Page:Brief Sketch of Work of Matthew Fontaine Maury 1861-65.pdf/21

 fifteen feet from the bow, and could be raised or lowered by a line passing back into the cuddy hole. It was of copper containing 100 pounds of rifle powder and provided with four sensitive tubes of lead, containing explosive mixture. A two bladed propeller drove the craft at a six or seven knot rate. When ready for action the boat was so well submerged that nothing was visible save the stunt smokestack, the hatch combings and the stanchion, upon which the torpedo line was brought aft. The torpedo was submerged about six feet. Lieutenant W. T. Glassel, of the Confederate Navy of Virginia, one of the bravest of the brave, volunteered to take charge of her. He says Assistant Engineer J. H. Toombs volunteered his services, Major Frank Lee gave me zealous service in fitting a torpedo. James Stuart, or Sullivan, volunteered to go as fireman, and the services of W. Cannon as pilot were secured. I had an armament on deck of four double-barrel shotguns, and as many navy revolvers also four cork life preservers had been thrown on board to make us feel safe. On the fifth of of October, 1863, they left Charleston a little after dark, bound for the federal fleet outside, and especially for the "New Ironsides," the most powerful ship afloat. He thus graphically describes what occurred: "We passed Fort Sumter and beyond the line of picket boats without being discovered. Silently steaming along just inside the bar, I had a good opportunity to reconnoiter the whole fleet at anchor between me and the camp fires on Morris Island.

"The admiral's ship, 'New Ironsides,' lay in the midst of the fleet, her starboard side presented to my view, I determined to pay her the highest compliment. I had been informed through prisoners lately captured from the fleet, that they were expecting an attack from