Dahlgren Concerned About Housatonic Loss and Torpedo Boats

FEBRUARY 20TH, 1864: Rear Admiral Dahlgren, off Charleston, wrote in his diary: "The loss of the Housatonic troubles me very much.... Torpedoes have been laughed at; but this disaster ends that." //// The day before, he had written Welles urging that the Union develop and use torpedo boats to combat the Confederates. //// He was under the impression that the H.L. Hunley had been another Confederate "David" torpedo boat (which couldn't submerge) and he also suggested to Welles that "a large reward of prize money for the capture or destruction of a 'David'. I should say not less than $20,000 or $30,000 for each. They are worth much more than that to us." //// Fighting Fire With Fire. --Old B-R'er