Maybe you can answer a question for me, since you were there for the ceremony....I have heard two different accounts of the number of crew aboard the final sailing of the Hunley. Some of the websites say the crew numbered nine and some say eight. Since only eight names are listed, I assume that is the correct number. I don't understand the discrepancy in these different reports.
That has always confused me too - but here is my best effort at explaining why the descrepancy. We were actually still living in Charleston when it was discovered, but moved to the central part of our state by the time it was raised. They had been looking for it for quite some time.
Anyways, here goes. There were actually three crews. The first one sank and five of the nine man crew drowned. The second one was swamped in the wake of a boat and all nine drowned. The third crew, the one that was honored at the ceremony, consisted of nine ... eight known crew members and one unknown crewmember who replaced William Alexander who was originally second in command but he transferred to another unit just before the final mission. (Commander 1st Lt. George E. Dixon, an infantry officer from Kentucky, plus James A. WICKS, Arnold BECKER, C. SIMKINS, F. COLLINS, RIDGEWAY, MILLER, C.F. CARLSON, UNKNOWN someone who substituted William ALEXANDER?)
It took eight men to turn the cranks and one commander to encourage them to keep going, steer, things like that - thus the crew of nine. BUT ... and here is the big BUT ... they only found the remains of eight which leads many to believe that Alexander was never replaced. These days everyone assumes that Dixon actually manned a crank and commanded at the same time.
There are many other interesting trivia facts surrounding the Hunley ... the one they talked about most in Charleston shortly after discovery was the trinkets carried by James Ridgaway and Dixon. And the homes of the crew. Anyway, I'll provide a couple of other interesting links.
Valves may hold answer to sunken Confederate sub
Hunley Crew
It took eight men to turn the cranks and one commander to encourage them to keep going, steer, things like that - thus the crew of nine. BUT ... and here is the big BUT ... they only found the remains of eight which leads many to believe that Alexander was never replaced. These days everyone assumes that Dixon actually manned a crank and commanded at the same time. Oh, I see. That explains why some reports say nine crew members and some say eight.
And thanks for the links to those websites. They, and the information about the number of men, are a great addition to this thread.
I love a mystery, so I think that is why this story piqued my interest. I wish I had been following this unfolding tale from the beginning, but it was only recently that I heard anything at all about the Hunley. But then, I am out here on the left coast, nowhere near the center of the discovery. Still, we do get news out here (selective and slanted as it is), but somehow I missed it.
13 dogs!?! (I just went to your profile page.) That has to be very expensive caring for some many dogs! Blessings on you for taking in these canines in need of a home. :-)