Two joined by the rope were stretching across the ebbtide and when directly ahead of the ships were let go, and floating down the rope caught across the cable, the torpedo would drift and the ship strain the trigger, ignite the fuse and explode.
"A brief sketch of the work of Matthew Fontaine Maury during the war, 1861-1865"
Richard L. Maury
Pulling down the river some 600 or 700 yards the boats were then allowed to drift with the rapid ebbtide, while the end of the cork line was passed over to Mr. Dornin, and the line tightened by the boats pulling in opposite directions.
"A brief sketch of the work of Matthew Fontaine Maury during the war, 1861-1865"
Richard L. Maury