Shortly after, theHunleyitself sank and disappeared from existence.
But it wasnt the first time the submarine had sunk.
1864 painting of H. L. Hunley by Conrad Wise Chapman.
ThePioneerwas followed by theAmerican Diver.
Eventually, they decided to stick to conventional hand-cranked means of propulsion that had powered thePioneer.
TheAmerican Diverwas an ungainly vessel and too slow to be practical.
Hunley named the vessel after himself.
Drawing of Hunley from Popular Science Magazine, circa 1900.
The craft was also weighted down with additional iron weights screwed to the bottom.
TheHunleycould remain submerged for two excruciating hours before having to surface for fresh air.
But more tests were to follow before theHunleycould be readied for war.
A life size model of the CSS Hunley on the grounds of The Charleston Museum, Charleston.
Only the captain escaped.
The submarine was retrieved and prepared for another mission.
This time Horace Hunley himself insisted on captaining the sub on another test demonstration.
On 15 October 1863, theHunleydived underwater and plummeted bow-first to the ocean floor.
All eight men, Hunley included, perished.
After the two tragedies, the Confederate General Beauregard was reluctant to put theHunleyback in service.
Yet, there were many who believed that theHunleycould successfully break the blockade on Charleston Harbor.
However, they agreed that theHunleyhad to be modified if she were to succeed.
Additionally, the towed line could foulHunley’sscrew or drift into the submarine herself.
A more direct approach was adopted.
TheHunleywould ram the side of the targets ship with 135 pounds worth of explosives.
Once the entire length of rope had been let out, the taut rope would pull the bombs trigger.
The Hunley went stealthily towards the ship and pressed its torpedo snugly against theHousatonics side.
Five years later, it was brought to the surface.
In 2004, the remains of the crew were laid to rest at Magnolia Cemetery, in Charleston.
Tens of thousands of people attended the burial.
The recovered Hunley is on now display at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.
The interior of the Hunley.
Photo: Randall Hill/Reuters
The submarine H. L. Hunley in its conservation tank at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.
