Infernal Machine

The James River in Northern Virginia As the longest river system in the Virginia Commonwealth, the James River has its origins out west in the Appalachian Mountains. It meanders 443 miles through the northern Virginia countryside before emptying into Chesapeake Bay.

I propose to you a new arm of war, as formidable as it is economical. Submarine navigation, which has been sometimes attempted, but as all know without results, owing to want of suitable opportunities, is now a problematical thing no more.” (French nautical designer Brutus de Villeroi, in a letter to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.)

Part Two: Down River from Port Hudson to Baton Rouge Beginning April 16, 1862, the US Navy’s West Gulf Blockading Squadron under Flag Officer David Glasgow Farragut began a thunderous bombardment of the Confederate forts Jackson and St. Philip, guardians of the lower Mississippi River and the approaches to New Orleans, Louisiana. Seven nights later,

The New Orleans Action Board is the setting for the “brown water” naval battles, fought for control of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. Part One: South from the Crescent City Though it is not shown on the Action Board, the key to this conflict is New Orleans, Louisiana. Known as the “Crescent

After visiting Director Kellen Butler at the Lasch Conservation Center and seen the H.L. Hunley itself being painstakingly and lovingly restored, I needed to learn more about the locations  where those involved in unleashing the Hunley upon the Union Navy blockading Charleston Harbor did their good work.

At the opening of the American Civil War, Confederate president Jefferson Davis and his people faced an enemy that had a substantially larger and fully ocean-going navy and was wedded to a strategic “Anaconda Plan” of defeating the Confederacy by economic strangulation through a naval blockading of all of its ports. Like their forefathers, the

The American Civil War lasted from April, 1861 to May, 1865, just over forty eight months. When I was researching the background information for “Infernal Machine: Dawn of Submarine Warfare” I knew there would have to be some way of showing the influence of the outside world on the Player’s project. The Player’s role in

By Ed Ostermeyer, Master Engineer (Grade 2) Good day to you, young Inventor. In these chaotic days of this accursed Civil War, it is well that you have all your important papers in order. Especially important is to have in your possession documents known as “letters patent.” Today’s session of instruction from the Inventor’s Vade

By Ed Ostermeyer, Master Engineer (Grade 2) Ah, the budding entrepreneur returns. Welcome back, young Inventor. If you will open your copy of the Inventor’s Vade Mecum to the section entitled “Sailors,” we will get started. You must be mindful that several decisions must be made before you are allowed access to the Navy’s manpower

Though the “H.L. Hunley” was the first submarine to sink another vessel in combat, it was by no means the first submarine built by the American Confederacy in the 1860’s. There were multiple underwater marvels in various stages of completeness at several different locations when war broke out between North and South in April, 1861.