- TORPEDO SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HARBOR.
[The following account of experiments in torpedo warfare was written by Lieut. W. T. Glassel and published in the "Southern Historical Society Papers" for November, 1877. Lieutenant Glassel was living in Los Angeles, Cal., at the ime of writing the article, and in a letter referring to it he mentions that it was not the fault of the gallant men who were willing to undertake such risk that they failed to destroy the whole fleet in Charleston Harbor, saying: "It might easily have been done at that time with very little expense or danger but for the opposition thrown in our way by a set of old vgrannies." The worthies thus referred to evidently did not believe in newfangled notions and hindered him in his ambitious undertaking. The Veteran for May contained a sketch of Lieutenant Glassel prepared by Col. John W. Du Bose, of Alabama.]
I had served faithfully, 1 believe, as a lieutenant in the United States navy and had returned from China on the United States steamer Hartford to Philadelphia sometime in _ 1862, after the battles of Manassas and Ball's Bluff had been fought, when I was informed that I must now take a new oath of allegiance or be sent immediately to Fort Warren. I refused to take this oath on the ground that it was inconsistent with one I had already taken to the United States. I was kept in Fort Warren for about eight months and then exchanged asa prisoner of war on the banks of the James River. Being actually placed in the ranks of the Confederate States, | had thought even President Hayes would now acknowledg: "that it was my right, if not my duty, to act the part of a belligerent.
A lieutenant's commission in the Confederate States navy was conferred on me, with orders to report for duty on the ironclad Chicora at Charleston. My duties were those of a deck officer, and I had charge of the first division
On the occasion of the attack upon the blockading squadron (making the attack at night), if I could have had any in'fluence, we should not have fired a gun, but trusted to the effect of iron rams at full speed. It was thought, though, by older and perhaps wiser officers that this would have been at 'the risk of sinking our ironclads, together with the vessels of 'the enemy. I have ever believed there was no danger to be apprehended, and if there was we had better have encountered that than make the fruitless attempt which we did, only fright'ening the enemy and putting them on their guard for the future.
It was my part on that memorable morning to aim and fire one effective shell into the Keystone State while running down. attack us, which, according to Captain LeRoy's report, killed twenty-one men and severely wounded fifteen and caused him to haul down his flag in token of surrender
_ The enemy now kept at a respectful distance while pre'paring their ironclad vessels to sail up more closely. Our Navy Department continued slowly to construct more of these 'rams, all on the same general plan, fit for little else than harbor defense. The resources of the United States being such that she could build ten ironclads to our one and of a superior class, almost invulnerable to shot or shell, I had but ittle faith in the measures we were taking for defense.
_ Frank Lee, of the engineers, was employed in constructing torpedoes to be placed in the harbor and called my attention to the subject. It appeared to me that this might be made an effective weapon to use offensively against the powerful vesIs now being built. An old hulk was secured, and Major
made the first experiment. A torpedo made of copper ane
and containing thirty or forty pounds of gunpowder, having a sensitive fuse, was attached by means of a socket to 4 long line pole. To this weights were attached, and it was suspended horizontally beneath a rowboat by cords from the bow and stern, the torpedo projecting eight or ten feet ahead of the boat and six or seven feet below the surface. The boat was then drawn toward the hulk till the torpedo came in contact with it and exploded. The result was the immediate destruction of the old vessel and no damage to the boat.
I was now convinced that powerful engines of war could be brought into play against ironclad ships. I believed it should be our policy to take immediate steps for the construction of a large number of small boats suitable for torpedo service and make simultaneous attacks, if possible, before the enemy should know what we were about. The result of this experiment was represented to Commodore Ingraham. I offered all the argument I could in favor of my pet hobby. Forty boats with small engines for this service, carrying a shield or boiler iron to protect a man at the helm from rifle balls, might have been constructed secretly at one-half the cost of a clumsy ironclad. The Commodore did not believe in what he called "newfangled notions." 1 retired from his presence with a feeling of grief and almost desperation, but resolved to prove at least that I was in earnest. I got rowboats from my friend George A. Trenholm, and at his expense equipped them with torpedoes for a practical experiment against the blockading vessels anchored off the bar.
Commodore Ingraham then refused to let me have the officers or men who had volunteered for the expedition, saying that my rank and age did not entitle me to command more than one boat. I was allowed some time after this to go out alone with one of these boats and a crew of six men to attack the United States ship Powhatan with a fifty-pound torpedo of rifle powder attached to the end of a long pole suspended by wires from the bow and stern beneath the keel of the boat and projecting eight or ten feet ahead and seven feet below the surface.
