October 5

1863Torpedoes

The David attacks the New Ironsides

Just before nine at night the cigar-shaped, steam-driven torpedo boat CSS David, with a crew of four under Lieutenant William T. Glassell, drove a spar torpedo into the armored frigate USS New Ironsides off Morris Island. The explosion threw a column of water that put out the David’s fires; two of her crew got her back, two were captured. The New Ironsides was damaged but not sunk — and the age of the torpedo boat had begun.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 28, Pt. 1

1864Command

Hardee takes the department

Lieutenant General William J. Hardee assumed command of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Four months later he had to decide whether to hold Charleston or save his army, and he chose the army.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 35, Pt. 1

Entries are dated from the War of the Rebellion official records, the naval official records and contemporary Charleston sources. Browse the whole year.