Gr i 276 6 
 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 D03209814R 
 
I 
 
 MEMOEIA-LS 
 
 respectfully addressed to the congress of the 
 
 CONFEDERATE STATES. 
 
 \ 
 
 It is stated in tha Northern pnpers that the Federal Government is 
 constructing a large number of iron gun-boats, of great breadth of beam 
 and which will only draw from 3 to 8 feet water, with the view, during 
 the ensuing Avinter, of penetrating the tributaries of our large rivers. 
 We have still deep rivers which require defense, and the Mississippi, 
 of which it is urgent to secure partial possession, and if possible to 
 resume our occupancy of its whole navi^tion. If we could not, or 
 at least as we did not construct forts, ariV arm. vessels to secure our 
 former occupancy when we were in uninterrupted possession of that 
 navigation, our future opportunities must be comparatively limited, if 
 relying only on these means of defense. We know that the Federal 
 Government are now constructing numerous iron-plate 1 vessels, of 
 much greater strength than those first used, and carrying guns of a 
 calibre hitherto unknown for such service. There was, however, one 
 means of defense heretofore neglected, equally applicable to deep and 
 shallow waters, ami equally formidable to the lightest iron-plated boat, 
 • and to the most solid of these new leviathans, viz : the use of sunken 
 •charges of powder, fired by the galvanic battery, and commonly called 
 Torpedoes. These at least should be used as adjuncts to every other 
 system of river defense, where the latter are practicable, and oflfer the 
 further advantage on a long river like the Mississippi, of being appli- 
 cable where available forts cannot be constructed, nor floating defenses 
 launched, able to compete vath our adversaries. This — providing time 
 and expense were no object — but, presenting this farther favorable fea- 
 ture, that, carried out on an effective scale, it does not involve a per 
 centage of the expense of either of the other systems of defense. 
 
 Two questions in this connection naturally arise : Have we the 
 material and the competent skill ? Is this Torpedo system really ef- 
 fective, and where has it been tried ? 
 
 To impress conviction on the minds of those whom your memorial- 
 ist has the honor of addressing, as to the feasibility of this scheme, 
 or of its being at least worthy of their serious attention, he must beg 
 them to follow him in a brief history of the subject matter, and of his 
 personal experience thereof. 
 
 The Torpedo, which is nothing but a charge of powder, contained 
 in an iron, tin, or wooden waterproof vessel, to be exploded under 
 
ships, was revived in :i more in<:^enious form b^v Fnltoii, and. Johnson, 
 (with the latter jour memorialist, was personally acquainted, and 
 who showed me his plans, and explained to me his views thereof) at 
 the close of the last, or beginning of the presetit century. They ob- 
 tained for this invention an award of XlH, ()("() from the British go- 
 vernment, and models of some of their Torpedoes arc still exhibited at 
 the Kotunda at Woolwich. One of these, by means of clockwork. 
 Would explode at any given time. Others, intended to be moored in 
 rivers, were devised to ignite by means of triggers, when the bows vr 
 sides of vessels touched against them, or fastened two together by a 
 line or rope, were intended to be launched, down stream against ves- 
 sels that were ascending or lying at anchor, so that if any portion of 
 the line struck the vessel's cutwater, the two Torpedoes (or one of 
 them) would be drifted by the current against the sides of the vessel, 
 and thereby the action, if only very slight waves, ignited by the triggers 
 with which it was provided, bumping against the s^les. It was abun- 
 dantly proven, by various experiments, that a very small charge of 
 powder, fired under a vessel, immediately destroyed her. Amongst 
 others, I recollect seeing the drawings an'd report of a vessel destroy- 
 ed in the Medway, by Capt. Johnson, in presence of the Duke of 
 York, the Commander-in-Chief of the British army, and which report 
 was verified by the Duke's signature. A very small charge fired un- 
 der this vessel entirely broHfe her up, and she sank almost as quickly 
 as by the explosion of a powder magazine. But these and other Tor- 
 pedoes, though subsequently tried in various forms, and in different 
 places, Avere never (or only very partially) successful, from these two 
 great difficulties : first, getting them into the right place, and second- 
 ly, exj)loding them at the right time. The vessel to be destroyed had 
 to come to the Torpedo, or the Torpedo to the vessel; somehow it was very 
 rare that the vessel was so accommodating, and for the Torpedo to go to 
 the vessel partook too much of the " bdli/ig-thc-cat " to be a very practical 
 operation. The difficulty of igniting with certainty and at will, was, • 
 however, practically the most formidable. This obstacle was, howev- , 
 er, removed by the discovery or invention of conveying the galvanic 
 spark, so as to ignite charges below water. Professor Jacobi, of St, 
 Petersburgh, claimed to be the inventor of this method, and was re- 
 warded as such, by the Russian Government. 
 
