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Raising the Hunley: The Remarkable History and Recovery of the Lost Confederate Submarine
The history of the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley is as astonishing as its disappearance. On February 17, 1864, after a legendary encounter with a Union battleship, the iron “fish boat” vanished without a trace somewhere off the coast of South Carolina. For more than a century the fate of the Hunley remained one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Civil War. Then, on August 8, 2000, with thousands of spectators crowding Charleston Harbor, the Hunley was raised from the bottom of the sea and towed ashore. Now, award-winning journalists Brian Hicks and Schuyler Kropf offer new insights into the Hunley ’s final hours and recount the amazing true story of its rescue.
The brainchild of wealthy New Orleans planter and lawyer Horace Lawson Hunley, the Hunley inspired tremendous hopes of breaking the Union’s naval blockade of Charleston, only to drown two crews on disastrous test runs. But on the night of February 17, 1864, the Hunley finally made good on its promise. Under the command of the heroic Lieutenant George E. Dixon, the sub rammed a spar torpedo into the Union sloop Housatonic and sank the ship within minutes, accomplishing a feat of stealth technology that would not be repeated for half a century.
And then, shortly after its stunning success, the Hunley vanished.
This book is an extraordinary true story peopled with a fascinating cast of characters, including Horace Hunley himself, the Union officers and crew who went down with the Housatonic , P. T. Barnum, who offered $100,000 for its recovery, and novelist Clive Cussler, who spearheaded the mission that finally succeeded in finding the Hunley . The drama of salvaging the sub is only the prelude to a page-turning account of how scientists unsealed this archaeological treasure chest and discovered the inner-workings of a submarine more technologically advanced than anyone expected, as well as numerous, priceless artifacts.
Hicks and Kropf have crafted a spellbinding adventure story that spans over a century of American history. Dramatically told, filled with historical details and contemporary color, illustrated with breathtaking original photographs, Raising the Hunley is one of the most fascinating Civil War books to appear in years.
The brainchild of wealthy New Orleans planter and lawyer Horace Lawson Hunley, the Hunley inspired tremendous hopes of breaking the Union’s naval blockade of Charleston, only to drown two crews on disastrous test runs. But on the night of February 17, 1864, the Hunley finally made good on its promise. Under the command of the heroic Lieutenant George E. Dixon, the sub rammed a spar torpedo into the Union sloop Housatonic and sank the ship within minutes, accomplishing a feat of stealth technology that would not be repeated for half a century.
And then, shortly after its stunning success, the Hunley vanished.
This book is an extraordinary true story peopled with a fascinating cast of characters, including Horace Hunley himself, the Union officers and crew who went down with the Housatonic , P. T. Barnum, who offered $100,000 for its recovery, and novelist Clive Cussler, who spearheaded the mission that finally succeeded in finding the Hunley . The drama of salvaging the sub is only the prelude to a page-turning account of how scientists unsealed this archaeological treasure chest and discovered the inner-workings of a submarine more technologically advanced than anyone expected, as well as numerous, priceless artifacts.
Hicks and Kropf have crafted a spellbinding adventure story that spans over a century of American history. Dramatically told, filled with historical details and contemporary color, illustrated with breathtaking original photographs, Raising the Hunley is one of the most fascinating Civil War books to appear in years.
299 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2002
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252 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 25, 2023
This book is by the reporters who covered the raising of the Hunley, and let me say first of all that they have done their homework. They have combed through the primary sources and laid out all the contradictions---which are legion: how many times did the Hunley sink before she was lost? 2? 3? 6?---and made their choices about which source to believe, and they have put together a quite readable story. The second part, about the raising of the Hunley, is based on their own reporting, and is likewise careful and in depth (so to speak). And it is not badly written.
I applaud the achievement of the people who raised the Hunley. But I also notice that Raising the Hunley very carefully frames the Civil War as States' Rights and agrarian vs. industrialized economies and does not talk about chattel slavery as a cause of the war at all. And that is both profoundly disingenuous and bad faith history.
