Bushnell's Submarine: The Best Kept Secret of the American Revolution (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Bushnell's Submarine: The Best Kept Secret of the American Revolution Elizabeth Bush Lefkowitz, Arthur S. Bushnell's Submarine: The Best Kept Secret of the American Revolution. Scholastic, 2006 [144p] illus. with photographs ISBN 0-439-74352-4$16.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 5-9 As the newborn United States grasped for means to improve its odds against British naval might, Patriot David Bushnell was seeking a way to serve his country. Other men enlisted in the Continental Army, but Bushnell culled historical and contemporary sources for clues on how to build an underwater vessel capable of delivering an explosive device to the hull of an enemy ship. In a skillful melding of naval engineering, military history, and strong storytelling, Lefkowitz traces the construction of Bushnell's masterpiece, the Turtle, its deployment and failure, and Bushnell's equally disappointing subsequent efforts at underwater mining. Treating gaps in the record with candor and informed imagination, the book not only makes clear the principles upon which the machine operated (well-placed diagrams throughout definitely help) but also turns the entire failed enterprise into a fascinating adventure. Maps and insets on related topics such as gunpowder and copper sheathing augment the text, and the author concludes with comments on current scholarship and discoveries, inviting readers into the investigation: "By remembering names like Dr. Benjamin Gale, David Humphries . . . and terms like ship sinking engine or water machine from Connecticut, you may see something in your future readings that means nothing to the average person but triggers your interest." The topic will certainly intrigue many young readers, especially fans of Walker's Secrets of a Civil War Submarine (BCCB 6/05). Copyright © 2006 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois