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Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley
On February 17, 1864, the H.L. Hunley made history as the first submarine to sink a ship in battle. Soldiers on the shore waited patiently after seeing the submarine's return signal. But after several days, the ship had failed to return. What had gone wrong? In 1995, after over 130 years of searching, the H.L. Hunley was finally found buried off the coast of South Carolina. Follow author, Sally M. Walker on a fascinating journey through the workings of the famous submarine, its voyages, and the difficult obstacles that were overcome to recover, excavate and conserve the ship.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
12 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
About the author
Sally M. Walker
105 books75 followersSally M. Walker has written science books for children, including Earthquakes, an NSTA/CBC Best Science Trade Book of 1997. She lives in DeKalb, IL.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
October 12, 2020
This marks the third occasion that I've read a book by this author. I absolutely adore Sally Walker's books! She manages to make learning fun and interesting. She follows the entire ordeal from beginning to end, shadowing the scientists, and her enthusiasm for the subject material and scientific process is fully evident in her writing. Her books are intended for middle school kids and younger, so the science is really easy to follow. I learned so much every time I turned a page, and due to the format it's in, I actually retained most of the knowledge. There's a lot of info but you're never bored. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in archaeology, history, warfare, weapons, the Civil War, or submarines. I will continue to read any and every book by this author I can get my hands on, and I hope she writes many more.
April 15, 2015
Hidden history! I love this stuff!
Sure Secrets of a Civil War Submarine is made for kids, but it's smart enough for adults. Honestly, it's smarter thansome many adults I know.
I had no idea that there were submarines as far back as the 1860s! The one detailed in this book, the Hunley was made in Mobile, AL in 1863 and bought into the Southern Confederacy during the American Civil War. It wasn't very large, it didn't fully submerge, and it kept sinking and killing its crew. However, it did manage to sink another ship in its short life-span. The sub was lost until 1995. It was recovered in 2000. And then this book was made.
Short and compact as a submarine, Secrets of... still had to stretch it a bit to fill the pages of a full length book, and as I'd imagine a submarine tour would be, some of those stretches felt long and boring, while being occasionally punctuated by sudden flashes of excitement.
If you're interested in the U.S.'s first attempts at submarine construction, this might float your boat. Overall my expectations for action-packed intensity were sunk. I blame movies like Das Boot.
Sure Secrets of a Civil War Submarine is made for kids, but it's smart enough for adults. Honestly, it's smarter than
I had no idea that there were submarines as far back as the 1860s! The one detailed in this book, the Hunley was made in Mobile, AL in 1863 and bought into the Southern Confederacy during the American Civil War. It wasn't very large, it didn't fully submerge, and it kept sinking and killing its crew. However, it did manage to sink another ship in its short life-span. The sub was lost until 1995. It was recovered in 2000. And then this book was made.
Short and compact as a submarine, Secrets of... still had to stretch it a bit to fill the pages of a full length book, and as I'd imagine a submarine tour would be, some of those stretches felt long and boring, while being occasionally punctuated by sudden flashes of excitement.
If you're interested in the U.S.'s first attempts at submarine construction, this might float your boat. Overall my expectations for action-packed intensity were sunk. I blame movies like Das Boot.
June 13, 2025
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley is different from most juvenile nonfiction of its era. Equal parts forensic science, archaeology, and history, the book documents how twentieth-century scientists worked as a team to partially solve one of the American Civil War's enduring mysteries. With the war raging in the early 1860s, President Abraham Lincoln ordered a fleet of Union warships to sit in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor and prevent shipments of supplies to the Confederate army. The plan worked; as the Confederacy's ability to wage war at an elite level waned, breaking through the blockade became essential, but the South had no ships capable of harming the Union fleet. Their only chance to sink the warships was torpedoes, and that would require submarine technology. Primitive submarines had existed for hundreds of years, but the South needed one that could hold several men and sail smoothly beneath the harbor's surface to deposit the torpedo right into a warship's underbelly. Who could build such a vessel, and train soldiers to operate it in time to breach the blockade of Charleston Harbor?
