David Took On Goliath 150 Years Ago Today-- Part 2

Lt. Glassell and a crewman thought the David was doomed and jumped overboard, but Engineer Turner succeeded in relighting the David's fires and with the help of pilot Walker Cannon, who could not swim, took the David back to Charleston. Lt. Glassell and the crew member were later picked up by the blockading fleet.

Although the David did not succeed in sinking the New Ironsides, the ship had to leave Charleston for repairs.

Rear Admiral Dahlgren wrote, "It seems to me that nothing could have been more successful as a first effort, and it will place the torpedo among certain offensive means."

And the Hunley hadn't even sunk the Housatonic with a torpedo yet. And, of course, we know how effective torpedoes were in the two world wars.

--Old B-R'er