The 5 October 1863 night attack on the U.S.S. New Ironsides, on station off Charleston, S.C., by the Confederate torpedo boat David shattered one of the engine supporting knees through the five foot thick hull of the gunboat. Though the vessel remained afloat and on station she was later towed to Philadelphia for major repairs. The amazement of the carpenter doing the damage assessment comes through in his report in the ORN. The weapon used was a Lee Spar Torpedo with a ninety pound charge of black powder.