Sources for the General Lyon Disaster
Transcribed by Bernard Yeatts
The New York Times - Monday, April 3, 1865
Vol. XIV No. 4220 Page 5
DREADFUL FIRE AT SEA.
FIVE HUNDRED LIVES LOST
The U. S. Transport Steamer General Lyon Burned Off Cape Hatteras.
Invalid Troops, Refugees, and Women and Children on Board.
The steamer Gen. Sedgwick, which arrived at this port at noon yesterday, brought as passengers twenty-nine persons saved from the wreck of the transport steamer Gen. Lyon, which took fire off Cape Hatteras on the morning of Friday last, and was totally destroyed. The Gen. Lyon had on board from five hundred and fifty to six hundred souls. The twenty-nine who arrived here yesterday are believed to be all that was saved.
It appears from the statements of these men that the Gen. Lyon, a screw steamer which had formerly been used as a blockade-runner, sailed from Wilmington for Fortress Monroe, on the morning of Wednesday last, with nearly six hundred persons on board, including the crew.
Her passengers consisted of discharged and paroled soldiers, escaped prisoners and refugees, among whom were about thirty women and twenty-five small children. Two negroes were also among the refugees. The weather was fair on leaving Wilmington, but the steamer put into the port of Smithfield for the night and resumed her voyage on the following morning. Soon after leaving Smithfield the wind, which was blowing from the southwest, increased in violence, and the vessel, which was a very slow one, made but little progress. At ten o'clock on Friday morning she was off Cape Hatteras, the wind having increased to a hurricane and the sea running very high. It is believed that the vessel was about sixty miles from land when an alarm of fire was given, and in a few minutes afterward the flames broke out at the rear of the pilot-house and nearly in the centre of the vessel. Several of the crew were in the rigging, and there were very few persons on deck at the time, many of the passengers being confined to their berths by sickness. The first mate, James Gibbs, and the other officers of the vessel immediately got the fire pumps to work with which, and the requisite quantity of hose, the vessel was well provided. But the flames steadily gained headway, and although the pumps were worked with unflinching perseverance, the fire soon spread over the centre portion of the deck, driving the crew and those who were assisting them to the stern and bow of the vessel. The hatches had been closed in consequence of the decks being so constantly under water, but those below, alarmed by the smoke which was spreading through he cabins, rushed on deck only to be driven back by the flames. The frightful shrieks of the women and children, and their piteous supplications for help were drowned by the roaring of the storm. Several of the paroled soldiers were sick and confined to their berths. Some of them managed to crawl on deck, and clung there until washed overboard by the waves. In about half an hour after the fire broke out, the engines partially stopped, and the vessel immediately swung round with her broadside to the wind, and the flames then spreading across the deck.
It had now became quite evident that the ship could not be saved. The first officer acted with great courage, and only abandoned the vessel when all hopes of saving her were gone. The fire-pumps were still kept at work, and the flames were fought back with great determination. Many of those below were doubtless already suffocated. The shrieks and moans of the dying came up to those on deck, but they could do nothing to help them. Just at this time a steamer, which proved to be the United States transport Gen. Sedgwick, Capt. Starkey, and a small schooner, hove in sight. But neither of them could render any assistance, owing to the violence of the storm and the fact that the burning steamer had drifted in toward the breakers. The flames were now spreading with fearful rapidity. The boats were launched, although there appeared to be little hope of their living in such a sea. Into the first boat ten men lowered themselves, including the Captain of the General Lyon. It is affirmed by several of those who escaped that the Captain had lost all control of