March 7- Fund Raising Events Announced- Two major fundraising events for the Hunley Recovery are announced. A Gala to be held at the Omni Hotel on April 26 and a living history weekend at Patriot's Point on Charleston Harbor on May 9 - 11, War at Flood Tide.
March 5, 1997- The Hunley Commission announces its decision that Clive Cussler planned and supported the expedition which located the Hunley and rejected the claim of Charlestonian Lee Spence, who had claimed to have found it 20 years earlier. Spence retaliated by posting the coordinates where he claims the Hunley is located on his Shipwrecks site on the Internet.
Feb. 20, 1997Information on the recovery of the C.S.S. Hunley Submarine (See 200k image of Chapman Painting) recently located near Charleston, S.C. (Civil War Website) . The submarine was the first submersible to sink an enemy vessel in warfare (February 1864). There has been some controversy about the possible recovery and eventual display of the vessel which may be reflected in the materials listed here.
Feb. 17, 1997 - The Hunley Commission announced on Feb. 17, 1997 (the anniversary of the sub's final attack) that the hull of the submarine is strong enough to be raised and conserved based on studies and data collected during last spring's expedition. Fundraising plans for the 10 million dollar project are being developed. A Feb. 18, 1997 Post and Courier Newspaper article provides details.
Jan. 19, 1997 - The Discovery Channel premiers a one hour documentary, Rebel Beneath the Waves, videotaped in part in Charleston with the assistance of local reenactors. The 10th. S.C. Reenactors donate their fees for appearing in the production and other funds, a total of Two Thousand Dollars, to the recovery and preservation effort. The Palmetto Battalion, the statewide Confederate reenactors association, donates the remaining balance raised at the Battle of Secessionville reenactment, about Eight Thousand Dollars, to the recovery and reinterment of the crew's remains.
As of June 1, 1996 the expedition had been concluded. The hull appears to be sound. A series of skylights was discovered in the top of the hull and the hull was discovered to have a tapering shape from bow to stern. More detailed findings from the Commission are expected. The sub was enclosed in a cage rigged with alarms and detection equipment and its condition is monitored around the clock from land by the Coast Guard, Navy and other agencies by both on site and remote systems.
An agreement has been reached between South Carolina and the Federal Government regarding recovery, conservation and display of the vessel. South Carolina will retain custody while the Federal government will have ownership.
As of May 11, 1996, The Hunley Commission expedition to the wreck is currently diving on the sub off of Charleston, SC in about 30 feet of water. The submarine is slightly smaller than expected and differs in details from the plans and surviving images of the sub. Diving conditions have been poor due to bad weather and massive numbers of jellyfish and the expedition is behind schedule. A major announcement is expected at any time. This is an exploratory mission to investigate the wreck. No plans to raise it have been made at this time and will await various research and testing results.
These reports are issued directly from the Official State Hunley Commission operating under the authority of the Government of the State of South Carolina under the Chairmanship of Senator Glen McConnel and Staff Attorney John Hazzard.
Institute Web Page for Hunley Information This page has a chronological status report and graphics. This is a large, comprehensive site with regular updates maintained by some of the people actually working on the recovery and conservation project. They have some amazing computer generated images (full screen but only 20k of data) of the sub during the attack created with the new knowledge of the ship. Here is the Hunley at dock by Dan Dowdey. Many other fine images of this type are on their site. The institute works with the cooperation and support of the State Government and information on this site may be considered official.
Diver and underwater archeologist Ralph Wilbanks, working for Author Clive Cussler actually found the Hunley. An image taken from the videotape he shot of the vessel on the bottom near Sullivan's Island is on his Wetshop / Hunley Web Page.
These are links to bills as listed in the S.C. Legislative Information
System and include updated status information which is kept current
and reflects current legislative action on the bills.
Bill 475, Establishing the Hunley Trust Fund
S.C.V. Hunley Page This page reflects some of the controversy about the discovery of the submarine and has other information. Its content has been the subject of some dispute.
Charleston Diver Lee Spence claims to have found the Hunley in the 1970's, but his claim has been rejected by the Hunley Commission. In response he has posted affidavits, records and what he claims are the subs coordinates on his website shipwrecks.com. The sub's actual coordinates off of Sullivan's Island are a closely guarded secret and people who have dived on the submarine assure me I do not endanger the sub by linking to this information which indicates a very different location from where they say the sub was located. Wherever it is located, it is covered with a cage set with alarms and under 24 hour electronic observation including night vision from the Sullivan's Island Lighthouse. The Rangers at Ft. Moulrie also keep a look out. Get caught messing with it and you don't come up for air for five years.
National Park Service Hunley Page
Encyclopedia Entry on the Hunley,
a slightly dated history of the vessel.
Hunley Article on the Subwar Network
Updated.
CSS Hunley Print by William R. McGrath
with short history and image of print.
Other Charleston Civil War Naval Operations
- A page by Russell Tucker on Charelston's Ironclad Fleet and
their commander.
Two recommended books on the Hunley.
This April's Civil War Week sponsored by the Charleston Museum has films, lectures and presentations related to the Hunley. Check Civil War @ Charleston's detailed, online schedule.
The Resurgam
a Victorian era sub recently discovered in Britain, detailed text,
photographs and technical information.
List of Historic Submarines and Reproductions
on display around the world with many surprising entries.
Main Page of the Subwar Network
Large variety of submarine related information.
Return to Civil War Charleston
You can reach the Editor
of this page, William Hamilton, by
e-mail