 About the year 184U, I saw him at the house of Gen. Schilders, 
 Chief of Engineers in the Russian army, on Petrowski Island, near 
 St. Petersburg!!, and in the delta of the Neva, make experiments in 
 presence of the Emperor Nicholas in igniting submarine charges. 
 They were placed under the ice, at various distances, some exceeding 
 half- a mile, and the wires conveyed into the room where the experi- 
 menting party was assembled. To the best of my recollection, not 
 more than two out of every ten of these charges exploded on the first 
 attempt to fire them. Gen. Paisley, of the British Engineers, disco- 
 vered, or had the credit of discovering, that charges of powder laid on 
 the top of a submarine rock would blast it, and he extensively used 
 the galvanic battery for the purpose of igniting them, but as it was 
 of very little consequence in these operations, whether his charge 
 
•was fired after one or several trials, no great progress was made in at- 
 taining certainty of firing at the first attempt. I found, however, that 
 various illiterate miners, quite unacquainted with the theory of the 
 instrument they were using, had obtained perfect certainty of 
 ignition. 
 
 About 1852, Mr. Julius Krohl, a Prussian Engineer, after much 
 study and experimentalization, (undertaken at the suggestion, of your 
 memorialist), obtained thi# certainty of ignition. He took and suc- 
 cessfully executed, in New York, and in several of the Canadian 
 and "West India harbors, contracts for the removal, by blasting of sub- 
 marine reefs. Amongst others he removed the Vanderbilt Rock in 
 the North river, and also, the Diamond Reef, opposite Governor's 
 Island, New York. During many months spent in these operations, 
 he (exploded every day, many charges, varying from one to 60(l pounds 
 each. He had obtained an average certainty of explosion of 98 out 
 of 100. He took (also, at the suggestion of your memorialist,) as a 
 pupil. Captain Henry Bolton, whom, after a certain coarse of instruc- 
 lioji and experiments, he pronounced to be as. perfect an adept in this 
 art. as himself. Probably from taking greater care, Bolton's average 
 was still higher. 
 
 When the United States Government sent a Naval expedition to 
 Paraguay, Mr. Krohl, who had satisfactorily fulfilled many contracts 
 for the Kavy and other departments, was called on to furnish several 
 galvanic batteries, but ft was found, after these v.ere procured, that 
 there was no one, at that time, either in the Engineer, Artillery, or 
 Naval corps, sufficiiently conversant with their use to manage them. 
 The Navy Department, therefore, applied to Mr. Krohl, to provide 
 some person who could give instruction or undertake the practical 
 management of the same. Mr. Krohl replied that ho did not know 
 any one in the United States, except himself and Capt. Bolton, who, 
 however, declined this offer. Although tho theory and construction 
 of the galvanic battery, as applied to igniting submarine charges is 
 known to most scientific men, and to many intelligent ofiicers of En- 
 gineers and Artillery in most services, the practical use C'f the same 
 is very rare, as may be judged from the fiict that neither Professor Ja- 
 cobi, the alleged inventor, nor Gen. Paisley, who applied it to new uses, 
 had much skill in its management. To attiiin this, it was necessary 
 for "any person desirous of becoming proficient, to go through the 
 whole process, from the preparation of the wire in the work-shop, to 
 its final application, under the guidance of an instructor, already him- 
 self a proficient in its practical use. Mere theory, or book know- 
 ledge would no more enable him to ignite his charge with certainty, 
 than the discoveries of Liobig, in Organic Chemistry, to cook proper- 
 ly a beef-steak, which it was a very easy thing for any good cook to 
 accomplish, who had never even heard of Chemistry. 
 