himself, and was evidently crazed with fear. Hardly had this boat been loosed from the vessel's side than she drifted under her stern, was struck by the screw, and almost instantly went down. Irah Lewis, a private in the Eighty-ninth New-York Regiment, who was in the boat at the time, states that he saw the Captain sink. Lewis and two others alone escaped. A second boat was launched, and in this twenty-seven persons, including the First Mate, John Haydon, lowered themselves and succeeded in reaching the General Sedgwick, which was about a mile and a half distant. As the boat touched the steamer's side a wave dashed her violently against it, and she filled and went down. Of the twenty-seven persons in the boat, seven only were saved. Among these were the Mate, James Gibbs, Barney Losey, of the Fifth Virginia Regiment, and John Fitzgerald, of the Fifty-sixth Illinois. In the meantime a number of the men had thrown themselves overboard, trusting to a spar for support. One man, Isaiah C. Colby, of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, after working at the fire pumps until he was almost exhausted, seized one of the doors of the galley and sprang overboard. He was in the water three hours before he was picked up. Others were also in the water for several hours, and many, doubtless, sank before assistance could be rendered. It is supposed that the schooner did not succeed in rescuing any of them. So far as known, the following are the only persons saved out of a total of from 550 to 600:
Barney Losey, Co. G. Fifth Virginia; M. H. Arment, Co. E. Fifty-sixth Illinois; John Kreusen, Co. F. Third Pennsylvania H. A.; Irah Lewis, Co. A, Eighty ninth New-York; Michael S. Brocket, Co. F, Fifty-sixth Illinois; Robt. Simpson, corporal, Co. S. Fifty-fourth Ohio; Thos. Farrar, refugee, Wilmington, N.C.; Jas. Edwards, sergeant, Ninety-ninth New-York; Silas Galloway, Fifty-sixth New-York; Clarence Dunn, refugee; Geo. Murphy, Co. A, Sixth New-York H. A.; Geo. Goole, Co. F. One Hundred and Forty-fourth New-York; C. M. Dodson, Third Pennsylvania H. A.; Jos. Fitzgerald, Co. K, Fifty-second Illinois; Jas. Dempsey, fireman, steamer General Lyon; Stephen Russell, refugee; Thomas Cooney, sailor, General Lyon; Nicholas Brown, sailor, steamer General Lyon; Geo. W. Williams, Co. G, Fifty-sixth Illinois; Pat. Bryan, coal-passer, steamer General Lyon; Richard Clarke, Co. F, Second Illinois L. A.; John Peoples, oiler, steamer General Lyon; Isaiah Cleolly, Co. K, Fifth Ohio Cav.; Cyrus P. Williams, Co. F. Third Pennsylvania Art.; James Gibbs, first officer, steamer General Lyon; Wm. Cranston, chief engineer, Saml. Pressey, first cook (colored,) steamer General Lyon; Chas. A. Brady, refugee.
When the General Sedgwick left, being unable to render further assistance, the ill-fated steamer was drifting in toward the frightful breakers off Cape Hatteras. She was then burned down to the water's edge, and every soul on board had doubtless perished.
In regard to the origin of the fire, it was stated by the First Mate, while on board the General Sedgwick, that there were several barrels of Kerosene oil in the engine-room, and these being shaken down by the rolling of the vessel fell on the boiler, and of course were quickly ignited. A barrel of oil was also kept in the same room, and this served to feed the flames.
A list of the passengers has not yet come to hand, but the following officers of the Fifty- sixth Illinois Regiment were known to be on board:
Major Files, Lieut. Rankin, Co. A; Capt. Tanquery, Co. B; Lieut. McKenzie, Co. B; Lieut. Lewis, Co. C; Capt. Weber, Co. E; Lieut. Joiner, Co. E; Lieut. Dunlap, Co. F; Lieut. Goudy, Co. G; Lieut. Holbeck, Co. H.
There were also 200 men of this regiment on board, only five of whom are recorded as among the saved.
Of the soldiers saved eight or ten are at the New-York State Soldier's Depot, Nos. 50 and 52 Howard-Street, of which Col. Vincent Colyer is Superintendent. They had of course lost their all, and were supplied with the necessary clothing by the Superintendent. Several of them are sick and confined to their beds. They will remain at the depot, where every comfort is afforded them free of all cost until forwarded to their respective destinations.
