Shipwreck of the CSS Louisiana-- Part 2: Blown Up By Her Crew

Mechanics worked day and night on the east bank of the Mississippi River trying to get the vessel's machinery to work.

Trapped after the Union fleet passed by in April 24, 1862.  Hit by several shells while moored to the riverbank.  Was set afire near Fort St. Philip by its crew under orders id Captain John K. Mitchell on April 28, 1862, after Fort St. Philip and Fort Jackson surrendered.

Was blown up with 10,000 pounds of gunpowder at 10:45 a.m. near Fort St. Philip's water battery and drifted downstream.  One soldier in Fort St. Philip was killed and one was wounded by fragments from the explosion.

In 1981, Clive Cussler used a gradiometer in a swamp off the main river channel and found a wreck directly off Fort St. Philip that he thought was the CSS Louisiana.

--Old B-Runner

Wreck of the CSS Louisiana

Of course, whenever I read about a ship sinking I begin to wonder if the shipwreck has been found and where.   As a matter of fact, while I was still in school, I had  underwater archeology as one of my possible careers.

The wreckage of the CSS Louisiana  is on the bottom of the Mississippi River.  In November 1981,  it was magnetically located by NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency).  This was founded in 1978 by  Dr. Clove Cussler.

The expedition of that date was out looking for the ram Manassas, CSS Louisiana, CSS Governor Moore and USS Varuna.

They found the remains of the Manassas  after two days.  Then, they found the Moore and Varuna up the river where they grounded a few hundred yards apart on the east bank.

The Louisiana  lies deep under the shoreline mud a hundred yards in front of the southeastern embankment of Fort St. Philip.  You can easily walk the area during periods of low water.

--Old B-Runner

New Theory As to Why the Submarine Hunley Sank

From the February 23, 2020, WTOC 11 Low Country News by Bill Sharpe.

On the night of February 17, 1864, the Confederate submarine Hunley sank after it used a torpedo to sing the USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor.  It was the first warship to be sunk by a submarine in world history.

But, the Hunley never returned to its base.  Its location was just found a short time ago by writer and undersea explorer Clive Cussler, who just recently died.

Rachel Lance, a U.S. Navy biomedical engineer who holds an engineering from Duke University has made a bold claim as to why the Hunley sank that night.

In her research, she has determined that  the blast from the torpedo  sent blast waves through the submarine's iron hull and caused instant death for the men inside.

The ship was raised off the Charleston Harbor floor in 2000 and now sits at the Hunley Museum in North Charleston, South Carolina.

This is not a new story, but interesting anyway.

--Old B-Runner

The USS Weehawken's "Devil"-- Part 1: To Sweep Torpedoes (Mines)

Of interest, I found mention of this device that was attached at one time to the bow of the USS Weehawken.

From Historic Ships:  Extant Monitors.

The Weehawken was fitted with a large raft that was intended to sweep mines (called torpedoes) in Charleston Harbor.  The raft had a large notch that fit to the bow of the monitor, but it was very unwieldy.  As such the raft was eventually cut loose and drifted to a backwater area of Morris Island.

Confederates found it and called it "The Devil."

This anti-torpedo raft, "The Devil" was reported by Clive Cussler as being in a marsh somewhere around or on Morris Island.  The University of South Carolina also investigated the raft and Dr. Lee Newsom, of Penn State, reported taking wood samples for further analysis.

The results of the analysis are not known.

The Devil You Say.  --Old B-Runner

Was the USS Weehawken Raised?

I was wondering if the ship was raised from its watery grave.  Some think so, others not so sure.

From the Forum of Axis History site.  "Civil War Ships Being Raised."

One person thinks it was raised but will look onto it.  Reportedly in only 30 feet of water so not a difficult job.  Engines salvaged by wreckers.  Turret and pilot house destroyed prior to 1870.    Remainder of wreck removed after 1870.

From the Historic Ships:  Extant U.S. Civil War Monitors

Weehawken, like the USS Patapsco,  sold for salvage around 1870.  Benjamin Mallifert hauled away  at least 130 tons of metal from the wreck.  Clive Cussler reported finding the wreck in 1981 and said the ship was badly broken up.

--Old B-Runner