Podcast #5: The Mysteries of the Hunley Confederate Submarine

This week, I was so excited to interview Brian Hicks, journalist at the Post & Courier and distinguished author — for Podcast #5 of the SC History Newsletter! Brian has written the 2 definitive books on the H.L.Hunley Confederate submarine: Raising the Hunley and Sea of Darkness and the Hunley was our topic of conversation for this interview! It is a fascinating subject and I hope you enjoy!

Here is Brian’s bio:

Brian Hicks is a metro columnist for the Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, and the author or coauthor of 10 books. He has written about Southern history and politics for more than 25 years, including turns as a statehouse newspaper correspondent in three states. Hicks’ journalism has appeared in national and international publications since 1986. His work has been featured on National Public Radio, Discovery Channel, CBS Sunday Morning, and in National Geographic and Smithsonian magazines. He has won more than 30 journalism awards, including the Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade Award for humorous commentary and the South Carolina Press Association’s award for Journalist of the Year. Hicks has followed the story of the H. L. Hunley since 1998 and has had more access to the submarine and the people who discovered and recovered it than any other writer. A native of Tennessee, he lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

How to watch or listen to this interview:

Read the transcript of the interview:

If you would like to READ the interview, you can toggle to the transcript of the episode above at the top of this page (see image below to help):

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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 here are some important images to look at during the podcast:

Painting of the Hunley submarine from 1864 by Conrad Wise Chapman (Image Source: Wikipedia)

The Hunley submarine raised from the ocean on August 8, 2000 (Image Source: USA Today)

Cross section of the Hunley submarine (Image Source: Fine Art America)

The Hunley being restored (Image Source: MuseumShips.us)

The Hunley in its chemical bath (Image Source: Travel Advisor)

A look inside the cramped quarters of the Hunley submarine (Image Source: Post & Courier)