Sullivans Island Magazine, Summer 2016

13 / 28

| | 11
sub at such an isolated and remote
location on the north end of Sullivan’s
Island helped to keep it a secret from
curious civilians.
So, in January 1864, the Hunley
was moved from a dock in Mount
Pleasant to the Breach Battery – also
known as Battery Marshall – on Sul-
livan’s Island. The ocean view was per-
fect – the Union ships could be seen
anchored four miles off the beach, a
relatively straight path from Breach
Inlet for an attack on one of them.
A night deployment would provide
the Hunley a cover of darkness for
protection, and the lights onboard the
Union ships would guide the little sub
right to its target.
But there was a lot of work to be
done before any of that could happen.
Five nights a week, the Hunley’s crew
took their boat out on maneuvers,
practicing diving and surfacing, often
in Cove Creek, behind the island. For
drills at sea, a calm night with rela-
tively smooth water and an outgoing
tide provided the best conditions. But
it was winter, and the weather can be
brutal, even in Charleston, so there
were no guarantees. At one point, the
Hunley actually had to remain dock-
side at Breach Inlet for two weeks due
to heavy fog and rough seas.
If the outgoing tide would aid
the crew when leaving port, what
about getting back to the island
afterward? As any kayaker can attest,
rowing against the strong currents
of the ocean is no easy task. More
than likely, there were times during
exercises at sea when the boat didn’t
make it back to the inlet and instead
ran aground elsewhere on the beach.
Evidence that this probably happened
is in the records, indicating that a sup-
port boat eventually was assigned to
Battery Marshall, probably for towing
the sub back to the dock when it was
beached.
And how long could the boat stay
submerged without the crew suc-
cumbing to asphyxiation? After all,
the only air available to the men was
what was in their cramped space when
they went underwater. So a test mea-
suring both physical and mental en-
durance was conducted in the creek,
not far from Breach Inlet. During the
test, the Hunley was underwater for
so long that the soldiers at Battery
Marshall assumed all was lost. When
the boat resurfaced more than two
hours later, there was only one soldier
dockside to greet the crew.
For the last few days before the
Hunley’s historic deployment on Feb.
17, the crew may have slept at Battery
Marshall, possibly to spare them their
exhausting commute from Mount
Pleasant. However, more than likely
it was because Lt. Dixon would be
watching for just the right weather
conditions to embark on the mission.
The ending to the story is well-
known. The submarine was successful
in bringing down its target. By flash-
ing a blue light from a magnesium
lantern to their comrades on shore,
the crew of the Hunley signaled that
their mission was accomplished and
that they were returning to Sullivan’s
Island. Fires at Battery Marshall were
stoked to guide them. However, the
Hunley didn’t make it back. Its where-
abouts were unknown for well over a
century. When it was finally discov-
ered in 1995, the submarine’s original
trajectory from Breach Inlet guided
researchers to pinpoint the area of
ocean floor to search.
Some folks wondered if Hurri-
cane Hugo’s bull’s-eye path may have
stirred things up enough to help find
the Hunley. Although it wasn’t likely,
that possibility is what kept research-
ers looking a few miles off the shores
of Sullivan’s Island. But the sea doesn’t
easily give up her secrets, and this is
one that continues to intrigue us 21
years later.
Before you decide,
talk to the Good
Hands® people.
Now that you’ve moved into
your new home, what’s next?
Perhaps a new addition to the
family. Or a new car or boat.
Perhaps retirement. Talk to
me soon about affordable
insurance from Allstate to
help meet the current and
upcoming needs of your life.
Call or visit me first
for a complimentary
protection review.
Insurance and discounts subject to terms, qualifications and
availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company,
Northbrook, IL. © 2010 Allstate Insurance Company
PAUL G LANGSTON
(843) 849-7477
1143 CHUCK DAWLEY BLVD
MT PLEASANT