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Hunley ceremonies more meaningful than movies and events, locals say

Included in the Hunley processional Saturday will be, from left, Sgt. Major W. Rick Davis, Private Mike Booth, Corp. Mark Trimmier and Private Joe Wilkinson. All four served as pallbearers when the Hunley's crew was placed aboard the USS Yorktown to lie in state at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. (Photo by RENDY BOLAND/T&D)

When the remains of the eight crewmen of the ill-fated H.L. Hunley are buried Saturday at Magnolia cemetery in Charleston, four local men will be part of the historic event.

Included in the processional that will commence at Charleston's White Point Gardens (also known as The Battery) will be Corp. Mark Trimmier, Sgt. Major W. Rick Davis, Private Mike Booth and Private Joe Wilkinson.

All four are War Between The States re-enactors with the Palmetto Battalion of the S.C. Volunteer Infantry.

All four served as pallbearers when the Hunley's crew was placed aboard the USS Yorktown to lie in state at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum Monday.

The Hunley was the first submarine in history to sink an enemy warship. The vessel with its crew of eight sank on Feb. 17, 1864, after sinking the Union blockade ship Housatonic off Charleston. The sub was raised in 2000 and brought to a conservation lab at the old Charleston Naval Base.

Corp. Trimmier was part of the elite six carrying the remains of crewman Arnold Beckman, the 19-year-old sailor who was in charge of the forward ballast tank pumps as well as the ventilation bellows on the Confederate submarine.

Private Booth had the honor of carrying Corp. Carlson, the German who enlisted in the Confederate effort in 1863, at McClellanville.

Sgt. Major Rick Davis assisted with the remains of Joseph Ridgaway.

The youngest pallbearer, 13-year-old Joe Wilkinson, helped carry the coffin of Sailor Frank Collins.

Each pallbearer experienced similar emotions and feelings about their experience.

"I went off by myself Monday," Booth says. "I wanted this to be first person. What an honor it was to carry Corp. Carlson to lie in state."

As for Davis, "every time we do something for the Hunley, it's a new experience. I learn something new about the men we are paying tribute to."

"I'm not full of false verbatim that I will tell anyone I could do what these men did, considering they were the third group of men and all except two died. All were volunteers. None were placed there at gunpoint. I always try to think what motivated them.

"Was it love of country, love of family or pure adventure. I can only equate them to the early rocketeers, the Chuck Yagers," Davis said.

As for Trimmier, "this is the last time they (Confederate soldiers) will come straight off the battlefield and be buried 140 years later."

"This is the highlight of all the years of my re-enacting," he said.

For young Joe Wilkinson, "I was shocked when I was chosen. I was nervous at first and almost slipped carrying the casket.

"I felt proud. It was a chance of a lifetime."

The three senior members of the battalion all have been cast as extras in various movies.

All agree that no experience compares to this week.

While submariners will serve as official pallbearers Saturday morning, the Orangeburg contingency will function in various capacities including color guard and honor guard.

Perhaps Sgt. Major Rick Davis summed the past 140 years up best.

"What men had crawled into prior to this time was essentially a coffin. Time after time, I ask myself what that took."

Tomorrow, eight flag-draped coffins will carry the remains of eight brave crewmen to their final resting place.

Final farewells will be said.

However, for Davis and countless others, many questions will forever go unanswered.