Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: August 7th, 1863: Send Us the Hunley!!

AUGUST 7TH

With Charleston under heavy Union attack, General Beauregard asked for "transportation of Whitney's submarine boat from Mobile here. It is much needed." He was referring to the H.L. Hunley.

In the next six months, the ship and its valiant crews would usher in a new era of naval warfare.

Secretary Mallory of the Confederate Navy sent Lt. Maffitt of the CSS Florida his appointment to the Confederate States Navy, effective April 29, 1863. Well, that was about time concerning all the success Maffitt and the commerce raider were having.

The value of the commerce raiders was far greater than just the numbers of ships they captured. Their cruises kept large numbers of Union ships, money and manpower occupied in searching for them that otherwise could have been used along the coasts and rivers. Not to mention driving up insurance rates and striking fear into the Union's merchant fleet.

--Old B-Runner