Hunley Funeral
In 1864 Charleston harbor was blockaded by Union ships. The Confederacy was desperate to break the blockade. A guy named H.L. Hunley built an experimental boat which could travel under the water to it's target and deliver an explosive device to one of the blockading ships. In the development and testing of the boat, 2 crews were lost. These crew are buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston.
On February 17th 1864 the 3rd and final crew of the ill fated boat headed out to sea from Breach inlet between Sullivan's Island and the Isle of Palms with the intent of taking out the largest of the Union ships, the Housatonic. When they encountered their target they rammed the torpedo into the hull of the ship and backed off with the trigger rope attached. They blew the torpedo and the Housatonic sank in 3 minutes. The Hunley crew surfaced the sub long enough to signal shore that the mission was complete, and disappeared.
You can read the whole story at this link. There is also a movie called "The Hunley" which you can rent and see a version of the story.
131 years later in 1995 the sub was found off the coast. In 2000 the sub was raised from the sea floor and brought to a facility in North Charleston. The remains of all 8 of the final crew were still in the sub.
After carefully and respectfully removing the remains, a funeral was planned. For a week before hand the remains laid in state at several churches around town, I presume representing the different various religious leaning of the individual crew members.
The coffins were draped in the second national flag of the confederacy which is what was in effect in 1864.
On April 17, 2004 the crew was laid to rest in an incredible ceremony. The procession involving thousands of re-enactors dressed in Confederate uniforms, police honor guards, hundreds of other dressed in period accurate clothing, and military color guard from the local military college The Citadel march over 4 miles from the Battery downtown past thousands of spectators including yours truly to Magnolia Cemetery where the crew was laid to rest long side the 2 crews who previously perished in the experimental boat.
A prayer before the procession begins
I have never seen so many confederate flags. Mostly the Confederate battle flag.
When you get looking into this stuff you very quickly come onto some very dangerous groups. Here are a couple. http://www.truthinhistory.org , http://www.sclos.org. Racism cloaked in religion. Remember the Baptist church split over slavery. The Southern Baptists like Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart are the remnants of this line of thinking. The "religious right" is largely constructed from this group of people who seek to impose their views on the rest of society. An event like this brings out groups like the red shirts. They were there and it's scary to realize that these groups are still alive and active.
The above picture shows the actions of the League of the South (red shirts) who are angry with Senator Beasley for having the courage to get the Confederate flag which is a symbol of racism for many removed from the state house in Columbia SC
Each horse drawn caisson is complete with a full contingent of guards etc.
One of the very few African Americans present. Notice he's on the job.
Mourners in traditional attire.
A lone Union re-enactor contingent
We walked the 4 plus miles to the cemetery. The fellow on the left had become too hot and tired to continue the march with his re-enactor unit so was marching off to the side with his buddy on the right. As we we passed through the black area of Charleston some young guys were laughing at the plight of the fellow on the left. I over heard the fellow on the right say, "Things like that make me want to put my sword to good use. You know I can load my pistol and fire it to see that it works, but I'd like to see if this sword works. Scary stuff. The animosity is just below the surface.
Arriving at the cemetery
The official ceremony
Medals of honor, CSA is Confederate States of America
These are descendants of the crew
Then the speaker asked that men of all countries stand. I was about to stand until I noticed that only a few did. Then I realized this was a secret signal for all free masons to stand and perform a ritual. Those who know the signal responded. More scary secretive society stuff. Below are the masons in full garb
On the way to the grave site
I could not get close enough to get photos of the coffins in the grave.