I applaud the achievement of the people who raised the Hunley. But I also notice that Raising the Hunley very carefully frames the Civil War as States' Rights and agrarian vs. industrialized economies and does not talk about chattel slavery as a cause of the war at all. And that is both profoundly disingenuous and bad faith history.
September 9, 2012
I started this book on the flight to Miami on Saturday, August 25, 2012 and thanks to Tropical Storm Isaac, finished it on Sunday, August 26th.
Given my interest in the Civil War, in the narrative the author mentioned many names of persons and places with which I was very familiar.
I was surprised (but shouldn't have been) at the clashes of egos over the search for the missing "fish boat" and subsequently for which state would benefit from its raising and ultimately get to keep it.
Given my interest in the Civil War, in the narrative the author mentioned many names of persons and places with which I was very familiar.
I was surprised (but shouldn't have been) at the clashes of egos over the search for the missing "fish boat" and subsequently for which state would benefit from its raising and ultimately get to keep it.
June 3, 2023
I just finished reading Raising the Hunley: The Remarkable History and Recovery of the Lost Confederate Submarine by Brian Hicks. The book was alright, but had some flaws. I would have given it a 2.5 if that was available.
What made me choose to read it was that it seemed to represent recovery of a submarine from a major naval battle. In fact, I remember being taken as a child to a shipwreck museum or gallery somewhere in New York City and found it fascinating, when I must have been ten or eleven years old. Also my Dad was in the Navy in the Korean War.
The book should have been able to easily hold my interest and attention. In fact, it did not. After three false starts, I finally read it through. The book went into numbing detail about the fickle weather and turgid water prevailing near Charleston, South Carolina. The book did have its memorable moments, particularly about how a gold coin given to the captain saved his life when he was shot at one of the major civil war battles, Shiloh. The bullet saved him from a Union bullet but could not save him from a watery grave.
Finally, and one last flaw. The book takes a strongly pro-Confederate stance. The war is repeatedly called "The War Between the States." It is clear who the author is rooting for even though it is definitely a "lost cause," just as building a serviceable attack submarine was years ahead of the technology and the times.
What made me choose to read it was that it seemed to represent recovery of a submarine from a major naval battle. In fact, I remember being taken as a child to a shipwreck museum or gallery somewhere in New York City and found it fascinating, when I must have been ten or eleven years old. Also my Dad was in the Navy in the Korean War.
The book should have been able to easily hold my interest and attention. In fact, it did not. After three false starts, I finally read it through. The book went into numbing detail about the fickle weather and turgid water prevailing near Charleston, South Carolina. The book did have its memorable moments, particularly about how a gold coin given to the captain saved his life when he was shot at one of the major civil war battles, Shiloh. The bullet saved him from a Union bullet but could not save him from a watery grave.
Finally, and one last flaw. The book takes a strongly pro-Confederate stance. The war is repeatedly called "The War Between the States." It is clear who the author is rooting for even though it is definitely a "lost cause," just as building a serviceable attack submarine was years ahead of the technology and the times.
July 21, 2007
Not only is it a good account of the Hunley, but it really picks up some great accounts of the people who found it or looked into it. I think specifically of the man who came across it but wouldn't reveal it's location for a while, and also the historical detective type lady known as Goldfinger.
February 22, 2024
This was a well researched book, and attempted to bring the Hunley and crew to life. It was a demonstration of courage.
The Hunley was a submarine created for the confederate army to end the North's blockade of Charleston Harbor.
There was a successful venture to recover the Hunley led by best selling writer Clive Cussler,and state Senator Glenn Mc Connell that cost millions, and involved hundreds of people, many working 12 hour days 6 days a week!
From reading this book I arrived at the conclusion that the Hunley should have stayed covered up at the bottom of the harbor.
It is undeniable that the soldiers on board were heroes, and I didn't feel their grave should be desecrated. The bodies were now just hundreds of separate bones, their skulls sent to be x-rayed.
The Hunley is spoken of reverently through-out the book. But in fact, it wasn't even the first submarine engaged in a war. There was a 1776 submersible-the Eagle used during the revolutionary war; that failed in its mission to attack a British warship.
