Crewman "Miller" - Man of Mystery

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Lives Revealed: Interpreting the Human Remains and Personal Artifacts from the Civil War Submarine H. L. Hunley" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In 2000, Civil War submarine H. L. Hunley was raised from the seabed off Charleston, S.C. As recovered, the sub was a well-preserved time capsule for the crew of eight men, who conducted a successful attack on USS Housatonic February 17, 1864. One crew member, currently known as “Miller,” occupied the fifth crank position. Excavation of his remains revealed a well preserved skeleton and key personal artifacts. This paper provides autopsy findings and a cultural analysis of uniform buttons, forage cap, and key personal items to reveal aspects of the man, his health and habits, and his life in the 19th century. These cultural insights and historical research combine to peel back the layers of the mystery of who “Miller” was, why he was onboard that night, and how Dixon may have chosen him for their journey into submarine history.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Lives Revealed: Interpreting the Human Remains and Personal Artifacts from the Civil War Submarine H. L. Hunley   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 475