Horace Lawson Hunley and James McClintock were two such men. An engineer from New Orleans, McClintock had the ability to design a submarine; Hunley was a rich plantation owner from the same city, with the resources to fund an ambitious project. Their first two attempts at a workable submarine—the Pioneer and the American Diver—failed, but the Hunley showed more promise. A tiny vessel that somehow fit eight men inside, the Hunley responded well in test dives, but met an awful fate August 29, 1863. The submarine, which used hatches, valves, and heavy weights to rise and submerge on command, sank during a test run, killing all but one of its crew, torpedo specialist Charles Sprague. Hunley enlisted Sprague to join a second crew on an improved version of the submarine. This time Hunley himself was a passenger, but another failed test run killed everyone aboard. Confederate General Beauregard decided the submarine was not a feasible plan to eliminate the Union blockade.
Not everyone was prepared to give up on the Hunley. Lieutenant George E. Dixon, an engineer and Confederate soldier, spoke with William Alexander, who helped build the submarine. Convinced the gambit could still work if they identified why the Hunley sank, Dixon led an investigation that seemed to yield good answers. Beauregard hesitated to okay another crew of soldiers risking their lives on the Hunley, but he authorized it as long as strict safety conditions were adhered to. Conducting test after test, the Hunley's newest crew learned to glide underwater unnoticed by Union soldiers in Charleston Harbor. February 17, 1864, the Hunley took aim at the USS Housatonic, sidling close to deliver the torpedo before speeding away. The blast sent the Union warship straight to the bottom of Charleston Harbor, but the Hunley never made it back to port. Submarine and crew both sank on its inaugural mission, and this time the hulk couldn't be found and brought to the surface. Thus ended what was arguably the South's most peculiar military experiment of the Civil War.
"I always feel slightly sad when a good story ends—like I'm saying good-bye to a friend I may not see again for a long time."
—Secrets of a Civil War Submarine, P. 108
What happened to the Hunley under Dixon's command? Why did it sink a third time after all the problems seemed to be solved? The first submarine ever confirmed to sink an enemy ship had vanished, its location unknown until the 1990s, when a team of searchers funded by bestselling author Clive Cussler discovered the hulk moldering underwater. U.S. government researchers exercised extreme caution hoisting the decaying submarine to the surface, where scientists could examine it to answer questions that had mystified historians since the 1860s. The rest of Secrets of a Civil War Submarine details the methods used and conclusions reached by scientists, how they circumvented problems related to the Hunley's age and labored to deduce what may have ended its military career after a single mission. As of this book's debut in 2005, some big questions were unanswered, but all eight crew members had been identified and their remains given a burial with honors. Engineering, forensics, and history intersect to form the Hunley's story, and there's no telling what more we might learn from this first-of-its-kind vehicle.
Author Sally M. Walker writes adroitly on the history and science surrounding the Hunley, but Secrets of a Civil War Submarine is less than a great book. I understand why the vessel intrigues historians, but the narrative lacks philosophical significance and emotional connections. Perhaps they simply aren't there, and Ms. Walker did the best she could to present the facts in as compelling a fashion as possible, but that leaves this book short of what I expected based on the 2006 Sibert Medal it won. The best parts are learning how scientists gleaned data from artifacts on the Hunley to fill in gaps in the historical record, and the satisfaction of seeing the Hunley's crew laid to rest after a century and a half in a watery grave. I hoped for more from Secrets of a Civil War Submarine, but if you love lesser-known Civil War stories, you'll find an interesting one here.
Horace Lawson Hunley and James McClintock were two such men. An engineer from New Orleans, McClintock had the ability to design a submarine; Hunley was a rich plantation owner from the same city, with the resources to fund an ambitious project. Their first two attempts at a workable submarine—the Pioneer and the American Diver—failed, but the Hunley showed more promise. A tiny vessel that somehow fit eight men inside, the Hunley responded well in test dives, but met an awful fate August 29, 1863. The submarine, which used hatches, valves, and heavy weights to rise and submerge on command, sank during a test run, killing all but one of its crew, torpedo specialist Charles Sprague. Hunley enlisted Sprague to join a second crew on an improved version of the submarine. This time Hunley himself was a passenger, but another failed test run killed everyone aboard. Confederate General Beauregard decided the submarine was not a feasible plan to eliminate the Union blockade.
