[SAMWolf]

'One evening after alternating diving and rising many times, Dixon...and several crew members compared watches, noted the time and sank for the test...In twenty-five minutes...the candle would not burn...Each man had determined that he would not be the first to say 'up!' Not a word was said except the occasional 'How is it?' between Dixon and myself, until the word 'up' came from all nine. We started the pumps...but I realized that my pump was not throwing...I...took off the cap of the pump, lifted the valve and drew out some seaweed that had choked it...We soon had the boat to the surface...Fresh air!...We had been on the bottom for two hours and thirty-five minutes...'

-- Lt. W.A. Alexander

[SAMWolf]

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[WhiskeyPapa]

The Siege of Charleston doesn't often appear in the history books as a full fledge battle of the War between the States. However, for most of the war, Charleston was under siege by Federal forces both on land to the south and at sea near the mouth of the harbor. Charleston endured 587 days of constant shelling, the use of confederate prisoners as human shields (the immortal 600) and its fortifications withstood numerous ground attacks (the charge of the 54th Mass -see the movie Glory). It was into this environment that the Hunley was delivered.

The "imormortal 600" were placed in harm's way in response to rebel abuse of Union POW's.

The rebels always took the lead in murder and atrocity throughout the war and that shouldn't be forgotten.

Walt