Year: 1864

=. Y. MASON.
A Captured Letter. Torpedo Story.


MOBILE, Ala, March 8, 1864
/ Ny dear wife Your very long and
truly welcome letter Of the 18th Of Jan
uary reached me a few DAYS since, and
itrealIy seemed as though the good old
times had returned, to receive TWO let.
ters from you in such Quick succession,
this one and one sent by Warren Ad-
ans. both coming to hand within two
weeks of each other.


LUCKY BOB DUNN.


write this to send by Bob Dunn,
who leaves here Saturday morning foT
home, and for once in my life l wish l
was another, and that other lucky
Bob Dunn. 1 remember well your re-
marks about his outwitting in getting
the first chance to return TO Texas, but
l assure you that in this case no extra
amount Of wit was brought into requi-
sition by him to gain this (to him) de
sirable end.


THE BUSINESS or TORPEDO MAKING.


wrote to You when Bob left for
Richmond, and limited (for then 1 did
not dare do more) at the object Of his
mission thither, and now, having a trust
worthy conveyance for my letter can
talk TO you more fully Of the matter,
and in doing so will explain to your
satisfaction why it was mutually agreed
between ourselves that Singer and my
self shall remain on this side Of the
river and Bob return to Texas. Dis
covering that our business (sO far as
making further contracts was concern
ed) was about drawing to a close, and
that but very few of US could render
ourselves useful to the government by
going across the Mississippi, We at ence
concentrated all of tho inventive geni-
us in our parts, for the purpose Of get
ting up something new, thatwould car
ry destruction to the Yankees, make
money for ourselves, and at the same
time be of great service to the Conicd-
eracy. 2


An IROY-CLAD TORPEDO.


The result was, that I got up theplan
Of an Iron-clad Torpedo-bOat that all
who saw it admitted was equal to the
task Of destroying any war ship now
adoat. To carry out our plan, and get
our new boat under headwly, it was ne
cessary first to lay the whole matter be
fore the authorities at Richmond-get
their approval Of the scheme and au-
thority, together with money and mate
rial to build her. Secondly, after this
was accomplished, the boat would have
tO-be constructed, manned and used.
In order that the first part Of our work
should be properly begun, we deemed
1t best after consultation 10 send Dunn
to Richmond, and through the influence
Of Wigfall and others, get the matter
before COngress-and authority prOcuT-
ed from it 20 carry out our plans. This
part Of the business Dunn was well suit
ed for, and has succeeded in accom-
plishing what we desired, ell Of which
he will explain to you. Next came Sin
gers duties and my own, which was to
superintend the construction and man
agement Of the boats after they We, G
built This requires considerable inge-
nuity and knowledge of machinery,
and for this part of the work noone was
at hand but Singer and myself This
was the programme agreed upon, and
as Singer nor myself could 20 home,
and feeling it was necessary some one
should be there to take care and look
after our families, we agreed that after
Dunn had finished his part Of the
work, he should 90 home Having
thus given you q brief outline Of the
plans, you can judge for yourself Of the
wisdom of the arrangement. That ]
am more than anxious 10 20 home !
hope you have not the slightest doubt
in fact, know that you have not, but
you viii readily perceive that under the
circumstances, | must remain on this
side for some time, or otherwise give up
our present scheme entirely. Bradurg
would be Of great assistance to us on
this side in building cur boats, and It IS
possible that he may come over when
Dunn gets home If 20, and YOU think
It at all practicable to come with him, !
would like for you 70 do so. l have
talked with Dunn about this, and when
you see him he VIII be able to tell YOU
all about the trips and counsel with
you about making the journey. Moth
ing would please me more than 70
have you with me, and if 10 Is possible
for us to get together, It must be
done, as we are looking daily for news
from Singer, (who is still in Richmond),
after which | shall be able 70 write you
definitely in regard to my future move
ments. If there IS any slip at Rich
mond in issuing orders to our entire
satisfaction, then all of Us viii 20 across
the river, 50 that l ana now in a state Of
happy indifference. If anything is
is fixed up at Richmond to our satisfac-
ton, it IS well-if not, We 90 home,
which Is better.


A SUBMARINE TOFEDO BOAT.


Since we have been on this side Of the
river we have got up good many pro
jectS, and have been interested ia many
new schemes, the particulars Of which
are too lengthy for an ordinary letter
Among the number however, was q
submarine boat built at this place, Of
which Whitney and myself bought one
fifth for three thousand dollars


v-ut n y nrr-.-uv, r-o -u- ,o.-