Portal:American Civil War/Selected event/09

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The coal torpedo was a hollow iron casting filled with explosives and covered in coal dust, deployed by the Confederate Secret Service during the American Civil War, and intended for doing harm to Union steam transportation. When shoveled into the firebox amongst the coal, the resulting explosion would at the very least damage the boiler and render the engines inoperable. In the worst case scenario (or best case, depending on the point-of-view) the damaged boiler, under high steam pressure, would explode, injuring the crew and scattering burning coals over the deck to start a fire that would sink the vessel.

Union Admiral David Dixon Porter credited the coal torpedo with sinking the Greyhound, a private steamboat that had been commandeered by General Benjamin F. Butler for use as a floating headquarters on the James River. The device was also Credited for the explosion of the gunboat USS Chenango. One of the weapons were found inside of Jefferson Davis' office by Union General Edward Ripley when Union forces captured Richmond in April 1865.