 It will be readily perceived that in using the galvanic wire in firing 
 a torpedo or sunken charge, two things are required: firstly, that it 
 should be sure To go ofl, an<l secondly, that it should go off at the first 
 attempt, because before this attempt could be renewed, the vessel in 
 motion would have passed beyond the danger. Both of these requi- 
 
sites Captain Bolton combines. He alleges that in a very few weeks 
 he could teach intelliprcnt people to carry out the practical portions of 
 this arc quite efficiently. Ho is now in the Confcfleracy, l^-t Lieuten- 
 ant of infantry in the regular array of the Confederate States, and 
 detailed for engineer duty, which he has performed in Western Vir- 
 ginia, on Roanoke Island, in North Carolina, on the Peninsula, and 
 about Richmond. Your memorialist has known hira for many years 
 as a most reliable gentleman, and he haatcued to offer his services 
 to the South, immediately on the secession of South Carolina. lie 
 has further ascertained that all the material for the construction of the 
 galvanic battery is procurable within the Confederacy. 
 
 Certainty of ignition and the proper isolation of the wire (so that 
 they may be kept for months in an operative condition) being obtain- 
 ed, remains the question as to how rivers may be defended by means 
 of torpedoes, or sunken charges ? That is to say, how such charges 
 may be brought under the hostile vessels, which it is purposed to de- 
 stroy ? Lieutenant Bolton proposes defending rivers by anchoring 
 across the channel to be defended, a row of torpe<l:es, i. e., tin cans, or 
 waterproof casks or boxes, containing a charge of powder, connected 
 with one on shore by a galvanic wire, and sunken a few feet below the 
 water level. These he proposes to place sufficiently close together to 
 prevent any vessel (ascending or descending.) from crossing this wire 
 without being at some time, immediately over one of them. (.)ne tor- 
 pedo every «Ji) feet would suffice. This would give \o for every hun- 
 dred yards of channel to be defended. It would not, however, b6 safe 
 to trust to one line, because the hostile squadron, informed that such 
 obstructions existed, might send out boats to grappfe for them. The 
 first boats crew which reached one of them could be easily destroyed, 
 but the steamer or steamers might follow safely over where the explo- 
 sion had taken place. If this, however, only brought the first vessel 
 on to a second line, where she Avas destroyed, it is reasonable to sup- 
 pose that those following would proceed no further — a third and even 
 fourth line would obviously be proportionally more effective. It will be 
 readily understood that a line of torpedoes, if protected by the fire of 
 a battery from the shore, would not be in danger of being fished up 
 by small boats, but still without a second- line, after the destruction of 
 one vessel others might pass up or down. Of course wherever there 
 were batteries, lines of torpedoes would be very desirable, but some of 
 their chief advantages are that they can be placed where there are no 
 batteries — that such lines can be easily established with comparative 
 secrecy, and that position easily shifted when required. "Wherever a 
 strong battery hi, erected the enemy is very apt to know its where- 
 abouts, and. therefore to attempt to take it from the land side unless 
 protected by strong works, a large force or natural inaccessibility of 
 position, which inaccessibility, is mostly incompatible with accessibil- 
 ity for the heavy material required. For this latter reason it most ^ 
 frequently happens that on a river like the Mississippi, batteries can- 
 not be placed on wh-^.t would be the most effective sites, with reference 
 only to the channel, but the land conformation and the tneans of access 
 to it, have also to bo taken into consideration. Again a battery once 
 
rrectcil cannot bo easily shifted; finally, on any point of a long ■wa- 
 ter course patrolo'l, so to say, (as the Mississippi is at present.) by 
 the enemy, a battery attempted to bo established on its bank, unless 
 of strength adetiuate to bar a passage to the hostile squadron and fully 
 completed, -svould be useless, it" discovered, and attacked before such 
 completion. 
 
