object like a plank was
seen approaching, which in a moment more struck the ship with a great
explosion, blowing up the after part of the ship, causing her to sink
immediately to the bottom, drowning five men and injuring many more.

The "Hundley" was never heard of again till several years after the war,
divers sent down to wreck the "Housatonic," found her little antagonist
lying on the bottom near by.

Admiral Dahlgren reported to the Secretary of the U. S. Navy, as
follows:

Sir, I much regret to inform the Department that the U. S. S.
"Housatonic," on the blockade off Charleston, S. C., was torpedoed by a
rebel "David" and sunk on the night of February 17th, about 9 o'clock.

From the time the "David" was seen until the vessel was on the bottom, a
very brief period must have elapsed, as far as the executive officer can
judge, it did not exceed five or seven minutes.

The officer of the deck perceived a moving object on the water quite
near and ordered the chain to be slipped: the captain and the executive
officer went on deck, saw the object, and each fired at it with a small
arm. In an instant the ship was struck on the starboard side between the
main and mizzen masts. Those on deck near were stunned, the vessel began
to sink, and went down almost immediately.

The Department will readily perceive the consequences likely to result
from this event: the whole line of blockade will be infested with these
cheap, convenient and formidable defenses, and we must guard every
point. The measures of prevention are not so obvious. I am inclined to
the belief that in addition the various devices for keeping the
torpedoes from the vessels, an effectual prevention may be found in the
use of similar contrivances. * * *

I have attached more importance to the use of torpedoes than others have
done, and believe them to constitute the most formidable of the
difficulties in the way to Charleston. Their effect on the "Ironsides"
in October, and now on the "Housatonic," sustains me in the idea. And
thereupon he makes application to be furnished a number of torpedo boats
made upon the model of the "David," a sketch of which is submitted, and
also a quantity of floating torpedoes, and suggests that as he has
information that the Confederates have a number of "Davids" completed
and in an advanced state of construction, the Department would do well
to offer a large reward of prize money for the capture or destruction of
any of th