Terry,

Tom, George, Joe and a whole lot of other people are involved in the "torpedo business." We are slowly coming into contact with each other through our common interest. A colleague of mine, Mike Kochan (evilmike2@aol.com) has made 1:1 scale models of many of the torpedoes. Mike and I are also in preparation (as everyone else) in putting out a book on torpedoes from the war. We have collected a great deal of information from a wide variety of sources. It seems as though everybody has a piece of the pie and we are sharing these things as they come into being. I just want you to know that I am very impressed by your website, as well as the others, relating to the Confederate Navy and especially to secret service operations. For a good detailed background on McDaniel's operations you might want to pick up a copy of my book, "The Sinking of the USS Cairo", University Press of Mississippi, 1991. There should be some used copies around. It covers all of McDaniel's known operations, including the City Point caper where he used John A. Maxwell. Also, if you come up with some questions, I know Mike and I will be glad to answer anything we have the information on. The other people in the "torpedo business" I have found very friendly and very willing to help.

John Wideman