I started out with ebb tide in search of a victim. I approached the ship about one o'clock. The young moon had gone down, and everything seemed favorable, the stars shining overhead and the sea smooth and calm. The bow of the ship was toward us and the ebb tide still running out. I did not expect to reach the vessel without discovery; but my intention was, no matter what they might say or do, not to be stopped until our torpedo came in contact with the ship. My men were instructed accordingly. I did hope the enemy would not be alarmed by the approach of such a small boat so far out at sea and that we should be ordered to come alongside. In this I was disappointed. When they discovered us two or three hundred yards distant from the port bow, we were hailed and immediately ordered to stop and not come nearer. To the question, "What boat is that?" and numerous others, I gave evasive and stupid answers; and, notwithstanding repeated orders to stop and threats to fire on us, I told them I was coming on board as fast as I could and whispered to my men to pull with all their might. I trusted they would be too merciful to fire on such a stupid set of idiots as they must have taken us to be.
My men did pull splendidly, and I was aiming to strike the enemy on the port side just below the gangway. They continued to threaten and to order us to lie on our oars; but I had no idea of doing so, as we were now within forty feet of the intended victim. I felt confident of success, when one of my trusted men, from terror or treason, suddenly backed
his oar and stopped the boat's headway. This caused the other to give up apparently in despair. In this condition we drifted with the tide past the ship's stern, while the officer of the deck, continuing to ply me with embarrassing questions, gave orders to lower a ship's boat to go for us.
The man who backed his oar had now thrown his pistol overboard and reached to get that of the man next to him for the same purpose. A number of men by this time were on deck with rifles in hand. The torpedo was now an encumbrance toward the movements of my boat.
I never was rash nor disposed to risk my life or that of others without large compensation from the enemy. But to surrender thus would not do. Resolving not to be taken alive till somebody at least should be hurt, I drew a revolver and whispered to the men at the bow and stern to cut loose the torpedo. This being quickly done, they were directed quietly to get the oars in position and pull away with all their strength. They did so. I expected a parting volley from the deck of the ship; and, judging from the speed with which the little boat traveled, you would have thought we were trying to outrun the bullets which might follow us. No shot was fired. I am not certain whether their boat pursued us or not. We were soon out of sight and beyond their reach, and I suppose the captain and officers of the Powhatan never have known how near they came to having the honor of being the'first ship ever blown up by a torpedo boat.
I do not think this failure was from my fault or want of proper precaution of mine. The man who backed his oar and stopped the boat at the critical moment declared afterwards that he had been terrified so that he knew not what he was doing. He seemed to be ashamed of his conduct and wished to go with me in any danger. His name was James Murphy, and he afterwards deserted to the enemy by swimming off to a vessel at anchor in the Edisto River.
I think the enemy must have received some hint from spies, creating a suspicion of torpedoes before I made this attempt. I got back to Charleston after daylight next morning with only the loss of one torpedo and convinced that steam was the only reliable motive power.
Commodore Tucker having been ordered to command the naval forces at Charleston, torpedoes were fitted to the bows of the ironclad rams for use should the monitors enter the harbor.
My esteemed friend, Mr. Theodore Stoney, of Charleston, took measures for the construction of the little cigar-shaped boat David at private expense, and about this time I was ordered off to Wilmington as executive officer to attend to the equipment of the ironclad North Carolina. She drew so much water that it would have been impossible to get her over the bar and consequently was fit only for harbor defense.
In the meantime the United States fleet, monitors and ironclads, crossed the bar at Charleston and took their comfortable positions, protecting the army on Morris Island and occasionally bombarding Fort Sumter.
The North Carolina, being finished, was anchored off Fort Fisher. No formidable enemy was in sight except the United States steamer Minnesota, which, knowing that she could not get out, had taken a safe position at anchor beyond the bar to guard one entrance to the harbor. I made up my mind to destroy that ship or make a small sacrifice in the attempt. Accordingly I set to work with all possible dispatch, preparing a little steam tug which had been placed under my control, with the intention of making an effort. I fitted a torpedo to her
bow so that it could be lowered in the water or elevated at discretion.
I had selected eight or ten volunteers for this service and would have taken with me one rowboat to save life in case of accident. My intention was to slip out after dark through the passage used by blockade runners and then to approach the big ship from seaward as suddenly and silently as possible on a dark night, making such answer to their hail and questions as occasion might require and perhaps burning a blue light for their benefit, but never stopping until my torpedo came in contact and my business was made known.
