John K. Crosby, officer of the deck, wrote: "It had the appearance of a plank moving in the water." The Housatonic slipped its cable and began backing at full speed (must have had steam up) and all hands called to quarters.
Within two minutes of initial sighting, the Hunley rammed her torpedo into the Housatonic and the ship was shattered by the explosion and "sank immediately."
The February 29th Charleston Daily Courier remarked: "The explosion made no noise, and the affair was not known among the fleet until daybreak, when the crew was discovered and released from their uneasy positions in the rigging. They had remained there all night.
Two officers and three men were reported missing and were supposed to be drowned."
--Old B-Runner
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