Not everyone was prepared to give up on the Hunley. Lieutenant George E. Dixon, an engineer and Confederate soldier, spoke with William Alexander, who helped build the submarine. Convinced the gambit could still work if they identified why the Hunley sank, Dixon led an investigation that seemed to yield good answers. Beauregard hesitated to okay another crew of soldiers risking their lives on the Hunley, but he authorized it as long as strict safety conditions were adhered to. Conducting test after test, the Hunley's newest crew learned to glide underwater unnoticed by Union soldiers in Charleston Harbor. February 17, 1864, the Hunley took aim at the USS Housatonic, sidling close to deliver the torpedo before speeding away. The blast sent the Union warship straight to the bottom of Charleston Harbor, but the Hunley never made it back to port. Submarine and crew both sank on its inaugural mission, and this time the hulk couldn't be found and brought to the surface. Thus ended what was arguably the South's most peculiar military experiment of the Civil War.
"I always feel slightly sad when a good story ends—like I'm saying good-bye to a friend I may not see again for a long time."
—Secrets of a Civil War Submarine, P. 108
What happened to the Hunley under Dixon's command? Why did it sink a third time after all the problems seemed to be solved? The first submarine ever confirmed to sink an enemy ship had vanished, its location unknown until the 1990s, when a team of searchers funded by bestselling author Clive Cussler discovered the hulk moldering underwater. U.S. government researchers exercised extreme caution hoisting the decaying submarine to the surface, where scientists could examine it to answer questions that had mystified historians since the 1860s. The rest of Secrets of a Civil War Submarine details the methods used and conclusions reached by scientists, how they circumvented problems related to the Hunley's age and labored to deduce what may have ended its military career after a single mission. As of this book's debut in 2005, some big questions were unanswered, but all eight crew members had been identified and their remains given a burial with honors. Engineering, forensics, and history intersect to form the Hunley's story, and there's no telling what more we might learn from this first-of-its-kind vehicle.
Author Sally M. Walker writes adroitly on the history and science surrounding the Hunley, but Secrets of a Civil War Submarine is less than a great book. I understand why the vessel intrigues historians, but the narrative lacks philosophical significance and emotional connections. Perhaps they simply aren't there, and Ms. Walker did the best she could to present the facts in as compelling a fashion as possible, but that leaves this book short of what I expected based on the 2006 Sibert Medal it won. The best parts are learning how scientists gleaned data from artifacts on the Hunley to fill in gaps in the historical record, and the satisfaction of seeing the Hunley's crew laid to rest after a century and a half in a watery grave. I hoped for more from Secrets of a Civil War Submarine, but if you love lesser-known Civil War stories, you'll find an interesting one here.
October 21, 2016
The book goes directly into the details surrounding the Hunley. I enjoyed that it dived in straight to the details without a long introduction. From the inception of the Hunley, to its retrieval from the waters, the story keeps a tight grip on you. I never knew about this submarine; moreover, I didn't know that Hunley was able to make one work that early in the 18th century. It's a shame, however, that it took so many people down with it.
June 21, 2017
So okay this was the 2006 Robert Siebert award winner that is awarded for a truly inspirational and informational books and I chose this one because it was on the Civil War and one of my favorite time periods in history to learn more about but seriously and surprisingly I had never ever thought of submarines being a part of this war and was glad I chose this book to expand my mind. The H.L. Hunley was a submarine that sunk off the coast of South Carolina and hid its mystery since 1864 until it was unearthed from under the ocean 131 years later in 1995. Remarkable not just for its engineering and innovation but also for its notoriety as the first submarine to ever sink an enemy ship.
