#113: The Mysteries of the Hunley Submarine (Podcast w/ Brian Hicks), Living Legacy Day at Historic Brattonsville, and the Sea of Darkness
For South Carolina history lovers far and wide! Published weekly on Monday mornings. Enjoy weekly SC history articles, interviews w/ experts, book recommendations, and upcoming SC historical events.
Dear reader,
Welcome to SC History Newsletter #113!
This week, I was excited to interview journalist and author, Brian Hicks on the history and mysteries of the Hunley Confederate submarine for our Podcast #5 of the SC History Newsletter! You’ll be able to read, listen to, or watch my interview with Brian in our “SC History Topic of the Week” section at the bottom of the newsletter below.
As always, I’d like to welcome the following new subscribers to our community. Thank you for your interest in South Carolina history!
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New friends! If you are new to the newsletter, please note that there are over 100 previous SC History newsletters on topics ranging from the founding of Charleston, sunken Confederate submarines, railroad tunnels filled with blue cheese, and so much more! I encourage you to take a look at our archive here.
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And now, let’s learn some South Carolina history!
Yours truly,
Kate
(Writing from Greenville, SC)
➳ Featured SC History Events
Please note our featured SC History Event below, and click here to visit my SC History Events Calendar that organizes all the upcoming SC history events I have discovered.
Please let me know if you’d like to add an event to the calendar! Reply to this email to send me your events.
Event Recommendation of the Week:
Saturday, September 14th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | “The Sweat of our Brows: A Living Legacy” | Historic Brattonsville | McConnells, SC | $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for children | Tickets & information
“Join the descendants of the Brattonsville enslaved community as they honor their ancestors’ continuing legacy. Descendant families will greet visitors, showcase memorabilia, and share stories. Staff and volunteers dressed in historic clothing will be demonstrating daily life and work skills common to the enslaved people. Concessions will be available for purchase.
On-Going Activities:
• Meet descendants, both Black and white, of the people who lived and worked on the Bratton family’s 19th century cotton plantation
• Traditional African American Foodways
• Blacksmithing
• Clothing of the Enslaved
• Children’s Activities
Timed Activities:
• Calling of the Names from Harriet Bratton’s 1865 Freedmen’s List (10:30 a.m.)
• Special Presentation by Brattonsville Descendants (11 a.m.)
• Historic Brattonsville Site Tour (Noon & 3 p.m.)
• Presentation about the Historic Preservation of Spaces Occupied by Enslaved People, led by Assistant Site Manager Joseph Mester (1 p.m.)
• Discussion Panel featuring Black and white descendants of the Bratton family and the Brattonsville enslaved community (2 p.m.)
• Running the Historic Cotton Gin (Every hour starting at 11 a.m. Final run at 3 p.m.)”
➳ SC History Book & Article Recommendations
“Sea of Darkness” by Brian Hicks
(Note from Kate: In this week’s Podcast #5 with author Brian Hicks, we discuss Brian’s book “Sea of Darkness” which is the updated history of the Hunley submarine. The book includes updated photos and accounts of the discoveries of the scientists and archaeologists who worked on the Hunley after it was raised from the ocean — with new theories on how and why the Hunley sank. It is a page turner and I highly recommend!)
Here is the publisher’s description:
“On a dark night in February of 1864, the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat, torpedoed the Union blockade ship USS Housatonic, a feat that would not be repeated for another 50 years. But fate was not kind to the Hunley that night as it sank with all of its crew on board before it could return to shore. Considered by many to be the Civil War's greatest mystery, the Hunley's demise and its resting place have been a topic of discussion for historians and Civil War buffs alike for more than a hundred years.
Adding still more to the intrigue, the vessel was discovered in 1995 by a dive team led by famed novelist and shipwreck hunter Clive Cussler, sparking an underwater investigation that resulted in the raising of the Hunley on August 8, 2000. Since that time, the extensive research and restorative efforts underway have unraveled the incredible secrets that were locked within the submarine at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Join Civil War expert Brian Hicks as Sea of Darkness recounts the most historically accurate narrative of the sinking and eventual recovery ever written. Hicks has been given unprecedented access to all the main characters involved in the discovery, raising, and restoration of the Hunley. Complete with a foreword and additional commentary by Clive Cussler, Sea of Darkness offers new, never-before-published evidence on the cause of the Hunley's sinking, providing readers a tantalizing behind-the-scenes look inside the historic submarine.”
Do you have a book or article on South Carolina history that has caught your attention? Reply to this email and let me know!
➳ SC History Topic of the Week:
In our SC History Podcast #5, I was so excited to interview journalist and author Brian Hicks on the history and mysteries of the H.L. Hunley Confederate submarine!
How to watch or listen to this interview:
Listen on Substack:
Click here or click on the image below to listen on the Substack podcast player.
Read the interview transcript:
On the Substack podcast page, you can toggle to the transcript of the episode at the top of the post.
Listen on iTunes:
Listen on iTunes by clicking below & subscribing
Watch/listen on YouTube:
And here are time stamped highlights of our interview, including a reader question:
4:53: Brian gives us an overview of the historical significance of the Hunley Confederate submarine
7:27: Brian discusses the only known painting of the Hunley and its remarkable accuracy
11:09: Brian discusses the man who financed the project and for whom the submarine was named, Horace Hunley
13:43: Brian talks about the insanely small dimensions of the first submarines - claustrophobic indeed!
18:37: Brian talks about how the Hunley was tested and the many men who died in the process
25:21: Brian talks about how the Hunley captivated him in the first place
29:30: Brian talks about his 3 top “eureka” moments in writing the history of the Hunley
37:26: READER QUESTION: From Alyssa in Camden, SC: What was the most significant challenge in submarine creation that hindered the development of early submarines?
40:49: Brian talks about the chain of events that led to the Hunley sinking the USS Housatonic and the mystery of why and how the Hunley sank
50:27: Brian talks about the forensics of understanding what happened to the Hunley and impact of the scientists and archaeologists
54:36: Brian talks about the discovery of the Hunley and how it was raised from the ocean
1:05:35: Kate takes Brian through the “Carolina Questionnaire”!
1:07:19: Brian discusses the Hunley Museum and how the Hunley is currently being displayed and preserved for the public
1:12:57: Farewells & good byes!
Thank you, Brian!
And to pique your curiosity, here are some important images to look at during the podcast:
Did you enjoy today’s interview? Any additional questions for Brian? Leave a comment below!
➳ Hunley Submarine Helpful Links
Support Brian Hicks by purchasing his book “Raising The Hunley”
Support Brian Hicks by purchasing his book “Sea of Darkness”
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