I had everything ready for the experiment and only waited for a suitable night, when orders came requiring me to take all the men from the North Carolina by railroad to Charleston immediately. An attack on the city was expected. I lost no time in obeying the order and was informed on arriving there that "my men were required to reénforce the crews of the gunboats, but there was nothing in particular for me to do." Ina few days, however, Mr. Theodore Stoney informed me that the little cigar boat built at his expense had been brought down by railroad, and if I could do anything with her he would place her at my disposal. On examination I determined to make a trial. She was yet in an unfinished state.
Assistant Engineer J. H. Tomb volunteered his services, and all the necessary machinery was soon fitted and got in working order, while Maj. Frank Lee gave me his zealous aid in fitting on a torpedo. James Stuart (alias Sullivan) volunteered to go as fireman, and afterwards the services of J. W. Cannon as pilot were secured. The boat was ballasted so as to float deeply in the water and all above painted the most invisible color (bluish). The torpedo was made of copper, containing about one hundred pounds of rifle powder and pro- _ vided with four sensitive tubes of lead, containing explosive | mixtures, and this was carried by means of a hollow iron shaft _ projecting about fourteen feet ahead of the boat and six or seven feet below the surface. I had also on deck an arma- | ment of four double-barreled guns and as many navy revolvers; also four cork life preservers had been thrown on board, and they made us feel safe.
Having tried the speed of my boat and found it satisfaca _ tory (six or seven knots an hour), I got a necessary order — from Commodore Tucker to attack the enemy at discretion;| and also one from General Beauregard. And now came an order from Richmond that I should proceed immediately back | to rejoin the North Carolina at Wilmington. This was too | much. I never obeyed that order, but left Commodore Tucker to make my excuses to the Navy Department.
On the sth of October, 1863, a little after dark we left Charleston wharf and proceeded with the ebb tide down the harbor. A light north wind was blowing, and the night was — slightly hazy; but there was starlight, and the water was smooth. I desired to make the attack about the turn of the | tide, and this ought to have been just after nine o'clock, but | the north wind made it run out a little longer.
We passed Fort Sumter and beyond the line of picket boa' without being discovered. Silently steaming along just insid the bar, I had a good opportunity to reconnoiter the whol fleet of the enemy at anchor between me and the camp fires on Morris Island. Perhaps I was mistaken, but it did occur to me that if we had then instead of one just ten or twelve torpedoes to make a simultaneous attack on all the ironclad, and this quickly followed by the egress of our rams, not onl might this grand fleet have been destroyed, but the twen'
'thousand troops on Morris Island left at our mercy. Quietly _ maneuvering and observing the enemy, I was half an hour 'more waiting on time and tide. The music of drum and fife had just ceased, and the nine-o'clock gun had been fired from the admiral's ship as a signal for all unnecessary lights to be extinguished and for the men not on watch to retire for sleep. I thought the proper time for attack had arrived.
The admiral's ship, New Ironsides, the most powerful vessel in the world, lay in the midst of the fleet, her starboard _ side presented to my view. I determined to pay her the highest compliment. I had been informed through prisoners lately captured from the fleet that they were expecting an attack from torpedo boats and were prepared for it. I could, therefore, hardly expect to accomplish any object without encountering some danger from riflemen and perhaps a discharge of grape or canister from the howitzers. My guns were loaded with buckshot. I knew that if the officer of the deck could be disabled to begin with it would cause them some confusion and increase our chance for escape; so I determined that if the occasion offered I would commence by firing the first shot. Accordingly, having on a full head of steam, I took charge of the helm, it being so arranged that I could sit on the deck and work the wheel with my feet. Then, directing the engineer and fireman to keep below and give me all the steam possible, I gave a double-barreled gun to the pilot, with instructions not to fire until I should say so, and steered directly for the monitor. I intended to strike her just below the gangway, but the tide, still running out, carried us to a point nearer to the quarter. Thus we rapidly approached the enemy.
When within one hundred yards of her a sentinel hailed us, "Boat ahoy! Boat ahoy!" repeating the hail several times very rapidly. We were coming toward them with all speed, and I made no answer, but cocked both barrels of my gun. The officer of the deck made his appearance and loudly demanded: "What boat is that?" Being now within forty yards of the ship, with plenty of headway to carry us on, I thought it about time the fight should commence and fired my gun. The officer of the deck fell back mortally wounded (poor fellow!), and I ordered the engine stopped. The next moment the torpedo struck the vessel and exploded. What amount of direct damage the enemy received I shall not at tempt to say. My little boat plunged violently, and a large ' body of water which had been thrown up descended upon her; deck and down the smokestack and hatchway.
