David Takes on Goliath 150 Years Ago Today-- Part 1

OCTOBER 5TH, 1863

Today, the little CSS David, commanded by Lt. Glassell, CSN, exploded a torpedo against the side of the USS New Ironsides, under Captain Rowan, in Charleston Harbor, SC. Mounting a toprpedo with 60 pounds of powder on a ten-foot spar fixed to the bow, the fifty-foot David stood out from the pier early in the evening.

Being low in the water and hard to see, the David was close to the New Ironsides before it was spotted and hailed.

The federals opened with small arms fire, but the David came on, exploding the torpedo against the Union ship's starboard quarter and "shaking the vessel and throwing up an immense column of water.

As that water came down, it unfortunately for the David put out the boiler fire and nearly swamped her., causing the Confederate ship to swing alongside the New Ironsides.

Not Over Yet. --Old B-Runner