September 7th
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ON THIS DAY IN 1776
FIRST SUBMARINE DEPLOYED IN WAR
“That he had a Machine so contrived as to carry a man under water at any depth he chose, and for a considerable time and distance, with an apparatus charged with Powder which he could fasten to a Ships bottom or side and give fire to in a given time (Sufft. for him to retire) by means whereof a ship could be blown up, or sunk, are facts which I believe admit of little doubt.”
Thomas Jefferson
National Portrait Gallery
To Thomas Jefferson
Mount Vernon, 26 September 1785
I am sorry I cannot give you full information respecting Captn. Bushnals* projects for the destruction of Shipping. No interesting experiment having been made, and my memory being treacherous, I may, in some measure, be mistaken in what I am about to relate. Bushnel is a man of great Mechanical powers, fertile of invention, and master in execution. He came to me in 1776 recommended by Governor Trumbull (now dead) and other respectable characters who were proselites to his plan. Although I wanted faith myself, I furnished him with money, and other aids to carry it into execution. He laboured for sometime ineffectually, and though the advocates for his scheme continued sanguine he never did succeed. One accident or another always intervening. I then thought, and still think, that it was an effort of genius; but that a combination of too many things were requisite, to expect much success from the enterprise against an enemy, who are always upon guard.
Submarine Turtle
Naval History and Heritage Command
That he had a Machine so contrived as to carry a man under water at any depth he chose, and for a considerable time and distance, with an apparatus charged with Powder which he could fasten to a Ships bottom or side and give fire to in a given time (Sufft. for him to retire) by means whereof a ship could be blown up, or sunk, are facts which I believe admit of little doubt; but then, where it was to operate against an enemy, it is no easy matter to get a person hardy enough to encounter the variety of dangers to which he must be exposed. 1. from the novelty 2. from the difficulty of conducting the machine, and governing it under water on Acct. of the Currents &ca. 3. the consequent uncertainty of hitting the object of destination, without rising frequently above water for fresh observation, wch., when near the Vessel, would expose the Adventurer to a discovery, and almost to certain death. To these causes I always ascribed the non-performance of his plan, as he wanted nothing that I could furnish, to secure the success of it. This to the best of my recollection is a true state of the case. But Humphreys, if I mistake not, being one of the proselites, will be able to give you a more perfect Acct. of it than I have done. With the most perfect esteem & regard I have the honor to be Dear Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt
G:o Washington
* David Bushnell was a submarine builder and Revolutionary War pioneer; he was the first person to operate a submarine during combat. The Turtle was deployed in New York Harbor on 7 September 1776. — CHO
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