 Four objections may bo urged to giving this system of defense a 
 trial: Firstly — The large expenditure involved in attempting a mode 
 of defense which had not yet been practically proven. Secondly — The 
 large quantity of powder it requires. Thirdly : The weight of the 
 materi;il. And foiirthly — The liability of torpedoes to be washed 
 away. 
 
 In reply to objection the first, it may be answered that a very small 
 expenditure would demonstrate the power of charges thus tired. For 
 instance, a strong raft of heavy hewn timber might be framed at a 
 trifling expense, superior in strength to the most solid naval construc- 
 tion. One torj)edo, exploded thereunder, would settle this question. 
 A single galvanic battery, involving a cost under §100, and half a mile 
 of wire (which if tiie experiment failed would not be wasted,) would 
 ButEce to test the distances at which charges could be fired, the cer- 
 tainty with which they could be fired, as the operator might ignito 
 pucceSiSfully several hundred musket cartridges, and (by so doing after 
 the wire had been for several weeks immersed in water,) prove the 
 feasibility, or rather his proficiency in isolating it. It is worth while 
 to remark in this connection, that the ** ram, " though constructed 
 some years ago by the French and British (governments, was never 
 actually tested until the experiment made by the " Virginia,'' and that 
 no one knew or could know whether two thicknesses of ordinary rail- 
 roail iron, would resist heavy shot at certain distances, till this was 
 tried in the iron battery in Charleston harbor. 
 
 In reply to the second objection, it may be stated that this system, 
 according to present calculation, requires about 3-4 ton for each line 
 in every hundred yards of the channel to be defended. • Supposing three 
 lines, this gives 2 1-4 tons powder for every 100 yards. Now, as this 
 system rif defense can be applied wherever the channel is most favor- 
 able, on even the largest rivers, points may be selecte<l Avhere that 
 channel is not over 500 yards in width. This would require between 
 twelve and thirteen tons of powder. If we take the comparative ex- 
 penditure of powder in batteries, the smallest charges for guns of that 
 description, average 8 lbs. eaeli, and the smallest supply to each aun 
 would be lon rounds (in fact from 400 to bOO rounds are the ordinary 
 estimate in Europe, and in the old United States service). This is, 
 therefore, the amount of powder that would be required for 100 charges 
 each for 30 guns. But such guns it is known have no effect on vessels 
 even like the " Monitor,"' and it is known that the enemy are build- 
 ing boats of superior strength to hers, though of course without cor- 
 responding solidity below, which corresponding solidity, even, would 
 not save her from the blast of submarine batteries. It is in the next 
 place to be remarked that this powder, if not actually used in the de- 
 struction of a hostile craft, is not expended, but preserved in t^ood con- 
 
dition for any future use, ■whereas, a large proportion of that used by 
 most cflective batteries i.s certainly wasted. Again, if it be not (as 
 it ought not to be for so important an object,) a question of cconcany 
 and cost, but only of economy of materhil, the same, and better results 
 may be obtained by the use of gun-cotton, -wliich Lieutenant Bolton 
 has ascertained by consultation with manufacturers and chemists, may 
 be manufactured from material attainable within the Confederacy, and 
 without materially interfering Avith the production of gunpowder. 
 
 In reply to objection third, " with regard to the weigtit of material," 
 it may be stated that although great, it is much less than that of any 
 battery, l)ut especially, offers this advantage, that as (where water 
 transportation cannot be obtained.) the chief objection to the weight 
 of guns consists in the impossibility of dividing that weight, thereby 
 offering great diflSculties to their transportation by ordinary roads, 
 through swamps, etc., and occasioning almost insuperable obstacles to 
 this being done cither promptly or Avith secrecy. .Now the weight of 
 all the material recjuired for a line of torpedoes, is so divisible as to 
 be easily carried on horse or mule back or even by hand. That ma- 
 terial consists of wire, of powder, of the cases in which it is submerged, 
 of rope for anchoring them, of tools, of two or three light boats, all 
 of which may be divided into parcels not weighing over fifty or si.\ty" 
 pounds each, including even the means of anchorage, by use of crates 
 or boxes filled, on the spot, with stone, gravel or mud even, as cir- 
 cumstances will allow. 
 
