# CSS Squib

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**CSS *Squib***, also known as **CSS *Infanta***, was a [*Squib*-class torpedo boat](/source/Squib-class_torpedo_boat) that served in the [Confederate States Navy](/source/Confederate_States_Navy) during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). *Squib* was [laid down](/source/Laid_down) in 1863, and was [launched](/source/Ceremonial_ship_launching) in early 1864. Her design was a form of [launch](/source/Launch_(boat)) armed with a [spar torpedo](/source/Spar_torpedo). Initially serving on the [James River](/source/James_River_(Virginia)) as a [flag of truce](/source/Flag_of_truce) boat, she snuck into the [Union Navy](/source/Union_Navy) anchorage at [Hampton Roads](/source/Hampton_Roads) and attacked the [steam frigate](/source/Steam_frigate) [USS *Minnesota*](/source/USS_Minnesota) early on the morning of April 9, 1864. *Minnesota* was damaged but not sunk, and *Squib* was able to escape back upriver. At an unknown time in mid-1864, *Squib* was moved by rail to the [Wilmington, North Carolina](/source/Wilmington,_North_Carolina), area, where she served on the [Cape Fear River](/source/Cape_Fear_River). Records of her service at Wilmington after November 1864 are not extant, but she may have resupplied a Confederate fortification during the [Second Battle of Fort Fisher](/source/Second_Battle_of_Fort_Fisher) in January 1865. The next month, the Confederates withdrew from Wilmington, and *Squib* was [scuttled](/source/Scuttled) off [Cape Fear](/source/Cape_Fear_(headland)).

## Construction and characteristics

During the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War), [Confederate](/source/Confederate_States_of_America) attempts to counter the [Union blockade](/source/Union_blockade) included [torpedo boats](/source/Torpedo_boat). The first Confederate torpedo attack occurred in October 1863, when [CSS *David*](/source/CSS_David) damaged the [ironclad](/source/Ironclad) [USS *New Ironsides*](/source/USS_New_Ironsides). Following this attack, the Confederates built more torpedo boats, using varying designs.[1] One of these designs was the [*Squib* class](/source/Squib-class_torpedo_boat), a group of steam-powered [launches](/source/Launch_(boat)) armed with a [spar torpedo](/source/Spar_torpedo) in the [bow](/source/Bow_(watercraft)). *Squib* was the [lead ship](/source/Lead_ship) of the class.[2] She was also known as *Infanta*.[3]

The naval historian R. Thomas Campbell states that the designer of *Squib* may have been constructor William A. Graves,[4] while the historians Peter Pry and Richard Zeitlin attribute the design to [Lieutenant](/source/Lieutenant_(navy)) Hunter Davidson.[5] The *[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships)* (DANFS) provides dimensions for *Squib* as a length of 46 feet (14 m), a [beam](/source/Beam_(nautical)) of 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m), and a [depth of hold](/source/Depth_of_hold) of 3 feet 9 inches (1.14 m).[3] Pry and Zeitlin provide length and beam measurements agreeing with those provided by the DANFS.[6] Campbell instead provides a length figure for *Squib* of probably 30 feet (9.1 m) or 35 feet (11 m), with a beam of 6 feet (72 in), and [draft](/source/Draft_(nautical)) of roughly 3 feet (0.91 m).[7]

Propulsion was provided by a single [screw propeller](/source/Screw_propeller),[7] which was powered by a two-cylinder condensing [marine steam engine](/source/Marine_steam_engine) and a single boiler.[8][9] Her top speed is not known, but the vessel was reputed to be fast in contemporary reports.[7] *Squib'*s forward hatch and machinery were protected by armor made from boiler iron.[10][9] The vessel's spar torpedo shaft was 18 feet (220 in) long,[10] and could be raised and lowered by a chain and [tackle](/source/Block_and_tackle) system.[11] Her crew numbered 6.[3]

## Service history

*Squib* was first [laid down](/source/Laid_down) at an unknown point in 1863.[12] She was then [launched](/source/Ceremonial_ship_launching) in early 1864.[4] Her commander was Davidson.[5] Serving on the [James River](/source/James_River_(Virginia)),[3] *Squib* saw early use delivering flags of truce.[4] Davidson decided to use *Squib* to test torpedo designs at [Rocketts Landing](/source/Rocketts_Landing) in [Richmond, Virginia](/source/Richmond,_Virginia). Creating an empty torpedo with a copper cylinder and a chemical [fuse](/source/Fuze), Davidson attached it to the spar, steered the vessel towards a derelict wharf, and then rammed the torpedo into the wharf. This failed to detonate, and Davidson redid the experiment after adding 25 pounds (11 kg) of gunpowder to the torpedo. This time, the torpedo exploded and destroyed the wharf.[13]

Davidson then decided to attack a Union blockader with *Squib*. Assembling a crew for this mission of six in addition to himself, Davidson decided to use [anthracite coal](/source/Anthracite_coal) as fuel, to avoid creating sparks or smoke that would reveal the vessel's position prematurely. While anthracite coal was not readily available in the area, prewar shipping activities had led to coal spills into the river, and enough coal could be recovered from the riverbed to fuel *Squib*.[14] The movement towards the Union fleet began in early April 1864. To preserve coal, the steamer [CSS *Torpedo*](/source/CSS_Torpedo) towed *Squib* to a point 15 miles (24 km) past [City Point, Virginia](/source/City_Point,_Virginia). Proceeding alone, *Squib* then reached the [Newport News, Virginia](/source/Newport_News,_Virginia), area on April 8.[15]

