Booknotes: The USS Tecumseh in Mobile Bay

New Arrival:
• The USS Tecumseh in Mobile Bay: The Sinking of a Civil War Ironclad by David Smithweck (Arcadia Pub and The Hist Press, 2021).

From the description: "In April 1861, Lincoln declared a blockade on Southern ports. It was only a matter of time before the Union navy would pay a visit to the bustling Confederate harbor in Mobile Bay. Engineers built elaborate obstructions and batteries, and three rows of torpedoes were laid from Fort Morgan to Fort Gaines. Then, in August 1864, the inevitable came. A navy fleet of fourteen wooden ships lashed two by two and four iron monitors entered the lower bay, with the USS Tecumseh in the lead."

Confederate underwater torpedoes proved to be devastating weapons on numerous occasions, but constant immersion over months and years exposed flaws in manufacture that could ruin the powder charge and corrosion (especially to those placed in salt water) often rendered the firing mechanisms inert. When Admiral Farragut's fleet moved into Mobile Bay, damning the torpedoes worked for many captains and crews who reported torpedoes brushing against their hulls without exploding. The Tecumseh was not so fortunate, and its story is recounted in The USS Tecumseh in Mobile Bay: The Sinking of a Civil War Ironclad.

More from the description: "A torpedo, poised to strike for two years, found the Tecumseh and sank it in minutes, taking ninety-three crewmen with it. Join author David Smithweck on an exploration of the ironclad that still lies upside down at the bottom of Mobile Bay."

The narrative history part of the book is relatively brief. Standalone chapters discuss torpedo technology and the forts defending the harbor while others compile eyewitness accounts, commander profiles, press reports, dive notes from the 1967 Smithsonian survey expedition, subsequent surveys, salvage attempts, and artifacts collected. The volume is packed with photos, illustrations, and design drawings of all kinds. It looks like an interesting resource for those wanting to learn more about the ship, the men that served on it, the battle, and Civil War underwater archaeology.