Dr. St. Julien Ravenel was the designer of the "David" class torpedo boats used by the Confederate Navy during the naval siege of Charleston, South Carolina. He was one of the luminaries of the period. Besides his medical practice he held a degree in the natural sciences, this accrued during study in Europe under Louis Agazziz.
Theodore Stoney, another Charlestonian, funded the project which was placed under the supervision of David Chenowith Ebaugh, from Maryland, for construction at Stonys landing on the banks of the west branch of the Cooper River.The first David took shape in the late spring of 1863.
Several missions were undertaken with volunteer crews from the ironclad gunboats "Chicora" and "Palmetto State". The most notable of these was the attack on October 5, 1863 on the USS New Ironsides, with the David piloted by Lieutenant
W. T. Glassell. The New Ironsides was not sunk by the Lee spar torpedo carried by the David, but was so heavily damaged that she was towed to the Philadelphia Naval Yard for repairs.
Glasell made the statement that ten of the Davids might have broken the blockade of Charleston. I am inclined to agree with him. With a speed of ten knots and presenting a minimal target these boats may have been able to carry out a decisive attack if used enmasse.
The David design was scaled up into a Large David that was to have been used as a blockade runner, with a capacity of 400 bales of Cotton. Though not used by the Confederacy her seaworthiness was proven after the war when she steamed from Charleston to the Anacostia Naval Station in Washington, D.C.
Any reference to the David boats appreciated, as to the men who constructed and crewed them.