The Origins of Underwater Warfare: A Description of an Early Submarine Attack

Civil War combat foreshadowed the harsh warfare to follow in the twentieth century with the introduction of the machine gun, repeater rifles, trench warfare, and the use of trains to quickly move troops. However, one of the more celebrated tactical innovations of the war was the use of submarines by the Confederate Navy. Most accounts of submarine warfare during the war focus on the sinking of the USS Housatonic by the CSS H.L. Hunley in February 1864, but few mention an earlier but unsuccessful attack by a cigar-shaped ship called the CSS David in October 1863. This letter from Union sailor Lewis H. West is a rare eyewitness description of that incident, one of the earliest submarine attacks in naval history (GLC03836.59). On his first night on board the USS New Ironsides, West witnessed the submarine CSS David launch her attack. Stealthily cutting through Charleston Bay almost entirely submerged, the David attempted to explode a torpedo (what we now refer to as a mine) and in the process nearly sunk herself. But according to West, the "nondescript craft" barely damaged the New Ironsides, stating divers found "that not a plate or bolt is started."

The David survived the explosion and the small arms fire that raked the hull and made it back to shore due to the heroic actions of Assistant Engineer J. H. Tombs, who was able to get the engine started again. The ship had two additional confirmed attacks, one in March 1864 against the USS Memphis, and another on the USS Wabash a month later. Both were as successful as the attack on the New Ironsides. The David's ultimate fate is unknown, but she might have been among several submarines captured by Union forces when they marched into Charleston in February 1865.

West's letter is a prescient document that foretells the submarine as one of the most technically sophisticated and strategically important weapon systems of the twentieth century.

David Gary, Research Associate
Gilder Lehrman Collection

GLC03836.59 Lewis H. West to R. West. Autograph letter signed

For more information or to obtain copies, contact Ana Ramirez-Luhrs at reference@gilderlehrman.com or call (212) 787-6616 ext. 209.

Lewis H. West to R. West Off Morris Island, South Carolina, 8 October 1863. Autograph letter signed, 3 pages.

U.S.S. Ironsides Off Morris Island Oct 8 th/63 Dear Ma As I am at present fixed here I take the first opportunity of letting you know what has transpired since I left you. I sailed in the Paul Jones on Wednesday following my departure from Phil. and arrived at Charleston on Sunday. On reporting to the Admiral for duty [inserted: the next day] he ordered me to this ship, but on coming on board I found that her complement of officers was full. Capt Rowan said I had better go on board one of the Monitors, and that he would see the fleet captain about it. That night however a vacancy was made [struck: by illegible] rather unexpectedly. A short time after 9 P.M, just as I was turning in, the officer of the deck hailed something. The hail was followed [inserted: instantly] by two or three musket shots and a tremendous crash and explosion, that [struck: she] sounded as if the ship’s timbers were all smashed in. The drum beat to quarters, and as I had not yet been stationed, I [strikeout] [inserted: went] on deck to see what was up. The marines were keeping up a heavy fire of musketry on some small object in the water, that in the darkness looked as much like a barrel as anything else. In a few minutes it drifted [2] out of sight or sunk. Many tons [inserted: of] water were thrown on deck by the explosion, but on examination the ship was not injured in the least, beyond having a few storeroom bulk heads demolished by the concussion. A man had his leg broken, and the officer of the deck was shot through the body, by a musket fired from the nondescript craft, just as he fired at it. The next morning we found that two men had been picked up by vessels near us, one of whom was recognized as an ex-naval officer. He turned out to be the commander of the infernal machine which tried to destroy us. He stated that she was a small steamer on the same principle as Winan’s cigar ship, with an outrigger to her bows carrying the torpedo. She was so constructed as to be almost entirely under water, excepting a very low smokestack. On exploding the torpedo, which was done by simply running against the side, an additional effect was produced which he had not counted on. The immense body of water thrown up came down his smokestack putting his [struck: fired] fires out, and entirely destroying his motive power. The vessel was also probably damaged by the concussion Finding they could not get away they all [struck: to the] (five in number) jumped overboard to avoid the musketry which we were pelting them with. The other three are supposed to be shot or drowned, and the machine sunk. This is the rebs story and [3] it seems probable. It is not likely that a man of the coolness and daring to [struck: ex] perform such an operation, would jump overboard from his vessel unless she was sinking. In consequence of Mr Howard (the officer of the deck at the time,) being disabled, I am to be kept here, which arrangement suits me very well, as the ship is certainly the most desirable one to be in, of the whole fleet, in all respects. Nothing can show her tremendous [struck: and] strength and power of endurance more than this fruitless attempt model, she would have been blown to pieces. We had the divers here yesterday to examine her under water, and they report that not a plate or bolt is started. We have lively times at night now, passing it nearly all the time, [inserted: at quarters] with orders to fire at every thing we see; so the New Ironsides is not a very nice place for visiting in the evening. If my first night’s experience on board is a sample [struck: of] I certainly can no longer complain of monotonous duty. Your Aff son L. West

Konstam, Angus, Confederate Submarines and Torpedo Vessels 1861-65. New York: Osprey Publishing, 2004.

Musicant, Ivan, Divided Waters: The Naval History of the Civil War. New York: Castle Books, 2000.

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