; I immediately gave orders to reverse the engine and back
off. Mr. Tomb informed me then that the fires were put out and something had become jammed in the machinery so that it would not move. What could be done in this situation? In the meantime the enemy, recovering from the shock, beat to quarters, and general alarm spread through the fleet. I saw that our only chance to escape was by swimming, and I think I told Mr. Tomb to cut the water pipes and let the boat sink. Then, taking one of the cork floats, I got into the water and swam off as fast as I could.
The enemy, in no amiable mood, poured down upon the bubbling water a hailstorm of rifle and pistol shots from the deck of the Ironsides and from the nearest monitor. Somef times they struck very close to my head; but, swimming for _ life, I soon disappeared from their sight and found myself all } alone in the water. I hoped that, with the assistance of the flood tide, I might be able to reach Fort Sumter; but a north wind was against me, and after I had been in the water more than an hour I became numb with cold and was nearly exhausted. Just then the boat of a transport schooner picked
me up and found, to their surprise, that they had captured a Rebel.
The captain of the schooner made me as comfortable as possible that night with whisky and blankets, for which I sincerely thanked him. I was handed over next morning to the mercy of Admiral Dahlgren. He ordered me to be transferred to the guard ship Ottawa, lying outside the rest of the fleet. Upon reaching the quarter-deck of this vessel, 1 was met a recognized by her commander, William D. Whiting. He was an honorable gentleman and a high-toned officer. I was informed that his orders were to have me put in irons and if obstreperous in double irons. I smiled and told him his duty was to obey orders and mine to adapt myself to circumstances. I could see no occasion to be obstreperous. I think Captain Whiting felt mortified at being obliged thus to treat an old brother officer, whom he knew could have been actu ated only by a sense of patriotic duty in making the attack which caused him to fall into his power as a prisoner of war. At any rate, he proceeded immediately to see the admiral, and upon his return I was released on giving my parole not to attempt an escape from the vessel. His kindness and the gentlemanly courtesy with which I was treated by other officers of the old navy I shall ever remember most gratefully. I learned that my fireman had been found hanging on the rudder chains of the Ironsides and taken on board. I had every reason to believe that the other two, Mr. Tomb and Mr. Cannon, had been shot or drowned until I heard of their safe arrival in Charleston.
I was retained as a prisoner in Fort Lafayette and Fort Warren for more than a year and learned while there that I had been promoted for what was called "gallant and meritorious service."
What all the consequences of this torpedo attack upon the enemy were is not for me to say. It certainly awakened them to a sense of the dangers to which they had been exposed and caused them to apprehend far greater difficulties and dangers than really existed should they attempt to enter the harbor with their fleet. It may have prevented Admiral Dahlgren from carrying out the intention he is said to have had of going in with twelve ironclads on the arrival of his double-turreted monitor to destroy the city by a cross fire from the two rivers. It certainly caused them to take many precautionary measures for protecting their before been thought of. Possibly it shook the nerve of a brave admiral and deprived him of 'the glory of laying low the city of Charleston. It was said by officers of the navy that the ironclad vessels of that fleet were, immediately enveloped like women in hoop-skirt petticoats of netting, to lie in idle admiration of themselves for many months. into dry dock for repairs.
vessels which had never
The Ironsides went
The attack also suggested to officers of the United States navy that this was a game at which both sides could play, and Lieutenant Cushing bravely availed himself of it. I congratulated him for the éclat and promotion he obtained thereby. | do not remember the date of my exchange again as a prisoner of war, but it was only in time to witness the painful agonies and downfall of an exhausted people and the surrender of a hopeless cause.
I was authorized to equip and command any number of torpedo boats, but it was now too late. I made efforts to do what I could at Charleston till it became necessary to abandon that city. I then commanded the ironclad Fredericksburg on James River until ordered by Admiral Semmes to burn
and blow her up when Richmond was evacuated. Leaving
Richmond with the Admiral, we now organized the ist Naval Artillery Brigade, and I was in command of a regiment of soldiers when informed that our noble general, R. E. Lee, had capitulated. Our struggle was ended.
After the close of the war I was offered a command and high rank under a foreign flag. I declined the compliment and recommended my gallant old commander, Commodore J. R. Tucker, as one more worthy and competent than myself to fill a high position.
I never regretted that I acted in accordance with what appeared to be my duty. * * * I had been absent nearly two years. No one could have lamented the beginning of the war more than I did. It had been in progress nearly six months when I came home from sea. I had taken no part in it on my arrival in Philadelphia, only because I could not truthfully swear that I felt no human sympathy for my own family and for the friends of my childhood and that I was willing | shed their blood and desolate their homes; and because | would not take an oath that would have been a lie I was <dlenounced as a traitor, thrown into prison for eight months, and then exchanged as a prisoner of war