--Book begins two years into the Civil War with South losing and getting desperate with President Lincoln ordering a Union blockade of all the ships bringing food and supplies furthering diminishing the South’s chance at winning. Due to the faulty and unpredictable nature of torpedoes and lack of the element of surprise, engineers revisited original submarine designs. After two unsuccessful attempts with the submarine sinking; the H.L. Hunley was designed with inventions and upgrades that was able to do all set out to do that ran on manpower, able to dive and re-emerge intact. The book deftly and intricately describes the mechanism and theory behind the description and definition of Buoyancy –really great science information… You get the details and description of this ship and its broken down in easy to read segments and pictures and definitions galore..I really liked reading about statigraphy as a branch of geology that deals with understanding how sediment layers are arranged, how they form and what they mean..it reminded me of when the Titanic was uncovered and the layers of re-creating history that was involved…I also learned about rusticles which are exactly what they sound like rust in the form of icicles when new rust drips form over old rust drips.
Not really recommended as a read-in-one-sitting nonfiction text as is should be savored and reread repeatedly for all the amazing information and as a great reference source; From the beginning to the unearthing of the ship and the men who went down from their wallets, hats and other artifacts and bones staying intact to include miraculously a coin engraved to a crewmember from his beloved. Learning so much from history was interesting and to know there is stil so much to learn is sure to keep young readers inspired..Just seeing the faces brought back to life and learning of how that is possible is fascinating and so informative-much like great historical mysteries of Tutankhamen and the Titanic knowing about the past helps enrich and empower our future..Highly recommended as a companion Social Studies tool...will definitely reread this one..
--Book begins two years into the Civil War with South losing and getting desperate with President Lincoln ordering a Union blockade of all the ships bringing food and supplies furthering diminishing the South’s chance at winning. Due to the faulty and unpredictable nature of torpedoes and lack of the element of surprise, engineers revisited original submarine designs. After two unsuccessful attempts with the submarine sinking; the H.L. Hunley was designed with inventions and upgrades that was able to do all set out to do that ran on manpower, able to dive and re-emerge intact. The book deftly and intricately describes the mechanism and theory behind the description and definition of Buoyancy –really great science information… You get the details and description of this ship and its broken down in easy to read segments and pictures and definitions galore..I really liked reading about statigraphy as a branch of geology that deals with understanding how sediment layers are arranged, how they form and what they mean..it reminded me of when the Titanic was uncovered and the layers of re-creating history that was involved…I also learned about rusticles which are exactly what they sound like rust in the form of icicles when new rust drips form over old rust drips.
Not really recommended as a read-in-one-sitting nonfiction text as is should be savored and reread repeatedly for all the amazing information and as a great reference source; From the beginning to the unearthing of the ship and the men who went down from their wallets, hats and other artifacts and bones staying intact to include miraculously a coin engraved to a crewmember from his beloved. Learning so much from history was interesting and to know there is stil so much to learn is sure to keep young readers inspired..Just seeing the faces brought back to life and learning of how that is possible is fascinating and so informative-much like great historical mysteries of Tutankhamen and the Titanic knowing about the past helps enrich and empower our future..Highly recommended as a companion Social Studies tool...will definitely reread this one..
October 1, 2015
I listened to the book, so I missed the great pictures. I found some online that are so tantalizing that I need to go get the print copy so I can see all of them.
The text gives great detail and is careful about differentiating between fact and guessing. As I listened, I thought the text was on the edge of over-explaining things that I am very familiar with. For example, explaining that DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid and holds the genetic code. It wasn't condescending, just more basic that my scientific mind needs. After I was done, I found out the book is a juvenile non-fiction. That makes sense. I think the explanations in the text are well-geared to the intended audience age. Please be aware, though, that this is not for the very young. There are accounts of men dying, etc. While the descriptions aren't overly graphic, it isn't something to read to your kindergartener. I would suggest at least 10-12 years old.
The text gives great detail and is careful about differentiating between fact and guessing. As I listened, I thought the text was on the edge of over-explaining things that I am very familiar with. For example, explaining that DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid and holds the genetic code. It wasn't condescending, just more basic that my scientific mind needs. After I was done, I found out the book is a juvenile non-fiction. That makes sense. I think the explanations in the text are well-geared to the intended audience age. Please be aware, though, that this is not for the very young. There are accounts of men dying, etc. While the descriptions aren't overly graphic, it isn't something to read to your kindergartener. I would suggest at least 10-12 years old.
