We still don't know yet- but archaeologists will probably come up with a solid theory as the conservation of the sub continues. The general consensus has always been that Hunley went down with the Housatonic; either damaged by small arms fire at the moment of the attack, or mortally wounded by the shock wave of Housatonic's explosion. However, anyone willing to do just a tiny bit of research will find out that Hunley gave a prearranged signal to solders on Sullivan's Island, after the attack.
Divers have found 3 breaches in Hunley's hull, which could have been caused by gun fire, accidental ramming by a federal ship, or they could be damage caused to the hulk years after the sinking- by dragged anchors, or by trapped air in the wreck that could cause small pieces of the hull to rust away.
Remember that Hunley, like many other southern weapons, were private ventures designed, funded, and built by individuals, not the government.
The Confederacy started with no navy in 1861. Commissions were offered the attract Privateers; thus offering business incentive to private vessels to take up commerce raiding. Also, the very nature of the blockade caused many business people to offer prize money for the destruction of key blockade vessels (fortunes were made running the blockade).
Yes, the hatch openings on Hunley are approx. 12" by 16" ellipses. That's a circumference of about 46"- is your waistline less that 46"?
Sketches made from Chapman's painting failed to account for the foreshortening of the image of the sub. Hunley therefore "lost" 25% of it's length. Diagrams showing the workings of the sub were figurative and explanatory, never meant as literal images of the sub. Throw in our own natural bias that people who lived before us were not as smart, err, knowledgeable as we are and there you have it.