The following among the officers and crew of the General Lyon did not sail with here, being left sick in hospital at Wilmington:
John Haydon, First officer; Phillip Smith, First Assistant Engineer; Geo. Gilepsie, Second do.; Owen Daggan, oiler; Richard Dazle, coal passer; Wm. Brown, second cook; Alino Dee, waiter.
Return to the Gen. Lyon Passenger List
Transcribed by Bernard Yeatts
The New York Times - Friday, April 14, 1865
Vol. XIV No. 4229 Page 1
THE GEN. LYON DISASTER
Complete List of the Passengers and Crew.
From Our Own Correspondent
Wilmington, N.C., Thursday, April 6, 1865.
Below will be found as complete a list as the transportation records here furnish of the passengers on board the steamer Gen. Lyon, which burned off Hatteras last Thursday. She sailed from Smithville on Wednesday, and took a larger number of passengers than any other vessel that has left this port since our occupation of it. Her boats, properly manned, could save one hundred, and there were several sail in sight at the time of the accident, so that quite a number may have been saved:
Lieut. J. P. Alexander, Lieut. C. K. Johnson, Lieut. George Johnson, Sergt. Blake and 15 men Third Pennsylvania Artillery; E. C. Bray, Twenty-fourth Massachusetts.
Refugees -
M. A. Chauncey, Theo. Bletzen, A. Buchanan, Mrs. Brazil and family of seven, August Crummel, wife and two children, A. Paison, A. Scholz, Wm. Harrington, A. Leary, F. Schuan, Zill Amantz, John Snyder, wife and three children, James Gillmore, wife and five children, James Hayes, wife and two children, Wm. Shanahan, Michael McNelty, John Bradbury, Wm. Dawsey, wife, seven children and servant; Henry Hurt, wife and three children, Henry Bawes and wife; Mary Ferrell and colored boy; H. Hultz, Solomon Benjamin, Julia Brown, D. Windhom, wife and child, H. Windhom, J. C. Windhom, J. t. Hammond, lady and two children, C. B. Moss, Philip Burkhart, S. E. Russell, J. Burkhart, wife and child, Miss J. A. Banks, L. W. Shell, H. Shell and colored boy, H. A. Brooks, Thos. Carney, Clarence Dunn, T. S. Mansfield, Wm. Atkinson, D. McLardy, H. James, J. H. Brodshort, wife and three children, Mr. Shaffer, Adrian Durenead, Edward W. Scholober, Chas. A. Lietkie, Lewis Mognors, Alex Lee, W. Shaber, A. Cameron, Mrs. D. M. E. Williams, Jacob Doran, W. Duncan, wife and child, J. B. Bannister, George Stadtler and wife, John A. Smith, J. McGuire, P. O'Hara, J. Rogan, Charles E. Bradley, colored; R. H. Warner, Frank Cowen, David Denvan, wife and child; Frank Curran, rebel deserter; Capt. Bullock, 1 officer and 22 recruits.
Isaac C. Cobby, 5th O V C. Rufus P Wilson, 5th Tenn V.
Peter Wade, 5th O Vol Cal. Wm E Merrritt, Bat 11, 1st Ill.
Tho. W. Smith, 5th O V Cav. Peter Holt, Bat 11, 1st Ill.
Jas W. Zieur, 5th O V Cav. P Munson, Bat 11, 1st Ill.
Sergt Jno Wilfer, 1st O V C. C Beckman, Bat 11, 1st Ill.
Lenard Dyer, 1st O V Cav. Jno Johnson, Bat 11, 1st Ill.
Wm R Smith, 82nd Ohio Richard Clarke, 1st Sergt 2nd Ill.
James Martin, 82nd N Y.
Henry Happe, 61st N Y. George Hewer, 17th Wis.
E B King, 7th N Y. Over Beard, 123d Ohio.
Wm Cullen, 6th Va Cav. John Emmerson
Sephia Snell, 35th N Y Charles Mott, 91st N Y.
