Secrets of a Civil War Submarine

Title: Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the mysteries of the H.L. Hunley
Author: Sally M. Walker
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, Inc.
Publication City: Minneapolis, MN
Publication Date: 2005
ISBN-13: 978-1-57505-830-6
ISBN-10: 1-57505-830-8

Summary
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine is about the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine to make a successful hit on an enemy submarine, but unfortunately the Hunley sank after the hit and no one knows what happened to it. That is, until 1995 when she was found covered under 131 years of mud. The process to preserve the condition of the submarine while trying to uncover it's secrets are detailed in the book. It was a painstaking process, but in the end most secrets are revealed through various sciences, like forensic science to reconstruct the faces of the crewmen. The book includes pictures from The Friends of the Hunley which is an organization that helped finance the restoration and excavation of the Hunley. There are also biographies of the crewman with pictures of what they might look like.


Review

Secrets of a Civil War Submarinetells the story of a submarine that was missing for 131 years. No one knew where the Hunley was because no one knew where she went after she made the first successful hit from a submarine. While not all secrets cannot be completely revealed because the people involved are deceased, the secrets told in this book are fascinating. Students will love trying to figure out the reasons the Hunley sank, but they have to get through the history part of submarine technology first. Walker's writing brings alive the painstaking process of cleaning the Hunley while maintaining the integrity of a piece of machinery that has been underwater for 131 years. If the book gets a little tedious describing the excavation process, it is because the process itself was tedious. The pictures in the book help move the story along and provide much needed description for those readers who have a hard time picturing descriptions. Students will enjoy the forensic science part of the book where the forensic scientist recreates the facial structure of the crew members from the facial bones. Walker once again brings alive the science behind the recreation, and reveals what exactly a forensic scientist can tell just from the teeth.

Professional Reviews

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 6-10–Walker brings a little-known story of the Civil War to life in this fascinating book. When the Union blockade of all ports in the South stopped supplies from reaching the Confederate Army, Horace L. Hunley decided to create a submarine that would be able to sneak up on enemy ships and blow them up. After many years of trial and error, the H. L. Hunley actually succeeded in sinking the USS Housatonic in February of 1864. But the submarine never returned to port, and her crew perished in the Charleston Harbor. This is a finely crafted account of the Hunley from its inception to the modern archaeological quest to exhume her from the water. It is divided into chronological chapters complete with pictures, maps, and primary sources. Half of the book discusses the construction and design of the submarine, in addition to its practice runs and its first and only mission. The second half consists of the process of locating and excavating the Hunley, as well as piecing together the puzzle of exactly what happened on that fateful night in 1864. The archaeological process is well documented in both words and pictures, and the conclusions are interesting and even surprising. Highly recommended for school and public libraries.–Anna M. Nelson, Collier County Public Library, Naples, FL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 7-10. The author of Fossil Fish Found Alive (2002) now discusses a different sort of discovery, the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley. After sinking a Union sloop near Charleston, South Carolina, in 1864, the hunley did not return to port. Although divers searched for more than 130 years, the sub was not found until 1995. Over the last 10 years, archaeologists have carefully raised the hunley and painstakingly sifted through the 20,000 pounds of sediment it contained for artifacts and human remains and, ultimately, clues to why, when, and how the vessel sank. Walker begins with the history of the Hunley's design and construction as well as its place in Civil War and naval history. She really hits her stride, though, in explaining the complex techniques and loving care used in raising the craft, recovering its contents, and even reconstructing models of the crewmembers' bodies. Back matter includes a detailed author's note, source notes, a bibliography, and recommended Web sites. Thoroughly researched, nicely designed, and well illustrated with clear, color photos, the book will serve as an informative guide to anyone interested in the hunley or intrigued by archaeology. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Connections

Have the students research current submarine technology. What characteristics do they share with the Hunley? What did they learn from the Hunley?
Have the students brainstorm other ways to remove the naval blockade. Have students choose one of the answers and research if it would have worked or not.
Create some sort of archaeological dig, or if they are near one, take a field trip where they can learn hands on experience.
Have students create a timeline of the Hunley from the beginning of it's inception to teh end of the book. What do the scientist think happened in the 131 years it was underwater? Plot that on the line also.