It actually wasn't even the first submarine, Corneelis Drebbel invented the first submarine in 1620. Robert Fulton's Nautilus, built in France in 1800 was self propelled.
The Hunley didn't have a good track record, 21 died in this human propelled sub, and it didn't survive it's one attack of the USS Housatonic, it's 8 passengers died, while it did destroy the Housatonic, only 5 lives were lost on the ship.
Passenges on the ship thought the Hunley was a floating log cutting through the waves, they couldn't manage to fire their deck weapons so they peppered it with pistol shot.
But, what struck me most was that it was never mentioned that the building of this submarine was to assist the South in winning the war in order to maintain slavery. I It was presented more as a states rights issue. It became quite clear that the authors sympathies lied with southern heritage.
The Hunley was a submarine created for the confederate army to end the North's blockade of Charleston Harbor.
There was a successful venture to recover the Hunley led by best selling writer Clive Cussler,and state Senator Glenn Mc Connell that cost millions, and involved hundreds of people, many working 12 hour days 6 days a week!
From reading this book I arrived at the conclusion that the Hunley should have stayed covered up at the bottom of the harbor.
It is undeniable that the soldiers on board were heroes, and I didn't feel their grave should be desecrated. The bodies were now just hundreds of separate bones, their skulls sent to be x-rayed.
The Hunley is spoken of reverently through-out the book. But in fact, it wasn't even the first submarine engaged in a war. There was a 1776 submersible-the Eagle used during the revolutionary war; that failed in its mission to attack a British warship.
It actually wasn't even the first submarine, Corneelis Drebbel invented the first submarine in 1620. Robert Fulton's Nautilus, built in France in 1800 was self propelled.
The Hunley didn't have a good track record, 21 died in this human propelled sub, and it didn't survive it's one attack of the USS Housatonic, it's 8 passengers died, while it did destroy the Housatonic, only 5 lives were lost on the ship.
Passenges on the ship thought the Hunley was a floating log cutting through the waves, they couldn't manage to fire their deck weapons so they peppered it with pistol shot.
But, what struck me most was that it was never mentioned that the building of this submarine was to assist the South in winning the war in order to maintain slavery. I It was presented more as a states rights issue. It became quite clear that the authors sympathies lied with southern heritage.
October 7, 2022
Could not put this book down! It answered a lot of questions I have had about this Confederate submarine, even though it was published shortly after raising it from the sea. I have visited it twice and they are still discovering more facts about the sub. Highly recommend for any Hunley, Civil War fan.
November 18, 2024
This was a very well written and highly detailed novel recording what is believed to be the history of the Hunley before it's sinking and it's recovery over a century later. The only complaints that I have was that they were a bit too detailed about the state of the remains found inside it. But I understand why they felt it necessary to include those facts.
May 22, 2025
The remarkable story of the H.L. Hunley the Confederate submarine that disappeared after its legendary encounter with the Union warship Housatonic, in Charleston Harbor.
Lost for 136 years this book tells the story of the people who built, the crew members who lost their lives in it and the second battle over state ownership once it was raised from the depths.
Well worth the read.
Lost for 136 years this book tells the story of the people who built, the crew members who lost their lives in it and the second battle over state ownership once it was raised from the depths.
Well worth the read.
February 22, 2019
3.5 stars. Well-told account of the Hunley's history in battle (the Southern sub killed more Confederates than Union sailors), its 130-year sleep on the sea floor and its re-discovery. Thoroughly researched and entertainingly told, as you would expect from a couple of newspaper guys.
October 31, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Very easy read. It was like reading a treasure hunt. It is the story of the first successful submarine and what happened to it. I knew none of this history but found it very interesting.
August 24, 2017
A tale of the first true submarine, reading this combined with a few other events in my life sparked a renewed interest in archaeology.