August 8, 2017
A very interesting children's/young adult book on the search for and conservation of the H.L. Hunley. The missing submarine from the Civil War.
January 13, 2025
Continuing my read of Sibert Winners and Honors. This seemed well researched and written. And the illustrations were good and informative. But also this book felt long and boring. It did try to touch on lots of different aspects - from the origins of the Hunley and its sinking of a ship, to searching and discovery, recovery and dna. Perhaps a bit deeper than it could easily go in this format. Definitely not a bad book, just not one that I enjoyed.
February 28, 2012
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley details the discovery of a civil war submarine. The author shares detailed accounts of the creation of the sub., its successful mission to sink the enemy (Union) ship, the sinking of the submarine and finally the discovery of it on the bottom of the sea. The author and illustrator do a great job of sharing a great deal of information while keeping the reader engaged. The illustrations support the text and the real photos help the reader visualize the submarine. This book would be a great addition to grade 7-10 curriculums. Many history classes read and talk about the ground battle of the civil war at great length, but the battle at sea is an important component. Also, the two men who created the submarine showed great strength and problem solving. This award winning book would be a good addition to a science or history curriculum.
December 21, 2008
Excellent. Walker succinctly and clearly explains complicated scientific processes involved in the excavation, conservation, and preservation of the Civil War submarine, the H.L. Hunley, and its contents. The H.L. Hunley was the first submarine to sink a ship in wartime, yet the submarine and its crew were never found following the successful attack. And that wasn’t the first time the submarine had sunk, killing all its crew. Walker brings the story of the H.L. Hunley and all the people involved to life. This is highly recommended for students interested in the Civil War and many areas of science and math. I was especially interested in the parts dealing with the forensic anthropologist and the forensic artist.
October 29, 2014
Interesting story of the raising of the Confederacy's submarine,the CSS Huntley. How did it sink? And why would another crew sign on after it sunk the first time. But they did. One of those who did sign on was the creator of the Hunley. He felt it went down the first time because the captain didn't know how to drive her (do you say drive when talking about helming a submarine?). So he signed on to captain her. The question is did the sub go down on purpose or couldn't bring it back up.
The second part of the story is how she was found and raised. Very interesting. One of the men had been injured at Shiloh and had a coin marked commemorating how it was driven into his thigh. This was how they were able to identify this individual. Not all of the men could be identified.
The second part of the story is how she was found and raised. Very interesting. One of the men had been injured at Shiloh and had a coin marked commemorating how it was driven into his thigh. This was how they were able to identify this individual. Not all of the men could be identified.
November 20, 2012
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley by Sally M. Walker is a non-fiction young adult book. It is the story of the first submarine to sink a Union warship during the Civil War. The author starts the book with a narrative history from the birth of the need for such a vessel to break the Union blockades to completion of a working sub that sinks one—only one—Union ship, before sinking for a third and final time. After the big picture story of the Hunley, the author provides a chronological timeline starting with the search for the sunken vessel, its discovery and raising, forensic investigation techniques, and its restoration and preservation.
May 22, 2010
This was an interesting story that I really knew nothing about. It was exciting to read about finding the first submarine, which was used during the time of the Civil War. The book contains beautiful photographs of the excavation of the submarine. I most enjoyed the part where the author showed trinkets that were found on the remains of the sailors on the submarine crew. It is an exciting book, filled with mystery!
September 19, 2023
lot of people likely have no idea that submarines have existed in some fashion in a practical sense for around 500 years. While many early mathematicians and scientists did thought experiments on such crafts, the first submarine was said to have been built by Cornelius Van Drebbel, a Dutchman in the service of James I of England, in 1620. While some of these early crafts were impressive, they were more curiosities than practical watercrafts. It was not for another 100 years until a ship called The Turtle was created for military use that our modern era of submarine warfare was born. The topic for today's review takes place during the American Civil War wherein both sides made use of submarines at various times. The Union launched an ambitious project dubbed The Alligator, and The Confederacy launched The CSS Hunley at around the same time. Named for its ill-fated creator, The CSS Hunley is noteworthy for being the first submarine to successfully attack and sink an opposing warship. It's also noteworthy for killing more of its own crew than any Union sailors, which is an unfortunate distinction.
