THE NEW BREECH INLET BRIDGE TO BE CALLED THE H. L. HUNLEY BRIDGE.

Here is a copy of the Resolution to name the Breech Inlet Bridge between Sullivans Island and the Isle of Palms to the H. L. Hunley Bridge.  Horace Lawson Hunley was one of the investors and became a part of the original group of builders known as the Singer Submarine Corps., (aka Singer’s Secret Service Corps., Singer’s Torpedo Corp., and The Singer Submarine Corps.)

“Although the submarine was seized by the Confederate military, it was still owned by the Singer Submarine Corps., who received a substantial bounty for their efforts from the Confederate Government."

During trial runs, the submarine known as the "Fish" boat sank with Horace L. Hunley acting as Captain. The submarine was raised and renamed the Confederate States Ship Hunley despite request that it be turned back over to the civilians.

The following resolution should  be corrected to state that eight brave men died on board as opposed to nine. Let this history be recorded properly, including the proper date of its first discovery.

COMMITTEE REPORT

April 24, 2002

    H. 5026

Introduced by Reps. Campsen, Altman, Bingham, R. Brown, Chellis, Cooper, Dantzler, Fleming, Harrell, Limehouse, Merrill, Quinn, Scarborough, Simrill, G.M. Smith, Whatley and Whipper

S. Printed 4/24/02--H.

Read the first time April 4, 2002.

THE COMMITTEE ON

INVITATIONS AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS

    To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 5026) to request that the Department of Transportation name the bridge, currently under construction, that spans Breach Inlet between Sullivan's Island and the Isle of Palms in Charleston County on South Carolina, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

    That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

RONALD N. FLEMING for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE BRIDGE, CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THAT SPANS BREACH INLET BETWEEN SULLIVAN'S ISLAND AND THE ISLE OF PALMS IN CHARLESTON COUNTY ON SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 703 THE H. L. HUNLEY BRIDGE AND INSTALL APPROPRIATE SIGNS OR MARKERS, SO THAT AS THE PUBLIC PASSES, THEY WILL REMEMBER THE SUBMARINE, THE H. L. HUNLEY AND THE NINE BRAVE CREW MEN WHO DIED ON BOARD.

Whereas, on February 17, 1864, The H.L. Hunley pushed off from Breach Inlet for its final assault on the Union gunship, U.S.S. Housatonic; and

Whereas, The H.L. Hunley was stationed in the protected waters behind Sullivan's Island under the protection of the Confederate Fort known as Battery Marshall, which was located at the northern end of Sullivan's Island right on Breach Inlet; and

Whereas, Breach Inlet is a narrow inlet that separates the Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island and is two or three hundred yards wide at it narrowest point. There are often severe tidal currents through the inlet. The crew of the Hunley had to navigate and force their way through the currents of the inlet on their attempts to attack the federal fleet. This war vessel had no periscope, so it had to halt from time-to-time, for a member of the crew to open one of its ports and look out to see if it was still headed in the right direction; and

Whereas, the Hunley thrust a 135 pound torpedo into the stern of the Housatonic, retreated, and detonated the torpedo; and

Whereas, the Hunley accomplished the feat of sinking the Union Navy's largest warship, becoming the first submarine to sink a ship in battle; and

Whereas, a watchman on the shore saw the Hunley shine a blue light, signaling its victory and impending return; however, the submarine disappeared off the shore of Sullivan's Island and was never seen again; and

Whereas, the Hunley 's location was a mystery for over one hundred thirty years, until it was discovered in 1995; and

Whereas, it is appropriate that the Department of Transportation name the bridge that spans Breach Inlet in honor and memory of The H.L. Hunley . Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, request that the Department of Transportation name the bridge, currently under construction, that spans Breach Inlet between Sullivan's Island and the Isle of Palms in Charleston County on South Carolina Highway 703 The H.L. Hunley Bridge and install appropriate signs or markers, so that as the public passes, they will remember the submarine, The H.L. Hunley, and the nine brave crew men who died on board.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

----XX----

Introduced by Representatives:.

 Representative George E. "Chip" Campsen III
District 112 - Charleston Co. E-Mail Address: GCC@scstatehouse.net

 Representative John Graham Altman III
District 119 - Charleston Co. (H) 77 Folly Rd., Charleston, 29407 Bus. (843)747-6461 Home (843)763-5313 (C) 306B Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29201 Bus. (803)734-2947

Representative Kenneth A. "Kenny" Bingham
District 89 - Lexington Co. E-Mail Address: KAB@scstatehouse.net

Representative Robert L. Brown
District 116 - Charleston & Colleton Cos. E-Mail Address: RLB@scstatehouse.net

Representative Converse A. Chellis III
District 94 - Charleston & Dorchester Cos. E-Mail Address: CAC@scstatehouse.net

Representative Daniel T. Cooper
District 10 - Anderson Co. E-Mail Address: DTC@scstatehouse.net

Representative Thomas M. "Tom" Dantzler
District 117 - Berkeley & Charleston Cos. E-Mail Address: TMD@scstatehouse.net

Representative Ronald N. Fleming
District 42 - Union Co. E-Mail Address: HIN@scstatehouse.net

Representative Robert W. Harrell, Jr.
District 114 - Charleston & Dorchester Cos. E-Mail Address: HWM@scstatehouse.net

 Representative Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse III
District 110 - Charleston Co.  E-Mail Address: HBL@scstatehouse.net

Representative James H. Merrill
District 99 - Berkeley Co. E-Mail Address: JM1@scstatehouse.net

Majority Leader Richard M. Quinn, Jr.
District 71 - Richland Co.  E-Mail Address: RMQ@scstatehouse.net

Representative Wallace B. Scarborough
District 115 - Charleston Co.  E-Mail Address: WBS@scstatehouse.net

Representative J. Gary Simrill
District 46 - York Co. E-Mail Address:
 JGS@scstatehouse.net

Representative G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
District 68 - Sumter Co.  E-Mail Address: GMS@scstatehouse.net

Representative Michael S. "Mickey" Whatley
District 113 - Charleston Co.  E-Mail Address: MSW@scstatehouse.net

Representative J. Seth Whipper
District 118 - Charleston Co.  E-Mail Address: JSW@scstatehouse.net