Honoring Absolum Williams - The H.L. Hunley's Forgotten Black Crewman
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Did you know that a Black sailor once served on the ill-fated Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley?
Shortly after the Hunley's arrival in Charleston, South Carolina, Lieutenant John Payne of the Confederate Navy was chosen to command the Hunley's first crew. Payne needed strong, able-bodied volunteers to man the submarine. Whether it was out of boredom or curiosity for this “fish-boat”, Absolum Williams - a sailor from the ironclad C.S.S. Palmetto State was one of the men who stepped forward. A diving accident on August 29, 1863, claimed the lives of 5 crewmembers, including Williams. The bodies of this first crew were discovered buried underneath The Citadel’s Johnson-Hagood football stadium in 1999, and later reinterred at Charleston’s Magnolia Cemetery to rest alongside the other Hunley crews.
No photographs of Absolum Williams are known to exist.
Yeah I'm sure the black guy on the side that wanted to keep slavery volunteered to go on under the water in a new vessel for the first time!🤦🏼♂️
You are aware that black men fought for the Confederacy, and their were many black slave owners, right?? 1/3 of the free black men in New Orleans were slave owners. His race does not necessarily correlate with his ideology. Every member of every crew, that dawned the CSS H.L. Hunley were volunteers. So yes, the odds of him being forced to do it, are slim to none.
Did you know this used to be taught in history classes back before 2010 era
A lot of Confederate Soldiers were Conscripted (Drafted) into service. We should not disrespect these soldiers. Many died not believing in the cause for which they were fighting. The Hunley was a War Grave and should have never been disturbed.
Wow, great respect, they just dug um up and planted a football field
Soooo what’s your point . Does it matter he was black
OP's point is wanting to honor a man who died pretty much anonymously, and to give him the recognition he deserves. When local Charleston newspapers reported on the August 29 accident, they only announced the names of the other 4 crewmembers. Absolum's name was left off... I'm sure you can figure out why.
How terrible to have Absolum die in the company of filth! RIP
He was a Confederate soldier too... You're a racist, would've fit right in back then