This book is an entertaining, albeit somewhat short read. I read this digitally, but I would not be surprised if this is one of those sorts of books they sell in a museum gift shop, somewhat written for an older child, young adult market. I was looking for a quick read to place between some larger books I was going through and this fit the bill pretty well. With that said, despite its narrow page count, the book is crammed with plenty of information on the CSS Hunley, all of its various accidents (and yeah there were a lot), its mysterious sinking, and the archaeological work done to both find and restore this interesting bit of American History.
This book was written in 2005, and as such does not have updated information on current scientific findings for this vessel, leaving the sinking as a mystery of sorts. It was theorized sometime around 2013 that the sinking was due to the explosion of the crew's own torpedo when it attacked and sank the USS Housatonic on February 17, 1864. Located on a stick attached to the craft and far too close to the submarine itself, this bomb potentially caused a shockwave that instantly killed everyone inside. This would explain the lack of escape marks in the wreckage, and the fact that the crew were seemingly still sitting in their seats upon death. Since the CSS Hunley had killed upwards of 13 crew members prior to its final voyage, I'm sure that if the CSA would have found it, it would have been sent out again with modifications!
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley by Sally M. Walker is an interesting book that covers the entire history of this craft from creation to recent preservation. I especially enjoyed the end of the book wherein it is detailed how forensic archaeologists took the human remains inside, and while working with historians, were able to name and rediscover the histories of the men that went down with the ship for the last time. It's not a huge book, but what is here is very interesting and would be a great jumping on point for further research. If you are like me and enjoy somewhat obscure historical diversions, this book might be a fun little detour from more involved reading.
This book is an entertaining, albeit somewhat short read. I read this digitally, but I would not be surprised if this is one of those sorts of books they sell in a museum gift shop, somewhat written for an older child, young adult market. I was looking for a quick read to place between some larger books I was going through and this fit the bill pretty well. With that said, despite its narrow page count, the book is crammed with plenty of information on the CSS Hunley, all of its various accidents (and yeah there were a lot), its mysterious sinking, and the archaeological work done to both find and restore this interesting bit of American History.
This book was written in 2005, and as such does not have updated information on current scientific findings for this vessel, leaving the sinking as a mystery of sorts. It was theorized sometime around 2013 that the sinking was due to the explosion of the crew's own torpedo when it attacked and sank the USS Housatonic on February 17, 1864. Located on a stick attached to the craft and far too close to the submarine itself, this bomb potentially caused a shockwave that instantly killed everyone inside. This would explain the lack of escape marks in the wreckage, and the fact that the crew were seemingly still sitting in their seats upon death. Since the CSS Hunley had killed upwards of 13 crew members prior to its final voyage, I'm sure that if the CSA would have found it, it would have been sent out again with modifications!
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley by Sally M. Walker is an interesting book that covers the entire history of this craft from creation to recent preservation. I especially enjoyed the end of the book wherein it is detailed how forensic archaeologists took the human remains inside, and while working with historians, were able to name and rediscover the histories of the men that went down with the ship for the last time. It's not a huge book, but what is here is very interesting and would be a great jumping on point for further research. If you are like me and enjoy somewhat obscure historical diversions, this book might be a fun little detour from more involved reading.
March 25, 2019
First, the only reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 is that I do not like the designation of "it was amazing" for the 5-star review. Amazing is such a trite word. Goodreads needs to change that word to "outstanding." Then, I would give the book a 5.
Nevertheless, this was a VERY INTERESTING children's book--written by a woman who has two other historical non-fiction books for children under her belt. As adult as I may be, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this real-life Civil War submarine that sank while trying to break the Union blockade of Charleston, SC. The book provided so much information, first about the engineer/inventors of the Hunley, its trials, tests, failures, and its final voyage. The second section was devoted to how the Hunley was finally found, uncovered, and ultimately preserved for history. Even the remains of the crew were properly identified through the use of forensic anthropology and a face was re-created for each man approximating what they may have looked like according to any records found in research. This really was a fascinating book to read.
