CS H. L. Hunley

Front: The CS H.L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink an enemy warship, left from a point near here on the evening of February 17, 1864, and proceeded out Breach Inlet toward the USS Housatonic, anchored nearby. The Hunley rammed a fixed torpedo into the Housatonic's hull below the waterline, sinking it within an hour with a loss of 5 Union sailors. The Hunley itself sank as well about 3.5 mi. offshore with its entire 9-man crew of Confederate volunteers. Reverse: The Hunley, named for Horace L. Hunley (1823-1863), an early promoter of Confederate submarines, had already lost a 5-man crew in August 1863 and an 8-man crew, including Hunley, in October 1863 during trial runs in Charleston Harbor. Its last crew, commanded by Lt. George E. Dixon of the 21st Alabama, included Fred Collins, James A. Wicks, C. Simkins, Arnold Becker, and___Ridgeway of the Navy, C. F. Carlson of Wagner's Co., S.C. Arty., ____ White, and ____ Miller.