C.S.S. Hunley Replica

CSS Hunley (or H.L. Hunley), named after it's inventor, Horace Lawson Hunley was an early submarine which is accredited with the first sinking of an enemy vessel (USS Housatonic) by such a vessel.
The vessel had a very short and tragic life, being launched in July 1863 and lost on 17 February 1864. She had a crew of 8, but unfortunately sank three times in her short life with the loss of 21 crewmen including its inventor. During a test dive on 29 August 1963 she sank for the first time with the loss of 5 crew. On 15 October 1863 she sank for the second time with the loss of all 8 crew, including the Inventor. After attacking and sinking the USS Housatonic on 17 February 1864 she disappeared, probably as a result of being in close proximity to its explosive charge. It wasn't until 1995 that she was located by an expedition led by the author Clive Cussler. She was recovered in 2000 and is now on display in North Charleston in a large water tank.
The crew from the third sinking were recovered and given Confederate Military Funerals at Magnolia Cemetery on 17 April. Tens of thousands followed the cortege from Charleston to Magnolia Cemetery, with colour guards from all 5 branches of the US military and over 6000 military re-enactors and 4000 civilians in period costume.

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