 As far as regards objection fourth, with respect to the liability of 
 torpedoes to be washed away, it may be stated that though this might 
 occasionally occur, it would be immediately noticed and could be easily 
 remedied by the operators, these torpedoes, from their lightness, being 
 easily refished or replaced by others, b}' use of a light boat oV two, 
 unlike heavy obstructions which require the assistance of towage, 
 large craft, heavy cables, and much time and work, to restore them to 
 their place, wherever this can be done at all, and which being the re- 
 sult of long and practiced labor, there is not either time or the neces- 
 sary material to renew. A brief description of the modus operandi in 
 laying these lines across a river like the Mississippi, or any other oc- 
 cupied by the enemy, will, of course, render needless any explanation 
 of mode of laying them to defend water courses not occupied by the 
 enemy, the additional facilities of which obviously suggest themselves. 
 The operator trains some twenty assistants to the proficiency of ignit- 
 ing charges with cer\ainty, of keeping the torpedo water-proof, and 
 keeping up the insulation of the wire. This proficiency in the art 
 may be obtained in much shorter period than is required to prepare 
 and test that wire, and to construct the galvanic battery, etc., and to 
 this point Lieutenant Bolton is satisfied fifteen days Avould suffice for 
 men of ordinary zeal and intelligence, volunteering for, and obtained 
 for that purpose. This (making due calculation for sickness, etc.,) 
 would always leave time sufficient to establish at four different 
 points, station, of three operators, who, relieving each other, would 
 be permanently on duty the whole twenty-four hours. We now sup- 
 pose the point on the river selected, to establish a treble line of these 
 
torpodoos, each lino con?istinir of charges placed c\ evy twenty feet 
 across the width of the channel to be defended. On the bank, con- 
 cealed in -wood or swamp, is sunk in the ground or marsh, a box, a few 
 feet square, caulked, if necessary, and protected by a roof, from which 
 the operator and his two assistants (or the one on duty there) work 
 the galvanic battery. This box, covered by brush, cannot be per- 
 ceived from the river. The operator and such workmen as are re- 
 quired on this point, having a secure means of retreat provided, can 
 operate up to the last moment Avith the utmost confidence. From this 
 box a line of wire conveying the electric spark radiates to the three 
 lines. For every hundred yards of each line there is a separate wire, 
 which, presuming five hundred yards to be the width of the channel, 
 would give fifteen wires, which would ro(iuire from four thousand five 
 hundred to five thousand yards of wire. By means of five floats of 
 various shapes and sizes, and which (from others being scattered 
 about) could afibrd no indication to the enemy, the operators know 
 exactly whei-e their torpedoes are situated. By marks on the oppb- 
 site side of the river, they can easily and unerringly sight vessels at- 
 tempting to pass this line, so as through the instantaneous rapidity of 
 ignition which the galvanic wire allows, tO'be sure to fire their charge 
 under the approaching craft, however limited her length or great her 
 speed. Unlike a battery of artillery, the explosion of a torpedo affords 
 no indication of where the blow comes from, and no danger would be 
 incurred sufficient to deter the operators (protected as they would be 
 in their their sunken box) b^"- a promiscuous fire, vaguely directed on 
 the adjacent banks. As either of these lines of defence would be occa- 
 sionally shifted, as they ought and would probably (if at all adopted) 
 be established on several points of important rivers, and as the corps 
 managing them would sound and explore at many points* where they 
 would leave marks and floats for their guidance, the efi"ect must be to 
 keep the enemy in great suspense and uncertainty as to the whereabouts 
 of these lines, should even any information thereof reach them. Such 
 information in possession, even of the loyal inhabitants of the banks, 
 being necessarily only of a vague character. 
 
 Your memorialist is aware that a few torpedoes were laid some 
 months ago in the James river, but he has reason to believe that no 
 one has yet been employed fully and practically skilled in firing them 
 by the galvanic battery. Under such circumstances the torpedo, 
 though a most destructive, is a most uncertain means of defense, so 
 much so as not to justify much reliance, nor any large expenditure 
 thereupon, by those charged with the defense of inland waters. 
 
