Aug 5 1863 - The US gunboat "Commodore Barney" is on patrol in the James River near Dutch Gap. As it passes close to a floating barrel, the barrel explodes. The object is an electric mine set off by Confederates on shore. The gunboat is only slightly damaged but 2 crew members are blown overboard and drown. It is the first use of electric mines and causes the US Navy to recognize them devise ways of removing them safely.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 11:41:13 +0000
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