Lost and found
The quest to uncover the Hunley’s final resting place took a dramatic turn three months after the publication of Edward Lee Spence’s book. Diver Ralph Wilbanks, working with the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), made a groundbreaking discovery: the wreck of the Hunley.
Submerged 18 feet beneath the ocean’s surface, the wreck was located approximately a mile inland from where the Housatonic had sunk. Clive Cussler, the renowned author and leader of the NUMA team, was involved in this momentous find. However, he did not publicly acknowledge any connection to Spence’s earlier claims, maintaining a level of discretion about the discovery and its historical implications.