Confederate Sub Crew's Final Journey to Commence

Navy NewsStand ^ | 4/12/2004 11:00:00 AM | Madeleine Scott, Naval Historical Center Public Affairs

[BykrBayb]

Story Number: NNS040409-25 Release Date: 4/12/2004 11:00:00 AM

By Madeleine Scott, Naval Historical Center Public Affairs

CHARLESTON, S.C. (NNS) -- The eight men strong crew of H.L. Hunley, after 140 years, will finally be laid to rest April 17 at the Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, S.C.

The submarine, under preservation by the Naval Historical Center (NHC) for the last three years, disappeared during the Civil War and was not discovered until 2000 and raised in 2001.

“Hunley is renowned in history as the first successful combat submarine," said overall NHC supervisor and project leader of the Hunley conservation project, Dr. Robert Neyland. "As such, all submariners will identify with Hunley and her crew. Like many submariners since Hunley, crews have risked and lost their lives for duty. Consequently, Hunley is a symbol for those submariners who have been lost and continue to be lost.”

The days running up to the burial ceremony will include lectures held by experts on the history of the Hunley and its crew, the release of visual reconstructions of each crew member, and individual and personal details of the crew created from scientific and genealogical research.

Civil War reenactors will be present, and the whole event is open to the public to which no tickets are needed.

Despite beginning its journey back home in 1864 after successfully completing its mission to destroy USS Housatonic, the Hunley’s homecoming was never completed. For reasons unknown, the submarine disappeared on its return and was not discovered until 130 years later.

In some respects, the forthcoming funeral and supporting commemorations will mark the Hunley crews final journey. The procession in which each crew member will be transported individually in a horse drawn caisson to their final resting place will commence at 10 a.m. from the White Point Gardens and end at the Magnolia Cemetery. The shipmates will be laid to rest with full military honors alongside crew members who had perished on previous Hunley missions. An eight-day long memorial period will follow the burial, each day representing one of the crew members.

For those wishing to take an H.L. Hunley submarine tour at the Warren Lash Conservation Center, the opening hours are extended to weekdays during the burial week starting April 12-16. Saturday and Sunday will be open as normal. The tours include an actual view of the Hunley in the Conservation Lab, an animated simulation of the H.L. Hunley recovery, a life-size model from the movie “The Hunley” and a shop with Hunley collectibles and gift items.

For more information on events and times of the burial please visit www.hunley.org.

For questions regarding the reenactors, please contact Kay Long at 843-556-1805.

For questions about the tours contact the Friends of the Hunley directly at 843-744-2186.

For more news from around the fleet, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil. .

[BykrBayb]

I messed up a couple links. Let's see if I can get it right.

http://www.hunley.org/

http://www.news.navy.mil/

[BykrBayb]

Ping for CSA.

[jamaksin]

May they rest in peace, each and all.

Deo Vindice - God will vindicate as taken from the Great Seal of the Confederacy.

[sheltonmac]

Thanks for the ping!

[billbears]

Bump for these brave men.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the ping.

May they rest in Peace.

[stand watie]

our fallen HERO-MARTYRS are REMEMBERED!

free dixie,sw

[squarebarb]

Thanks for the ping!

[stainlessbanner]

5 days and counting. These brave men will return home.

[The_Outlaw_Josey_Wales]

My wife and I plan to travel to Charleston, SC this weekend to attend this historic occasion and to honor these brave men who served aboard the Hunley. I've heard that as many as 30,000 people or more may attend this event.

[stainlessbanner]

I have heard nearly 50,000 are expected.

[Constitution Day]

BTTT. Wow, I wish I could make it.

[TexConfederate1861]

May the Honored Dead of Our Glorious Confederacy rest in eternal peace!

[Shaun_MD]

I wonder how many PC wackos will show up to
protest this "racist" event...

[Denver Ditdat]

I wonder how many PC wackos will show up to protest this "racist" event...

Even one would be too many, since that individual would get as much TV face time and column inches as the ceremony itself.

I can't be there, but I'll be raising a toast to the memory of those brave men on the day they are finally laid to rest.

[BykrBayb]

I'm jealous of you and your wife. It sounds like it's going to be a fitting tribute. Just thinking about those horse drawn caissons brings a tear to my eye.

[BykrBayb]

Yes, I think I'll have a mint julep.

[Shaun_MD]

I would love to go to this event.
So many of my ancestors died for the Confederacy.
I'm glad to see men like this being honored again.
It's a fitting tribute.

[TexConfederate1861]

Honestly, I don't think very many will. They know they will be highly outnumbered. Nothing is more dangerous than a re-enactor with a fixed bayonet! :)