Many of us use it every day to travel between the islands. When we do, we might even glance at the alluring vista where saltwater marshes give way to the Atlantic Ocean.
Crossing the bridge at Breach Inlet is an integral part of our lives – and not just for its functionality. It can also provide a brief respite from a hectic world, even if just for a few seconds.
Now officially called the H.L. Hunley Bridge, the previous structure was known as the William Thomson Bridge, named for the patriot leader who repelled British forces there on Carolina Day in 1776. But when the new bridge was completed in 2002, the state Senate voted to endow it with a different name, one that has its own place in history.
Most locals know the story of the Hunley, the small submarine built by the Confederacy during the Civil War. Its mission was to sink one of the U.S. naval vessels that blockaded the entrance to the harbor. Launching the boat from Breach Inlet, an isolated and remote location, helped to keep it a secret mission. The view from there was perfect, since the Union blockade could be seen anchored 4 miles offshore.
A night deployment would provide the Hunley with a cover of darkness for protection, while the lights onboard the Union ships would guide the little sub right to its target. An outgoing tide would help speed the boat to its destination. But the crew faced more than a few challenges, including going against the tide when returning and possible winter weather complications. Of course, there was also the all-important question of how long the boat could stay submerged without the crew suffocating, since the only air available to them was what was in their cramped enclosed space.
The ending to the story is wellknown. On Feb. 17, 1864, the Hunley successfully brought down its target, making it the first submarine in history to do so. A crew member onboard flashed a blue light from a magnesium lantern to his comrades on shore, signaling that the mission was accomplished. Fires on the beach at Breach Inlet were lit to guide the boat home.
But the Hunley didn’t come back. Its whereabouts remained unknown for well over a century. After Hurricane Hugo, some people wondered if the storm’s bull’s-eye path may have stirred things up enough to help locate the boat.
Although it wasn’t likely, that possibility kept some researchers looking. The Hunley was eventually discovered by estimating the submarine’s original trajectory from Breach Inlet to pinpoint the area of ocean floor to search. The boat was later recovered and brought back to port where experts could study its design, and the remains of the eight crewmen could be interred at Magnolia Cemetery.
This month marks the 26th anniversary of the recovery of the Hunley. On Aug. 8, 2000, hundreds of boaters assembled in the harbor and just offshore to witness its return to port. The event was also televised.
By Mary Coy
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