The Confederate submarine CSS HUNLEY was the first successful submarine in history, in that it attacked an enemy vessel, the Union ship USS HUSATONIC, and sank her.

CSS HUNLEY was also the first submarine battle casualty in history, in that the action that sank USS HUSATONIC also sank CSS HUNLEY. Not a good use of ones submarine assets.....

By now, most Members must be aware that this piece of history has been found in only 20 feet of water off Charleston, SC but there are a few questions to be answered.

WHO FOUND CSS HUNLEY?

According to all the news reports, it was Clive Cussler, an author and underwater researcher who located this historic wreck in early 1995. They claimed they located the wreck in January 1995, and on 3 May this year, they confirmed that this indeed, was the Confederate submarine CSS HUNLEY. So it would appear that CSS HUNLEY was indeed discovered by Cussler's group.

But wait a minute - DR. E. LEE SPENCE (1543-1993) tells this office that he had found CSS HUNLEY in 1970 and that he had reported this find to the proper authorities at that time. Further, he told this office that divers on Cussler's team privately confirmed to him that CSS HUNLEY was lying right where he said it was and in the position and attitude he reported.

WHO OWNS CSS HUNLEY?

This is not nearly so clear as it should be. It appears that Cussler's group will be staking a claim on it, since there is no more Confederate States of America and since, so LEE SPENCE tells us, the Confederate General in command of the Charleston area during the Civil War wrote a letter to the fact that CSS HUNLEY was not the property of the Confederacy but instead, that of the company that built her and was on contract to the CS Navy.

What about LEE SPENCE and a possible claim? LEE has ceded any and all claims to one of our Government groups that has responsibility for preserving American heritage.

We will keep you posted on developments as they happen.