A Submarine Voyage During the American Revolution

Community College

HRY 101: Modern Western Civilization II
April 7th, 2014

A Submarine Voyage During the American Revolution It is usually not too difficult for most Americans to rattle off the names of heroes associated with the American Revolution. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, or Paul Revere would likely be at the top of most lists. But, what of the heroes of the American Revolution that are rarely talked about? What of heroes such as the Bushnell Brothers and Sgt. Ezra Lee, for example, who scared the British Navy with an early creation of a military submarine? That's right. A submarine existed during the American Revolution. Certainly, most would admit very little knowledge of these unknown heroes, let alone a submarine, when referencing the American Revolution. There were so many important figures and major events that happened throughout the war, that it would be difficult for anyone, with the exception of some historians, to review and remember every detail. Yet, reviewing the lesser known details of the American Revolution will also reveal just as important figures and events that helped frame the outcome of American history. David and Ezra Bushnell, along with Sgt. Ezra Lee, might be unfamiliar to most Americans, but their ingenuity and courage is certainly worthy of recognition for giving the American Colonies an advantage over the British Naval Fleet during the American Revolution.

Shawn T. Shallow, author of "Underwater Terror," examines the accomplishments and impacts of the Bushnell Brothers during the American Revolution: David and Ezra Bushnell built the first military submarine, giving a beleaguered George Washington a new weapon against the fearsome British fleet. More important, the brothers gave military science a preview of modern underwater navigation, mechanical buoyancy, and torpedo weaponry. (p. 10) Growing up helping on the family farm in Connecticut, both David and his younger brother, Ezra, became proficient with mechanical abilities. Shortly after their father died in the early 1770's, David pursued a degree at Yale University, where his mechanical ability excelled. While attending Yale, David developed an underwater explosive, equipped with a "clock-work" timer inside a waterproof cask of gunpowder. This underwater bomb was specifically designed to target the British blockade along the coastline. But, skepticism arose, suggesting the delivery of such a weapon to the British fleet undetected would be an impossible task. That is until David learned of the designs of a submerging boat that could descend below the water surface and rise again (Shallow 2011). David returned home to begin the development of this profound underwater craft. Working in secrecy with his brother Ezra and a local artisan, and after many design changes, trials, and tests, David and Ezra Bushnell successfully created a submerging egg shaped, one-man boat made of oak and reinforced iron bands, nicknamed the "Turtle" (Figure 1). In "Diving in with American Know-how," author Jodie Gilmore gives a detailed description of the craft: ... a wooden oval fastened with brass hoops, resembled two tortoise shells stuck together. Measuring a mere 7 feet by 5.5 feet, there was no wasted space. The pilot sat on a bench in the middle and operated the two propellers and the rudder. To prevent suffocation, they developed an ingenious method for admitting fresh air and venting stale air. The fresh air pipes acted as snorkels, and automatically shut themselves off when the water rose near their tops. In addition, the brass cap (where the pilot's head was) at the top of the craft had several glass portholes, by which the pilot could see in all directions, including straight up. To submerge and rise again to the surface, Bushnell designed bilge tanks. To descend, the pilot filled these with water. To resurface, the pilot expelled the water via pumps. Bushnell also provided a compass and a depth gauge, illuminated by "fox fire" (the glow from phosphorescent fungi on decaying wood), to help the pilot navigate. (p. 37) In fear of sabotage and British spies, the Bushnell Brothers tested their submarine from a fishing shack on the Connecticut River. It is believed that Ezra Bushnell nearly died when one of the pumps failed. Shrugging off the near death experience, and after a few more modifications, Ezra Bushnell became quite the expert pilot at maneuvering the Turtle. The powder-keg bomb was fixed to the outside of the Turtle's hull filled with 150 pounds of gun powder. Also included was a long, thin auger, which, when driven into the keel of the target ship, raised a spring that freed the bomb from the Turtle and fixed it to the bottom of the enemy ship (Gilmore 2004). Defying the skeptics, the Bushnells now had a vessel for the bomb, and believed the Turtle would serve as a fine new weapon to fight the British (Shallow 2011).