After midnight on the night of April 8/9, *Squib* moved into [Hampton Roads](/source/Hampton_Roads) and moved towards the [steam frigate](/source/Steam_frigate) [USS *Minnesota*](/source/USS_Minnesota_(1855)). While the vessel was sighted by some Union vessels, she was never challenged and stopped, possibly because she was recognized as a [flag of truce](/source/Flag_of_truce) vessel. At about 2:00 am, *Squib* was in position near *Minnesota* and began accelerating towards the vessel. When the commander of *Minnesota* challenged the approaching vessel, Davidson claimed that his vessel was [USS *Roanoke*](/source/USS_Roanoke_(1855)). The [tugboat](/source/Tugboat) [USS *Poppy*](/source/USS_Poppy) attempted to intercept *Squib*, but lacked the steam pressure to move.[16] Men on *Minnesota* fired at *Squib* with small arms to no effect shortly before impact.[17] The spar torpedo was set to strike 6 feet (72 in) below *Minnesota'*s waterline and the torpedo used in the attack contained 53 pounds (24 kg) of powder. When the spar torpedo struck the Union vessel, it exploded, damaging *Minnesota*.[11] The torpedo was set too high, lessening the amount of damage to the Union ship.[3] While *Minnesota* had been damaged, her hull remained intact.[18]

The force of the explosion started to pull *Squib* underwater, but the Confederate vessel was able to escape.[11] While pulling away from *Minnesota*, *Squib* came under further small arms fire and was targeted by a cannon shot.[19] *Poppy* was still immobile and could not pursue, and an extensive Union search failed to catch *Squib*.[20] Bluffing a move towards the [Nansemond River](/source/Nansemond_River), but then entering the James instead, *Squib* hid during the day and was towed upriver by *Torpedo* at night. As a result of the attack, Union [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_Admiral) [S. P. Lee](/source/S._P._Lee) forbade *Squib* to ever be used for flags of truce again,[19] and Davidson was promoted to the rank of [commander](/source/Commander).[11] In mid-1864, *Squib* was transferred to [Wilmington, North Carolina](/source/Wilmington,_North_Carolina), by rail, where she guarded the [Cape Fear River](/source/Cape_Fear_River).[21] The last extant official report mentioning the activities of *Squib* was dated November 5, 1864, but Campbell believes she was used to resupply a Confederate fortification during the [Second Battle of Fort Fisher](/source/Second_Battle_of_Fort_Fisher) in January 1865.[22] The Confederates withdrew from Wilmington in February 1865, and *Squib*, along with the steamer [CSS *General Whiting*](/source/CSS_General_Whiting), were [scuttled](/source/Scuttled) off [Cape Fear](/source/Cape_Fear_(headland)).[23]

## References

1. Pry & Zeitlin 1984, pp. 384–385.

1. Campbell 2000, p. 68.

1. ["Squib"](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/confederate_ships/squib.html). Naval History and Heritage Command.

1. Campbell 2000, p. 92.

1. Pry & Zeitlin 1984, p. 385.

1. Pry & Zeitlin 1984, p. 392.

1. Campbell 2000, p. 93.

1. Silverstone 1989, p. 219.

1. Holcombe 1997, p. 62.

1. Campbell 2000, pp. 93–94.

1. Coski 2005, p. 126.

1. Campbell 2000, p. 91.

1. Campbell 2000, p. 94.

1. Campbell 2000, pp. 94–95.

1. Campbell 2000, pp. 95–96.

1. Campbell 2000, pp. 96, 98.

1. Campbell 2000, p. 98.

1. Pry & Zeitlin 1984, p. 387.

1. Campbell 2000, p. 99.

1. Browning 1993, p. 71.

1. Campbell 2000, p. 100.

1. Campbell 2000, pp. 100, 102.

1. Campbell 2000, p. 102.

## Sources

- Browning, Robert M. (1993). *From Cape Charles to Cape Fear: The North Atlantic Blockading Squadron During the Civil War*. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0-8173-5019-5.
- Campbell, R. Thomas (2000). *Hunters of the Night: Confederate Torpedo Boats in the War Between the States*. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Burd Street Press. ISBN 1-57249-202-3.
- Coski, John M. (2005 [2006]). *Capital Navy: The Men, Ships, and Operations of the James River Squadron*. New York: Savas Beatie. ISBN 978-1-932714-15-9.
- Holcombe, Robert (1997). "Types of Ships". *The Confederate Navy: The Ships, Men and Organization, 1861–1865*. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 40–68. ISBN 0-85177-686-8.
- Pry, Peter & Zeitlin, Richard (1984). "Torpedo Boats: Secret Weapons of the South". *Warship International*. **21** (4): 384–393. [ISSN 0043-0374](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0043-0374)
- Silverstone, Paul H. (1989). *Warships of the Civil War Navies*. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-783-8.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [CSS Squib](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Squib) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Squib?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.