December 7, 2019
This book is alternately interesting and infuriating. The story of the Hunley itself, her mission and ultimate discovery, is gripping. What mars the book for me as a reader is the "Lost Cause" miasma that hangs over it. If that sort of thing doesn't bother you --- you know, like Nikki Haley --- you will find this a totally enjoyable light read,
June 14, 2020
Technology way ahead of it's time. If it had worked better the South might have fought off the blockade.
April 6, 2023
The first history book I remember buying myself. Couldn’t put it down.
May 15, 2023
Reads quickly like a novel.
January 20, 2024
Extremely well written
February 2, 2024
Good historical reporting
The book is beautifully researched, but never rises above pedantic reporting. No detail is left out. I ended up knowing too much about too little.
The book is beautifully researched, but never rises above pedantic reporting. No detail is left out. I ended up knowing too much about too little.
August 12, 2024
Very well researched and written. I got a little bogged down w/ so many people and dates in the story but no fault of the authors. Loved all the photos and drawings included. I will get to Charleston soon to finally see the Hunley in person.
June 6, 2025
Excellent read.
August 23, 2015
I gave this book, and a model kit of the Hunley, to my father-in-law a few years ago for Christmas. While staying with my in-laws recently, I needed a book to read and noticed that Raising the Hunley was still there, so I grabbed it. In theory, it's the kind of book I should really enjoy. Though I'm not at all a Civil War buff, I do enjoy reading interesting accounts of history, and I've always had an interest in archaeology. Unfortunately, the book doesn't work very well. The main problem is that I felt the story the authors were telling--about "the world's first attack submarine, lost for over 100 years on the bottom of the sea"--was almost a non-story (sometimes amusingly so). The authors (both journalists) use hyperbolic verbiage throughout the book, in order to convince the reader (and maybe themselves?) that what they're writing about is one of the greatest things in the history of the world. I just never bought into the significance of the Hunley. It was an early submarine, which sank twice before going on its first mission, and then on the first mission it sank one blockading Union ship before sinking itself, for the final time. After that, it was lost in the sea until 1995, when Clive Cussler's NUMA organization found it. In 2000 the Hunley was raised, and it is now undergoing study. Hicks and Kropf frantically reach for any tangential details that will fill out the historical background, and then explain the process of location and raising. The preservation and research is ongoing even now, so this account from 2002 gives only the very beginning of what researchers hope to accomplish through the study.
The discovery of the Hunley was contested, with one diver claiming very strongly that he found it before NUMA did. Other people also had problems working with NUMA. But because the authors are in awe of Clive Cussler (they refer to him as "His Authorship"; please...), Cussler and NUMA can do no wrong in this version of the story. All their reporting may be accurate, but the obvious reverence for Cussler gives an air of bias that I sometimes found uncomfortable.
The insert section of photos is not very good, but there are many more photos on the Hunley website. I think just reading that website (though it's not the smoothest site ever, and it doesn't appear to be updated very often) would be better than reading Hicks and Kopf's book. It's an interesting story to know about, but I didn't think it was worth an entire book; or, if it does deserve a book, it deserves better authors.
The discovery of the Hunley was contested, with one diver claiming very strongly that he found it before NUMA did. Other people also had problems working with NUMA. But because the authors are in awe of Clive Cussler (they refer to him as "His Authorship"; please...), Cussler and NUMA can do no wrong in this version of the story. All their reporting may be accurate, but the obvious reverence for Cussler gives an air of bias that I sometimes found uncomfortable.
The insert section of photos is not very good, but there are many more photos on the Hunley website. I think just reading that website (though it's not the smoothest site ever, and it doesn't appear to be updated very often) would be better than reading Hicks and Kopf's book. It's an interesting story to know about, but I didn't think it was worth an entire book; or, if it does deserve a book, it deserves better authors.
May 5, 2013
Interesting book. I was especially surprised to learn that they still don't have all the answers about the H. L. Hunley. Just this past January they found more data about it, and there may be more to come. They still have not removed the layer of concretion from the hull. This is an ongoing endeavor.