 An individual threatened with attack would Avisely prefer a sword, 
 knife, club, or any weapon certain in its operation, to the most destruc- 
 tive fire-arm, which was liable to miss fire in the moment of mortal 
 conflict. If forced to option between the former and the latter, he would 
 wisely select the former — if allowed both, perhaps not choose to 
 tamper himself with the latter, and, at least, only use it as an adjunct. 
 
 If, however, certainty of operation can be combined with decisively 
 destructive eff"ect, the scheme of torpedo defense, assumes a very dif- 
 ferent character and importance, 
 
Through this memorial your memorialist is eiideiivnring to call at- 
 tention to the fiict that such certainty is attainable ;ind to the mode in 
 ■which it may be attained. To that certainty of operation, when di- 
 rected by Lieutenant Bolton, and where certain material was procura- 
 ble, your memorialist has been personally a witness. He is informed 
 by Lieutenant Bolton (in whose reliability and judgment he has, 
 through long experience, the highest confidence,) that the necessary 
 material may be here procured. 
 
 There are many forms of varying ingenuity, in which the use of 
 the torpedo is proposed, in all of Avhich certainty of ignition is desira- 
 ble. 
 
 By the simple scheme of rows of torpodoes across a channel (so 
 close to each other in each row that ascending or <lescending vessels 
 must pass over them,) with certainty of ignition and proper vigilance, 
 such channels are clearly rendered impassable, unless by the sole ex- 
 pedient of clearing both banks of the operators. 
 
 It is worth considering in this connection that in any scheme of 
 defence by means of plated vessels, that it is at least questionable 
 whether any can be built and floated to resist the 15 inch and 20 inch 
 guns, (carrying shot over 4<)<) pound and 1,()U0 pounds,) which the 
 enemy is known to have adopted. 
 
 Your memorialist, in conclusion, begs to explain that he has been 
 induced at brief notice to present this memorial by the unexpected 
 advice, to th;it effect, from members of your honorable body, to whom, 
 in the form of notes, the document was originally forwarded, with a 
 letter which he appends as explanatory and apologetic of the motives 
 which have prompted him to this proceeding. 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 C, F. HENISINGSEN. 
 
LETTER OF GENERAL C. F. IIENNINGSEX. 
 
 Richmond, September 27, 1862. 
 Hon. ^Ir. FoOTK : 
 
 Df, \R Sir : I enclose a brief momorinl or explanation oi the subject 
 on which I last spoke to you. My object in forwarding it is, to re- 
 quest th.at you will look it through, at your leisure, so that you can 
 advise me how to proceed in the premises. I have no motive, but a 
 purely patriotic one, in performing the irksome duty of emleavoring 
 to call to this matter the attention of those whp may render it ser- 
 viceable to the country. After perusal, and such further explan^ition 
 as you may require, I shall be thankful, both for your candid opin.on 
 on the value of the proposition itself, and your advice as to how best 
 to bring it forward. With a like request I gave Mr, Boyce a copy 
 yesteijrtay. Should the occasion arise, and you tliink fit, pray consider 
 yourself at liberty to show the rough communication enclosed to any 
 one you may deem proper, making use of my name as endorsing it, 
 if that can be of any service in obtaining an investigation, or trial of 
 the scheme, though I have no ambition (and in ftict rather a disinclina- 
 tion) to obtruding my personality into the matter. 
 
 But in truth, with my convictions on the subject, I feel I should 
 be neglecting my duty, if 1 did not make this effort to call atten- 
 tion to this means of defens"", even at the risk of being considered 
 officious and classed with the many well-intentioned and credulous in- 
 dividuals, prone, wi.hout sufficient grounds, to father the schemes of 
 every enthusiastic projector. 
 
 This will be delivered to you by Lieutenant Bolton, C. S. A., to 
 whom the enclosed communication refers. 
 
 I am, dear sir, very respectfully, yours, 
 
 C. F. IIENNINGSEN. 
 
pccmalife* 
 
 pH8.5