Confederate Torpedoes: Two Illustrated 19th Century Works with New Appendices and Photographs

Hoping to deter the Union navy from aggressive action on southern waterways during the Civil War, the Confederacy led the way in developing "torpedoes," a term that in the nineteenth century referred to contact mines floating on or just below the water's service. With this book, two little-known but important manuscripts related to these valuable weapons become available for the first time. General Gabriel J. Rains, director of the Confederate Torpedo Bureau, penned his Torpedo Book as a manual for the fabrication and use of land mines and offensive and defensive water mines. With 21 scale drawings, Notes Explaining Rebel Torpedoes and Ordnance by Captain Peter S. Michie documents from the Federal perspective the construction and use of these "infernal machines." A detailed accounting, by the editor, of the vessels sunk or damaged by Confederate torpedoes and numerous photographs of existing specimens from museums and private collections complete this significant compilation.

Physician and Historian Herbert M. Schiller holds an M.A. in history from Wake Forest University and is the author or editor of numerous books on the American Civil War.

Gabriel J. Rains (1883-1881) was director of the Confederate Torpedo Bureau during the latter stages of the Civil War.
Peter S. Michie (1839-1901) served as chief engineer of the Union's Army of the James and was stationed in Richmond for the year following the war.