No Room For Error

The Housatonic knew all about the Hunley and it was always ready for her. The only thing the Southern vessel could do apart from firing her torpedo at the right place was to strike at the right moment, strike fast, and make no mistakes. The submarine had to sink the imposing ship with that one torpedo partially exposed. One mistake and she would be defenseless

A Successful Surprise Attack

There was only one way to find out. The Hunley snuck up silently on the Union’s Housatonic. Mistaking it to be an animal, the Union watercraft’s sailors took no notice of the enemy ship until it was too late. The Confederate ship fired her lone torpedo, and they were forced to abandon ship. The whole attack did not last five minutes.