In the Waves: My Quest to Solve the Mystery of a Civil War Submarine by Rachel Lance
In the Waves: My Quest to Solve the Mystery of a Civil War Submarine by Rachel Lance
On the night of February 17, 1864, the tiny Confederate submarine HL Hunley made its way toward the USS Housatonic, just outside Charleston Harbor. The little sub pressed a massive black powder bomb against the Union ship's hull, and the larger vessel was blown apart in a spray of wood planks. The explosion sank the ship, killing many of its crew. And the submarine, the first ever to be successful in combat, disappeared without a trace.
For 131 years the eight-man crew of the HL Hunley lay in their watery graves, undiscovered. When finally raised, the narrow metal sub revealed a perplexing sight. There was no indication the blast had breached the hull, and all eight men were still seated at their stations -- frozen in time after more than a century. Why did it sink? How did the men die? Archaeologists and conservationists have been studying the boat and the remains for years, and now one woman has answers.
In the Waves is much more than just a military perspective or a technical account. It's the story of Rachel Lance's single-minded obsession. Readers will share in the extreme highs and lows in her quest to find all the puzzle pieces of the Hunley. Balancing a gripping historical tale and original research with a personal story of professional and private obstacles, In the Waves is an enthralling look at a unique part of the Civil War and the lengths one scientist will go to uncover its secrets.
Dutton, Hardcover, 1st Edition, 1st Printing, 2020
THIS IS A BRAND NEW BOOK.