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.

Though Charleston and its harbor make a remarkable pair, it is the harbor that drew my interest, and book research, back to the era of the American Civil War.

In those years, Charleston harbor looked very different indeed.

Below the surface of the water, the harbor was a labyrinth of obstacles and explosives.

On the surface was a port defense squadron that included two “home-growed” casemate ironclads; the Chicora and the Palmetto State. The harbor and its environs were draped with a fearsome necklace of forts and batteries that also extended into creeks and inlets along the nearby Low Country coastline.

Then as now, the Gulf Stream current flowing twenty miles off-shore is affected by the shape of the southern Eastern seaboard coastline. The current’s flow forms several eddies close-in to shore. In some cases, these eddies can flow in a direction opposite to that of the Gulf Stream.

By their action, the South Carolina coastline is formed into an intricate web of coves and inlets, many offering deep channel access.

During the Civil War, these coves and inlets offered safety from prying eyes and Yankee gunfire.

Located between Sullivan’s Island and Long Island (the latter now known as Isle of Palms,) Breach Inlet’s channel was (and still is) cut by fast-flowing tidal currents that created a channel running between one to two fathoms. Dominating the Inlet were the sixteen guns of Confederate Battery Marshall, guarding both Breach Inlet and Conch Creek, a shallow, brackish creek between Sullivan’s Island and the mainland that offered passage to Charleston harbor.

In 1864, Breach Inlet attracted the attention of George E. Dixon, the new Captain of the H. L. Hunley. Basing the Hunley in Charleston harbor was worthless since ay sea trial or even attack mission launched near Fort Sumter would instantly attract the attention of the Union blockaders.

Dixon chose the Conch Creek side of Breach Inlet as the Hunley’s new base for two reasons. First, its location on Sullivan’s Island put it within walking distance of the town of Mount Pleasant; civilization of sorts, and a well-received change from their former unutterably rustic digs across Charleston harbor at Fort Johnson.

The second reason was that the entrance to Breach inlet was shaped like a “comma.” The inlet’s mouth faced southeast, and directed its tidal currents between two sandbars into the Atlantic Ocean.

So that, when the Hunley sortied forth, Breach inlet’s curved comma shape would aim the boat directly at the blockading Union squadron anchored off Charleston harbor.

There was one additional advantage.

In exiting Hunley through Breach Inlet on an out-flowing ebb tide, control of the vessel could be erratic and possibly dangerous. However, by waiting for the Inlet’s short period of slack water, the Hunley’s crew could quickly propel the craft through the Inlet safely and without having to fight against an incoming flood tide. Departing during slack water allowed the crew a four to six hour window to visit mischief upon the Yankee blockade, before catching the flood tide and coast all the way to Breach Inlet and home.

Today, Breach Inlet snoozes in the warm South Carolina sun, its role in the Civil War noted by historical markers observed through the windows of passing cars.

Battery Marshall is also a memory, its revetments and trenches given over to beachfront condominiums.

Conch Creek no longer resounds to the grunt and profanity of nautical stalwarts at their craft. Now, it is the profanity of fishing charter captains hurrying their bleary, sleep-deprived customers along like Noah getting his charges aboard the Ark.

If you’ve a mind to, next time you are in Charleston, South Carolina, head over to Sullivan’s Island up Highway SC-703.

Pull into the parking lot at Thomson Park, and stroll down to the beach at Breach inlet.

Before you get to water’s edge you will see a sign stating that the current at Breach Inlet is very dangerous, and on no account should you go swimming in it.

There is a $1040.00 fine if you do.

Looking to your left is the Highway SC-703 bridge over Breach Inlet, with Conch Creek visible beyond the span.

Looking across the Inlet, you can see where the tidal current from Breach Inlet meets the in-shore eddy, as shown by the large number of breakers visible in the middle distance over the Inlet’s shoaling.

Turning further to your right has you facing southeast, viewing where the mouth of Breach Inlet joins the Atlantic Ocean. Raising your gaze to the horizon will have you looking at where the ships of the Union Navy’s blockade would be positioned.

When I was there, two container ships on the horizon made good substitutes for the blockading Yankee gunboats.  

A slow turn back to your left towards the bridge will give you a gunner’s view of the sweep and coverage area of Battery Marshall.

And you will also notice that, the longer you stand here on the beach in Thomson Park just off highway SC-703 at Breach Inlet, the more you can feel the shades of history, Union and Confederate, crowding around you.

(Note: All graphic images of Infernal Machine game materials used in this series of articles are subjective and may change and appear different in their final form.  All images show sourcing unless otherwise noted.)

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