 About the Cover
The images on this month's front cover appropriately convey the mystique and drama surrounding the H.L. Hunley, a Civil War submarine that successfully torpedoed one of the Union Navy warships, the USS Housatonic, just outside Charlestown on the evening of February 17, 1864, and whose whereabouts remained a military puzzle until it was successfully pulled from its resting place on August 8, 2000. The NAWCC's involvement with the H.L. Hunley excavation and conservation project, which relates to the watch worn by the Hunley's captain, Lt. George Dixon, is explained in this month's message from Executive Director Connie Stuckert, starting on page 290. Superimposed on the outer view of the submarine, which was immersed upon recovery in a refrigerated storage tank at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center is a photo of the solid gold watchcase, the chain, and the watch fob, owned by Lt. George Dixon, and excavated from the submarine's interior. The photo at lower right shows a view of the concreted interior of the submarine, facing toward the stern. On the final voyage, the crew of seven men sat on the wooden bench and used the handcranks, which appear to project out from the center of the photo, to create the power necessary to drive the sub's spinning propeller. The photo at lower left shows the School of Horology Director Daniel Nied examining the dial of Dixon's watch to determine the best approach to its conservation. A very informative website that tells the story of the H.L. Hunley's recovery, excavation, and future conservation can be found at www.hunley.org . H.L. Hunley photos © Friends of the Hunley 2000/photographed by Christopher Ohm: Daniel Nied inspecting the watch © Friends of the Hunley 2003/photographed by Christopher Ohm |
