alongside u steamer
Tie crew were all Ut their pists inside tin
IbOat pnyup was Standing In the rttlit