Geo Galleck, 58th Penn. W C Halleck, 5th Michigan.
Saml W Hilliard, 81st N Y. Robt Defede, 5th Virginia.
Jas Brown, 10th N Y. P Lemsey, 5th Virginia.
J Levy, 89th N Y. Phillip Smith, 90th Illinois.
Henry Martin, 42d N Y. John Mully, 90th Illinois.
Thos Sullivan, 2d N Y. Geo Baker, 4th Pennsylvania.
J Smith, 6th Michigan
Wm C Andrews, 14th N Y. Jacob Stuarts, 148th Penn.
B W King, 13th Tenn Cav. J Riley, 24th Ohio.
Wm B Cliff, 1st Penn. Corp J W Ratliff, 39th Ohio.
Jas Arnold, 15th Iowa. J Lewis, 89th New-York.
Geo H. Sanders, P V C. C Cortelle, 15th N Y Cav.
Corp J M Braddy, 5th Pa Cav. F. J Longly, 122d Ohio.
Total number 136
PAROLED UNION PRISONERS
M Robbins, 11th Penn. J Wenbress, 2d Penn Cav.
W Rugh, 11th Pennsylvania A Gregg, 8th N Y Cav
H Othen, 21st Illinois. B DePant, 85th New-York.
J R Williber, 21st Illinois C McDowell, 8th Iowa Cav.
J Pense, 21st Illinois J Weldon, 5th Mich Cav.
W Williams, 142d Penn. H Eby, 7th Penn Reserves
A D Pearson, 14th Ill. Cav. A Deveraux, 8th N Y Art.
J Thompson, 4th Kentucky Flynn, 72d Ohio
D Bayley, 137 New-York W Milton, 4th Penn Cav.
A B Cook, 5th Indiana Cav. A Sacket, 8th Iowa Cav.
C Cox, 191st Pennsylvania A Spencer, 85th New-York
C Harmer, 131st New-York S Horton, 103d Ohio
C Cowdrey, 12th Mass. J F Burbridge, 57th Ohio
D Reynolds, 15th Illinois Cavalry J C Downing, 24th Iowa
J Smith, 1st Virginia Cav.
B Gunway, 39th Iowa G Galusky, 106th N Y
J W. Kirk, 13th Penn. J C Thompson, 12th O. Cav.
H Knight, 122d New-York A Northam, 2d Penn.
John Lawrence, 35th Mass. Thomas G Edwards, 6th Mass.
John Aveckson, 18th Wis
J McKrown, 3d N Y Cav. Corp B F Fulkerson, 55th Ohio
A Lennee, 35th N J Res.
Joseph McDouall, 3d Ohio P M Crabtree, 73d Ohio
J H Phillipp, 94th Ohio M D Donaldson, 39th Ohio
Charles Henry, 32d Wis. Peter Garrison, 47th Ohio
J Johnson, 18th Penn. Cav. J McCarthy, 19th Mass.
J Purt, 24th Michigan M Dietrick, 43d New York
T G Johnson, 20th Illinois H Warner, 9th Mich Cav.
H S Smith, 144th Ohio. A J Lookingbill, 6th Ind.
J Ward, 4th Kentucky J M Kendall, 4th New-York Cavalry.
J O Rouke, 92d Illinois
J Yates, 101st Penn. S Smith, 1st N Y Cavalry.
R Davis, 11th Iowa K Martin, 8th Michigan.
J Davidson, 27th Michigan W Finney, 4th Mass Cav.
L Beanshaw, 8th Ill Cav. J Dyer, 1st Minnesota.
D H. Hatfelt, 11th Ohio A Cockran, 190th Penn.
A Miles, 69th New York W J Conn, 10th Ohio Cav.
W Drake, 8th New York Heavy Artillery G Simpson, 54th Ohio Cav.
P Simpson, 54th Ohio Cav.
F Christian, 101st Penn. E Goohert, 8th Ill Cav.
H Isham, 5th Vermont W Burgen, 2d Bat. 16th U S.