The Turtle was equipped and ready for its maiden voyage. Gaining permission from the Continental Congress, David and Ezra Bushnell, joined by Major General Israel Putnam, began their plans of attack on the British Ships stationed in the New York Harbor. Author Thomas J. Cutler describes the night of attack in his article "Courage and Innovation Combined,": On the night of September 6th, 1776, a huge Royal Navy fleet lay at anchor in the waters between Staten Island and Manhattan, making a grand display of British sea power. One observer, looking out over the water at the many masts arrayed before him, noted that it seemed as though a forest had suddenly grown there. For the American Continental Army -- waiting for the impending British attack on Manhattan Island -- the situation seemed dire and wanting of desperate measures. (p. 93). The target was to be the 64-gun HMS Eagle, flagship of Adm. Richard Howe's fleet (Thacher 1862). With a target so heavily guarded, the mission would need to be quick and precise. Taking down the HMS Eagle would make a remarkable statement to the British Navy. Success was imperative. As the night of the attack approached, unfortunate news struck the camp. The Turtle's expert pilot, Ezra Bushnell, had fallen terribly ill with fever, lacking the strength to forego the mission. Knowing the importance of this voyage, Sgt. Ezra Lee volunteered to take Bushnell's place. Lee had very little experience with the Turtle, but proved to be an adequate pilot. The dark of night finally created the cloak needed for the Turtle's mission to begin. Lee was lowered into the vessel and quietly pulled out to sea by Whale boats. In a letter to General David Humphreys, Lee writes of his voyage, "... the Whale boats towed me as nigh the ships, as they dared to go, and then cast me off - I soon found that it was too early in the tide, as it carried me down by the ships - I however hove about, and rowed for 5 glasses, by the ships' bells, before the tide slacked, so that I could get along side of the man of war ..." (Johnston 1893). Unfortunately for Lee, the Turtle was designed for the much quieter waters of the Connecticut River, where the Turtle was tested. The strong tides carried the inexperienced pilot well beyond the British fleet. When he discovered his mistake, Lee spent much energy and time working his way back against the tide. By the time he was able to get within striking distance of the HMS Eagle, Lee was already exhausted--and much of the night was gone (Gilmore 2004). With little time left, Lee submerged under the HMS Eagle and attempted to auger a hole into the ship's hull. After several unsuccessful tries, Lee realized the bottom of the ship was coated with copper. Forced to abandon the objective, and with day light not far off, Lee quickly started his way back to shore. Heavily exhausted, he was forced to surface the vessel to replenish his fresh air. The Turtle was then spotted, and several enemy boats began to pursue this odd watercraft. Frightened of capture, Lee released the time bomb powder keg in hopes of scaring off the pursuers. To Lee's delight, the enemy discontinued the chase and returned back to the fleet. The bomb drifted in the water with the timer counting down an hour to detonation. As Lee made his way to safety, the bomb "blew up with great violence, throwing a vast column of water to an amazing height in the air" (Thacher 1862). The mighty British fleet, confused and concerned that more of these unusual ships with explosives were lurking within the waters, pulled back their forces to a safe distance several miles away from the shoreline.

Although unable to harm the British flagship as intended, the Turtle was a great technological leap forward, one that would lead to much more successful submarines, ones that would someday change the nature of naval warfare (Cutler 2013). Without the ideas and ingenuity of David and Ezra Bushnell, and without the courage of Sgt. Ezra Lee, the outcome of the American Revolution could have been very different. Of course, there were many reasons the Americans gained their independence from Great Britain, but many of those reasons were a result of small victories such as the voyage of the "Turtle."

Illustrations

Figure 1:
[pic]
Bushnell's submarine torpedo boat, 1776. Drawing made by Lieutenant Commander F. M. Barber in 1875 from description left by Bushnell (Barber, 1875).

References

Barber, Francis M. (1875). Lecture on Submarine Boats and their Application to Torpedo Operations. Newport, R.I.: U.S. Torpedo Station. Retrieved from http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/sub_turtle.htm#item12

Cutler, T. J. (2013). Courage and innovation combined. United States Naval Institute.Proceedings, 139(11), 93. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1463167498?accountid=39036

Gilmore, J. (2004, June 14). Diving in with American know-how. The New American, 20(12), 36. Retrieved from http://library1.kvcc.edu:2089/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA119114035&v=2.1&u=lom _kalvcc&it=r&p=PPUS&sw=w&asid=c9662e4b2691042df67ac4bc5fe7ad2f

Johnston, Henry P. (January - June, 1893). Sergeant Lee's Experience with Bushnell's Submarine Torpedo in 1776. Magazine of American History, (29), 262-266. Retrieved from https://archive.org/stream/magazineofamericv2930stev#page/264/mode/2up

Schwarz, F. (2001, September). Time Machine September. American Heritage, 52(6), 72. Retrieved from http://library1.kvcc.edu:2089/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA77702808&v=2.1&u=lom_ kalvcc&it=r&p=PPUS&sw=w&asid=8bbd215145b435d0215cd95db3a21504

Shallow, S. T. (2011, Spring). Underwater Terror. MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History, 23(3), 10+. Retrieved from http://library1.kvcc.edu:2089/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA250035006&v=2.1&u=lom _kalvcc&it=r&p=PPWH&sw=w&asid=38b4efe784e887eccb58141997a0b968

Thacher, James. (1862). Military Journal of James Thacher, October, 1776. Military Journal of the American Revolution. Hartford, CT: American Subscription Publishing House, pp. 62-3. Retrieved from http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/sub_turtle.htm#item12