Dahlgren Wants a Submarine and Describes What He's Up Against

AUGUST 11TH.

 Rear Admiral Dahlgren wrote that he'd like a submersible ship to sneak in and put explosives by Confederate water obstructions in Charleston Harbor. So, both opposing commanders wanted submarines. 

Later, he wrote Welles describing Confederate defenses facing him. There was "a continuous line of works" extending from Fort Moultrie on the right to Fort Johnson on the left. Fort Ripley, supported by the CSS Chicora, Charleston and Palmetto State, and Castle Pinckney were to the right beyond Moultrie.

A line of piles stretched between Forts Sumter and Moultrie, and anchored torpedoes were in the harbor as well.

--Old B-R'er