Nevertheless, this was a VERY INTERESTING children's book--written by a woman who has two other historical non-fiction books for children under her belt. As adult as I may be, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this real-life Civil War submarine that sank while trying to break the Union blockade of Charleston, SC. The book provided so much information, first about the engineer/inventors of the Hunley, its trials, tests, failures, and its final voyage. The second section was devoted to how the Hunley was finally found, uncovered, and ultimately preserved for history. Even the remains of the crew were properly identified through the use of forensic anthropology and a face was re-created for each man approximating what they may have looked like according to any records found in research. This really was a fascinating book to read.
January 24, 2020
Elijah Adams
LA9G
Neff
22 January 2020
Book Review
The book Secrets of a Civil War Submarine, written by Sally M. Walker is about solving the mystery of the H. L. Hunley that was sunk during the civil war. The H. L. Hunley was the first submarine to ever sink another ship. I have enjoyed this book so far and all the things and concepts I have learned. “ The Hunley never returned to port. Instead, she rested quietly, a silent tomb visited only by fish and other sea creatures,”(Walker 4). This explains the entire plot of the book as you figure out what went wrong with the H. L. Hunley and about its whereabouts until it was found at the bottom of the ocean. My rating for this book would be 4 out of 5 stars since it is more of an informative book, rather than a novel.
LA9G
Neff
22 January 2020
Book Review
The book Secrets of a Civil War Submarine, written by Sally M. Walker is about solving the mystery of the H. L. Hunley that was sunk during the civil war. The H. L. Hunley was the first submarine to ever sink another ship. I have enjoyed this book so far and all the things and concepts I have learned. “ The Hunley never returned to port. Instead, she rested quietly, a silent tomb visited only by fish and other sea creatures,”(Walker 4). This explains the entire plot of the book as you figure out what went wrong with the H. L. Hunley and about its whereabouts until it was found at the bottom of the ocean. My rating for this book would be 4 out of 5 stars since it is more of an informative book, rather than a novel.
May 29, 2017
A fascinating and well-researched account of the Civil War submarine, the H.L. Huntley which made history as the first submarine to sink an enemy ship. However, mystery surrounded its demise as it never returned to port after the sinking.
It lay beneath its watery grave for over 100 years until it was found and raised on August 8, 2000. Some mysteries were solved, while others remained a secret. A wonderful non-fiction book full of photographs, illustrations, and narrative sure to captivate history buffs.
Includes an author's note, source notes, websites, photo acknowledgements, glossary, and index.
It lay beneath its watery grave for over 100 years until it was found and raised on August 8, 2000. Some mysteries were solved, while others remained a secret. A wonderful non-fiction book full of photographs, illustrations, and narrative sure to captivate history buffs.
Includes an author's note, source notes, websites, photo acknowledgements, glossary, and index.
November 29, 2017
"Secrets of a Civil War Submarine" by Sally Walker is the story of a Hunley Submarine made in 1863. It was bought by the confederacy. Although it is not very large, it manage to sink a ship before it fully submerged itself in 1995. It was reconerd in 2000.
Children interested in US history would enjoy this book. There are lots of details about the ship and how it was constructed. Interesting pictures depicting the submarine will help the reader imagine what it truly looked liked. Broken down into segments, this book is great for younger readers. I would recommend this book to forth or fifth graders.
Children interested in US history would enjoy this book. There are lots of details about the ship and how it was constructed. Interesting pictures depicting the submarine will help the reader imagine what it truly looked liked. Broken down into segments, this book is great for younger readers. I would recommend this book to forth or fifth graders.
December 2, 2018
Genre: nonfiction (informational)
Date: 11-29
Grade Range: 3rd on up
This is a rather cool book as it teaches about a little known piece of the Civil War, a submarine built by the Confederacy. It is illustrated with real pictures from that time and photos of the submarine now. It has pieces of a diary and government documents. It details the use and the rediscovery of this lost piece of history. I personally enjoy books like these as you always are learning something new, whether it's about your own country or somewhere new.
