H.L. HUNLEY CONFEDERATE SUBMARINE

The CSS H.L. was built by some of the best engineers of their time. The 4o foot long, thin, cigar-shaped H.L. Hunley, named for her second captain who died with his crew during sea trials, was manned by a crew of nine: eight to turn the hand-cranked propeller and one to steer the vessel. The innovation and bravery of these men inspired Ed Tooley to create the bike.
Here is an H.L. Hunley animation demonstrating the task of propelling this man powered sub.

In August 1863, the Hunley was dispatched from Alabama to serve in defense of Charleston. During the night of February 17, 1864, the sub set out on her maiden attack–her target, the U.S.S. Housatonic, a 1,240-ton Union sloop-of-war. The Hunley rammed the wooden hull of the Housatonic with her harpoon torpedo, packed with explosive powder and mounted on a long iron pole extending from her bow; the charge was detonated at a distance by pulling a rope as the sub backed away. The Union ship sank in three minutes, taking five crewmen with her.

(Top right) Painting of the Hunley by Conrad Wise Chapman, circa 1863 (Courtesy of the Museum of the Confederacy)

In February of 1864, the Hunley was the first underwater vessel to sink an enemy ship in combat. However, H.L. Hunley did not return from this historic mission and was presumed lost with all hands. Her fate remained a mystery for over 131 years, until May 1995, when a search led by author Clive Cussler located her wreck.

On 8 August 2000, following extensive preliminary work, the H.L. Hunley was raised and taken to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center facility at the former Charleston Naval Base. At present, she is the subject of a careful preservation effort that ultimately should place her in suitable condition for general public exhibition.

On April 17th, 2004 Ed Tooley of Ratster Designs attended the burial of the eight brave H.L. Hunley crew members.

The the remains of the crew of the H. L. Hunley were interred in Charleston’s Magnolia Cemetery with full military honors. A crowd estimated at between 35,000 and 50,000, including 10,000 period military and civilian reenactors, were present for what some called the ‘Last Confederate Funeral.’ The Crew: (More info) Lieutenant George E. Dixon Arnold Becker Corporal J. F. Carlsen Frank Collins Lumpkin Miller James A. Wicks Joseph Ridgaway

Here (below) is the senior archaeologist finding the gold coin on the left side of LT. George Dixon. This coin was given to him by Miss Queenie Bennett. LT. Dixon kept it in his uniform pants pocket and it actually deflected a bullet during the battle of Shiloh. It is inscribed with the words “My Life Preserver”.

When LT. Dixon was commissioned to command the Hunley, he took this coin along for good luck on his voyages. This “legend” was confirmed by a forensic anthropologist who found a healed injury to Lt. Dixon’s hip bone that matched the mis-shapen coin.