D McDowell, 10th Penn. J Smith, 63d Indiana.
J Calvory, 3d Iowa Cav. J Base, 101st Ohio.
W Hennen, 1st Va Cav. J Kilpatrick, 73d Illinois.
J Rhodes, 3d Iowa Cav. C A Russell, 1st Virginia Cavalry.
T Heimick, 5th Ind Cav.
E Carter, 8th Tenn. B Berry, 25th Indiana.
T Belknap, 17th Iowa W Smith, 1st Mich. Engin.
E P Morris, 17th Iowa Corp J. McDonald, 31st Ohio
T O'Neil, 4th Ky Cav. R M Myers, 1st Ohio Cav.
E Sutliff, 16th Conn. E Bowman, 53d Ind.
C Denton, 20th Mass. J Wilson, 1st N H Cav.
M Desmond, 20th Mass. J Cambell, 48th N Y.
J Harris, 66th N Y N Shanahan, 101st Ind.
H Wetty, 4th Ky Sgt E Mettetal, 24th Mich C.
J Young, 11th Vt. H Kisor, 7th Ohio
J Rikey, 51st N Y G White, 60th Ill
G Armstrong, 95th N Y C Draper, 82 Ind.
The names of the officers and crew I could not obtain. There was also about two hundred men of the Fifty-sixth Illinois who had been mustered out of service and were on their way home, whose names I failed to get. Eleven discharged officers of the same organization are given as follows:
Maj Jas Files. Capt Urber.
Capt Dunguory. Lieut H. S. Dunlop.
Lieut Gowdie. Lieut Rankins.
Lieut Haulbeck. Lieut Joiner.
Lieut McKenzie. Lieut Jas. Griver.
The first officer of the Gen. Lyon, Jno. Haydon, and several of the crew are in hospital here sick.
Return to the Gen. Lyon Passenger List
Transcribed by John Cawley
The Times of London
April 27, 1865 p. 6, columns 4 and 5
TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATION AT SEA
Accounts are published of the destruction of the General Lyon, United States' transport steamer, by fire, with great loss of life:--
"The steamer General Sedgwick, arrived at New York, brought as passengers 29 persons saved from the wreck of the transport steamer General Lyon, which took fire off Cape Hatteras on the morning of Friday, the 31st of March, and was totally destroyed. The General Lyon had on board from 550 to 600 souls. The 29 who have arrived here are believed to be all that were saved.
"It appears from the statements of these men that the General Lyon, a screw steamer, which had formerly been used as a blockade runner, sailed from Wilmington for Fortress Monroe on the morning of the 29th ult., with nearly 600 persons on board, including the crew.
"Her passengers consisted of discharged and paroled soldiers, escaped prisoners, and refugees, among whom were about 30 women and 25 small children. Two negroes were also among the refugees. The weather was fair on leaving Wilmington, but the steamer put into the port of Smithfield for the night and resumed her voyage on the following morning. Soon after leaving Smithfield the wind, which was blowing from the south-west, increased in violence, and the vessel, which was a very slow one, made but little progress. At 10 o'clock Friday morning she was off Cape Hatteras, the wind having increased to a hurricane, and the sea running very high. It is believed that the vessel was about 60 miles from land when an alarm of fire was given, and in a few minutes afterwards the flames broke out at the rear of the pilot-house and nearly in the centre of the vessel. Several of the crew were in the rigging, and there were very few persons on deck at the time, many of the passengers being confined to their berths by sickness. The first mate, James Gibbs, and the other officers of the vessel, immediately got the fire pumps to work, with which and the requisite quantity of hose the vessel was well provided. But the flames steadily gained headway, and although the pumps were worked with unflinching perseverance the fire soon spread over the centre portion of the deck, driving the crew and those who were assisting them to the stern and bow of the vessel. The hatches had been closed in consequence of the decks being so constantly under water, but those below, alarmed by the smoke which was spreading through the cabins, rushed on deck only to be driven back by the flames. The frightul shrieks of the women and children, and their piteous supplications for help, were drowned by the roaring of the storm. Several of the paroled soldiers were sick and confined to their berths. Some of them managed to crawl on deck, and clung there until washed overboard by the waves. In about half an hour after the fire broke out, the engines partially stopped, and the vessel immediately swung round with her broadside to the wind, the flames then spreading across the deck.