*The Robert F. Siebert Award
*A.L.A Notable Services to Children Award
Date: 11-29
Grade Range: 3rd on up
This is a rather cool book as it teaches about a little known piece of the Civil War, a submarine built by the Confederacy. It is illustrated with real pictures from that time and photos of the submarine now. It has pieces of a diary and government documents. It details the use and the rediscovery of this lost piece of history. I personally enjoy books like these as you always are learning something new, whether it's about your own country or somewhere new.
*The Robert F. Siebert Award
*A.L.A Notable Services to Children Award
October 8, 2018
FASCINATING!!! Listened to the audiobook version and upon arriving home have spent several hours looking at the pictures and videos and reading more about this submarine and her crew! Very interesting story of creative engineering far ahead of its' time and how it came into existence along with it's single use before being lost to the seabed for 136 years! It seems that scientists have finally settled on the crew all dying due to shock waves from the blast of their own torpedo exploding less than 20 feet from their own hull.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2024
87%
I had no idea submarines were not only around, but used for warfare as far back as the Civil War before I read this book. Everything about the H.L. Hunley is fascinating, and if I am ever in South Carolina for whatever reason, I'll definitely be visiting the museum to see the thing in person. I appreciate how thorough and respectful this book was; it certainly deserves the awards it got.
I had no idea submarines were not only around, but used for warfare as far back as the Civil War before I read this book. Everything about the H.L. Hunley is fascinating, and if I am ever in South Carolina for whatever reason, I'll definitely be visiting the museum to see the thing in person. I appreciate how thorough and respectful this book was; it certainly deserves the awards it got.
June 7, 2024
I've read a good amount of US Civil War books but this was new to me. I've read countless descriptions of the ironclads and the Alabama but never heard of this.
Surprising because it is such a momentous and tragic story from the time. The Search and investigation of the wreck is a good story on it's own. There is a good basic description of all the parts a sub needs, actually very cool to see one at such a basic level, it has all the building blocks any sub since.
Surprising because it is such a momentous and tragic story from the time. The Search and investigation of the wreck is a good story on it's own. There is a good basic description of all the parts a sub needs, actually very cool to see one at such a basic level, it has all the building blocks any sub since.
August 30, 2017
Very informational, I believe this would be a great book to use to target a particular students interest. If a child is having troubles getting motivated to read but likes the Civil War or submarines they could try their hand at this book! However, it would depend on their grade level. This book is more geared towards young adults.
May 12, 2024
Very well summarized facts about a piece of history I didn't know about. It's interesting to see a medly of sciences come together to fill in puzzle pieces for this kins of mystery. Experts from forensic anthropology, archeology, history records keeping, facial reconstruction, laser mapping, CT scanning, and many others. Again, fascinating.
October 18, 2025
Listened to this audio book a 2nd time as a family from a road trip a few years ago…but this time we listened on the way to and from the Charleston museum that actually houses the Huntley!! How cool is that??? We knew SO much about it from this audio book and the story is just fascinating. Seeing the actually submarine in real life was icing on the cake!!
June 21, 2021
I imagine the Intermediate or High School me reading this. Back then this would have been a fun book. Wonderful pictures. Not too much ~ not too little details. I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. And I learned some cool new facts. 4.5 Stars.
August 6, 2022
I really don't like books written by archaeologists. This book was also written too soon. It should have been delayed until some conclusions were made about the findings.
Wiki has more information than this book.
Wiki has more information than this book.
October 25, 2024
The book it self gave a lot of information. A few things I didn’t like is that I would of liked a few more pictures to show so more stuff. Because the book was written in 2005 it had old imitation and I wish and hope that there will be another book like this to see what caused the Hunley to sink.
September 3, 2025
You know when something gets mentioned a bunch of times until you have to engage with it in a serious way just to be on the same page as everyone else? That's weirdly how I felt about this civil war submarine
June 25, 2017
Potato chip history, but it tells the story fairly well. I would have appreciated a bit more detail.
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