to Henry K. Davenport

Renshaw, Richard T., 1822-1879 to Henry K. Davenport

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GLC#
GLC02254.05-View header record
Type
Letters
Date
8 November 1862
Author/Creator
Renshaw, Richard T., 1822-1879
Title
to Henry K. Davenport
Place Written
Washington, North Carolina
Pagination
1 p. : Height: 19 cm, Width: 25 cm
Primary time period
Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
Sub-Era
The American Civil War

Reports "a most successful trial of one of the Machines for blowing up vessels constructed by Second Assistant Engineer John L. Lay." Describes the trial, during which a "Sch'r of sixty tons floated over catching the wires and blowing her to atoms." Mentions that three other explosives are being built and promises to send drawings to Davenport.

Lay invented the spar torpedo, which was used by the United States Navy to sink the C.S.S. Albemarle in 1864. He later invented the Lay dirigible submarine torpedo. Davenport was senior officer of the Union Navy in North Carolina Sounds.

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