"It had now become quite evident that the ship could not be saved. The first officer acted with great courage, and only abandoned the vessel when all hopes of saving her were gone. The fire pumps were still kept at work, and the flames were fought back with great determination. Many of those below were doubtlessly already suffocated. The shrieks and moans of the dying came up to those on deck, but they could do nothing to help them. Just at this time a steamer, which proved to be the United States' transport General Sedgwick, Captain Starkey, and a small schooner, hove in sight. But neither of them could render any assistance, owing to the violence of the storm and the fact that the burning steamer had drifted in towards the breakers. The flames were now spreading with fearful rapidity.
The boats were launched, although there appeared to be little hope of their living in such a sea. Into the first boat 10 men lowered themselves, including the captain of the General Lyon. It is affirmed by several of those who escaped that the captain had lost all control of himself, and was evidently crazed with fear. Hardly had this boat been loosed from the vessel's side than she drifted under her stern, and was struck by the screw, and almost instantly went down. Irah Lewis, a private in the 89th New York Regiment, who was in the boat at the time, states that he saw the captain sink. Lewis and two others alone escaped. A second boat was launched, and in this 27 persons, including the first mate, John Haydon, lowered themselves, and succeeded in reaching the General Sedgwick, which was about a mile and a half distant. As the boat touched the steamer's side a wave dashed her violently against it, and she filled and went down.
Of the 27 persons in the boat seven only were saved. Among these were the mate, James Gibbs, Barney Losey, of the 5th Virginia Regiment, and John Fitzgerald, of the 56th Illinois. In the meantime a number of the men had thrown themselves overboard, trusting to a spar for support. One man, Isaiah C. Colby, of the 5th Ohio Cavalry, after working at the fire pumps until he was almost exhausted, seized one of the doors of the galley and sprang overboard. He was in the water three hours before he was picked up.
Others were also in the water for several hours, and many, doubtless, sank before assistance could be rendered. It is supposed that the schooner did not succeed in rescuing any of them. When the General Sedgwick left, being unable to render further assistance, the ill-fated steamer was drifting in towards the frightful breakers off Cape Hatteras. She was burnt down to the water's edge, and every soul on board had doubtless perished. In regard to the origin of the fire, it was stated by the first mate, while on board the General Sedgwick, that there were several barrels of Kerosene oil in the engine room, and these being shaken down by the rolling of the vessel fell on the boiler, and of course were quickly ignited. A barrel of oil was also kept in the same room, and this served to feed the flames.
Return to the Gen. Lyon Passenger List
Transcribed by Edward Boots
New York Times, Friday, January 19th, 1866
Vol. XV No. 4407, Page 1
VICTIMS OF THE SEA
Complete List of Paroled Prisoners and Discharged Soldiers who Went Down Last April in the ill-fated Steamship Gen. Lyon.
We have received from F. W. Foster, formerly Superintendent of the United States Sanitary Commission at Wilmington, N.C., (and whose address is Box No. 110 Wilmington Post-office,) the following list of the paroled prisoners and discharged soldiers who sailed from that port in the ill-fated steamship Gen. Lyon, on the 28th of March last. Mr. Foster says his object in sending the list is that "many may learn the fate of their dear friends through the Associated Press." He adds that he "will answer all communications or inquiries in relation to deceased soldiers in the South, who belonged to the United States army."
List of the Paroled Prisoners who sailed on board the steamer Gen. Lyon from Wilmington, N.C., March 28, 1865.
The list will be added in the near future. - Ed
Return to the Gen. Lyon Passenger List