I thought this book was a nice balance of Civil War era naval warfare, and modern day shipwreck discovery and archaeology. Several photos were included in the historical portions of the text, but there were no photos of the archaeological project surrounding the Hunley. I guess that's ok. Nine men were entombed in the sub, after all. A little respect is good.
There were parts of the book where I felt like the authors were letting their personal feelings about some of the contemporary individuals involved with the location of this wreck shine through. I felt the clear hot and cold toward individuals detracted from the story of the sub a bit. Still, this is a book worth reading if you like Civil War history, or stories about shipwreck discovery and archaeology.
I thought this book was a nice balance of Civil War era naval warfare, and modern day shipwreck discovery and archaeology. Several photos were included in the historical portions of the text, but there were no photos of the archaeological project surrounding the Hunley. I guess that's ok. Nine men were entombed in the sub, after all. A little respect is good.
There were parts of the book where I felt like the authors were letting their personal feelings about some of the contemporary individuals involved with the location of this wreck shine through. I felt the clear hot and cold toward individuals detracted from the story of the sub a bit. Still, this is a book worth reading if you like Civil War history, or stories about shipwreck discovery and archaeology.
December 5, 2014
Mildly interesting: I'd heard of the Civil War era Hunley (the 1st submarine in history to successfully torpedo a ship) but hadn't realized that when it sank after its success that it was actually the 3rd time it had gone down, killing its crew. It made the bravery (or desperation) of the volunteer crew all the more remarkable. I listened to this as an audiobook, and didn't realize that it was so old (from 2002). When the book was published they had come to no conclusion as to what ultimately killed the crew: it would be interesting to hear what the scientists have discovered in the past 12 years.
January 11, 2015
I would not normally pick up this genre of book but glad I did. Not being a Civil War buff I was a little confused when it jumped around different periods of history.
I was surprised that the people who invented and built the Hunley were able to find so many willing volunteers to man it. Especially with it's history or prior sinkings.
It just goes to show the dedication of the confederates to win at all costs.
I admired the people who raised it up and are restoring it. I can't imagine going into the sub with all the muck and carefully mapping and extracting the bones. But I know it had to be done.
I would recommend it to anyone, not just Civil War fans.
I was surprised that the people who invented and built the Hunley were able to find so many willing volunteers to man it. Especially with it's history or prior sinkings.
It just goes to show the dedication of the confederates to win at all costs.
I admired the people who raised it up and are restoring it. I can't imagine going into the sub with all the muck and carefully mapping and extracting the bones. But I know it had to be done.
I would recommend it to anyone, not just Civil War fans.
May 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to any student of history, the U.S. Civil War, or if you're a fan of shipwrecks. The book takes you through the history of the Hunley itself, during the Civil War, and then the decades, actually century long search to recover it. Both stories are interesting and remarkable. Highly recommended.
December 31, 2013
A brisk and fascinating account of the building, loss and recovery of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley. The authors are fixtures in South Carolina journalism and have a good feel for a story that keeps the pages turning. There's also nice sensitivity to the process of archaeology: this is not a "treasure hunter" book.
June 14, 2016
This was such a cool book, with the history of the HL Hunley (whose namesake was born in Sumner County TN BTW) and the subsequent decades of trying to find it, and then raising it from the bottom and the painstaking excavation, all culminating to make this one of the most interesting reads in a long time.
July 18, 2012
A combination of civil War history, overview of the development of the submarine service and Clive Cussler adventure, he even plays a pivotal part in the hunt for the C.S.S Hunley.The only gold found is a twenty dollar gold piece but that one artifact makes the entire search worthwhile.
June 9, 2015
Straightforward account of the history of the first submarine used in a wartime attack, and the story of its recovery 135 years later after it disappeared following its one and only mission.
Great history, OK writing. Co-author Hicks, Brian
Great history, OK writing. Co-author Hicks, Brian
January 31, 2008
I lived in Charleston, SC for a year, and most of this book takes place there, so it was good to hear about the history of a place that, aside the weather and the "smell", I enjoyed living.
October 15, 2008
Very readable - which is appropriate because the author is an excellent journalist
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews