Letter, 1863 December 14, Rumsey to Gillmore, with a review by Major Brooks, page 5
National Park Service
Item Details
TitleLetter, 1863 December 14, Rumsey to Gillmore, with a review by Major Brooks, page 5
This resource is part of a series
This resource is part of a series
CreatorRumsey
Dates
Date Created
Descriptive Information
LanguageEnglish
Letter to Gillmore from Rumsey containing a proposal for building a spy boat. Rumsey's proposal includes detailed plans for a narrow metallic vessel, including the propelling power, ballast, doors, and roof. Gillmore responded that this plan is to be examined & reported upon by Major Brooks. Major Brooks wrote that the boat described is deficient in two ways, and he suggested that Rumsey be sent for and examined in reference to scouting duty.
Transcription[Letter, continued] wood, an inch and a half thick. They are set in the bottom of the boat, and fastened down to it. A watertight bag is made to fit the inside of each box, one end of which is nailed around the bottom of the box. The top of the box is made to slip inside, and is fastened to the top of the bag. A hole is cut through both board and bag, and a plug put into it. The water is let into the boxes by a tube which is made fast in the bottom of each box, and passes through the bottom of the boat. A slide is over the hole in the box which keeps the water out. If the leader wishes to lower the boat, by taking in water, the two men near the boxes turn round in their seats,push back the slide and take out the plug. If he wants to raise the boat, the men step on the cover (on top of the bag) and remove the slide, the plug is left in, and the weight of the man presses the water out. The boat is painted as near the color of the water as possible, to help her escape if discovered. If however the boat is seen, and given chase to, the man in charge of it should try to out sail his enemies. if he found this failed, he should use stronger measures, he could pick his enemy
TopicsSouth Carolina--History
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Fort Sumter National Monument (Agency : U.S.)
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Fort Sumter National Monument (Agency : U.S.)
Physical Descriptions
Mediumcommercial correspondence
TypeStill Image
Formatimage/jpeg
Contributing Institutions
Identifiers
Digital Identifiersmt_brooks498_069_005
Permanent Linkhttp://purl.clemson.edu/24BD34C903C5A9929206BF49C3C31860
Batch ID20180328174717