1865 — June 9, Steamer Kentucky snags and sinks, Red River, below Shreveport, LA –50-75

— 50-75 Blanchard estimated death toll.+

— 288 Cappo, Russel Jr. “Disaster on the Red.” Shreveport.com, 9-12-2008 mod.*
–160-270 Shreveport Sentinel, 6-11-1865, reprinted in Galveston Daily News, TX, 6-20-1865.**
–100-200 whites
— 60 – 70 blacks
— 200 Arkansas State Gazette. “200 of Parsons’ Men Drowned in Red River.” 6-23-1865, 1.
— 200 Cappo, Russel Jr. “Disaster on the Red.” Shreveport.com, 9-12-2008 modification.***
–20-<200 Cappo, Russel Jr. NAI. “Disaster on the Red.” Shreveport.com, 9-12-2008 mod.**** -- 200 Cincinnati Daily Commercial, OH. “Local Matters.” 6-21-1865, p. 2, col. 3. -- ~200 Cincinnati Daily Commercial, OH. “The Red River Tragedy.” 6-23-1865, p. 1. -- >200 Indianapolis Daily Journal, IN. “Steamer Sank.” 6-21-1865, p. 3, col. 2.
— ~200 Janesville Gazette. WI. “Sinking of the Steamer Kentucky…” 6-22-1865, p. 3, c. 6.
— 20-200 Monroe County & The Civil War. “Away Back in War Days.”
— 50-75 Cappo. “Disaster on the Red.” Shreveport.com, 9-12-2008. Cites “official military report.”
— 70 Daily Davenport Democrat, IA. “River Items.” 6-24-1865, p. 4.
–20 whites
–50 black men, women and children
— 55 – 60 Passenger C. B. Brooks estimate in Shreveport Sentinel, 6-11-1865.*****
— ~50 Daily Quincy Herald, IL. “Sinking of the Kentucky.” 6-29-1865, p. 2, col. 1.
— 30 Gaines, W. Craig. Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks. 2008, p. 68.
— <30 US War Dept. The War of the Rebellion…Compilation…Official Records…1884, 714. --Great loss of life. From letter of Captain Stephen Webber, rescuing steamer Col. Chapin. -- Many Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…[MS Riv. Sys.]…1999, 269. +Blanchard estimated death toll. We choose to use the range Cappo presents as the death toll range from “The official military report…” Though there were many reports of about 200 deaths we have not seen any reporting which convinces us that this was more than fears at the time of the potential death toll. We cannot explain the U.S. War Dept. report of “not to exceed thirty” deaths in light of Cappo’s statement that the official military report at the time showed a range of 50-75. Gaines, who also notes 30 deaths, cites the U.S. War Department, thus we understand his number. * Cappo presents several estimated death tolls in his article – this is the highest. ** After noting passenger Brooks’ estimate of as many as 55-65 lost, the Shreveport Sentinel wrote: “The number lost is estimated by others to be much larger – some fixing it at from one to two hundred whites and sixty or seventy negroes.” *** Cappo writes: “Estimates of losses ran as high as 200.” This is several lines down from writing “…estimates of losses ran as high as 288.” **** “Reports of the missing and dead range from 20 to over 200.” ***** The Shreveport Sentinel article was republished in the Galveston Daily News of June 20. Mr. Brooks is quoted as thinking “that about forty-five or fifty men were missing, some of whom no doubt swam ashore. He also heard that three ladies and seven negroes were lost.” Narrative Information Block files: “Two months after the end of the Civil War in June of 1865, many Missouri families were tragically affected by the sinking of the Confederate steamer, the SS Kentucky, on the Red River below Shreveport, Louisiana. The following is an abstract of articles and files referring to Howard County: An Old Confederate Soldier Tells of the Last Company to Leave Old Howard “I give you a list of the names of the last company [F] of the ex-Confederate soldiers and a short sketch of the history of the last Company to leave Howard [County, MO], as it was told to the writer…. “This company was led by Captain James Carson…Of this company only 46 went through South…. “Go paroled on the 8th of June, chartered the Kentucky on the 9th of June ’65. This battalion boarded the Kentucky and soldiers and boat crew numbering 690 left for the wharf at Shreveport at about 4 o’clock p.m. and ran down river about 16 miles, when the boat struck a snag on Tow Head island about 9 o’clock p.m., and the alarm was given that the boat was sinking. She was run to shore on the south bank, the cable line thrown out and made fast around a cotton-wood tree. The cable line broke, there being so much water in the hull and she settled back into the channel about 30 feet of water with all her freight, both soldier, mother and babe. “Out of this number only about 402 answered the roll call the next morning, while all that escaped saved themselves by swimming and being helped by other swimmers. Of this company [Howard County, MO], 4 men were drowned. The Walton Family Story “…The last voyage of the Kentucky started at 6:30 p.m. on June 9, 1865. The Kentucky left Shreveport bound for New Orleans with 900 passengers, baggage and provisions. The steamboat had a length of 222 feet, a beam of 32 feet and a depth of 5 feet 6 inches with a capacity of 375 tones. It was built as a large, elegant packer for use on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and had the same layout as other steamboats of the day. “The main deck had four boilers mounted to it that fed two high-pressure steam engines, and was fitted with guard that extended the deck out from the hull to protect the paddle wheels. The main deck served as the principal cargo desk with the boiler deck above it where passenger accommodations were located. A long, narrow cabin was centrally located with 52 staterooms opening onto it from the sides. Each room was furnished with carpets, chairs, a sofa, bedding, tables and tableware. The sexes were separated aboard packet boats, with the gentlemen’s salon located forward and the ladies in the rear. Above the boiler deck was the hurricane deck and the crew quarters, and the officers were quartered in the texas on the next level. The pilothouse was atop the texas, behind the chimneys. “The biggest part of the 900 passengers were paroled Confederate prisoners, veterans of the Missouri and Arkansas regiments that had defended Shreveport. They were being taken to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to take the oath of the government. Among the passengers were Captain Anthony Walton of Glasgow, his wife, Mary Winn Walton, and their six children ranging in ages from four months to 18 years of age. (Shreveport Journal, July 10, 1974). Mary and the children were crowded into the “ladies’ cabin” on the rear portion of the boiler deck with the families of some of the other soldiers. The forward part of the main deck was packed with 250 horses that the parolees had been allowed to keep after the surrender. “After traveling about two hours that evening, the steamer struck a snag – a partially submerged log that the Red River was notorious for. The boat ran for about four miles after it began to leak but by the time the captain finally turned for shore, the Kentucky had settled so much he could not get close enough to the bank to put out the landing stage. A line was run to shore but it broke immediately. “In the New Orleans Times on June 15, 1865, a survivor described what happened those last few minutes: “As the boat careened, a great rush took place to the hurricane deck. Many passengers were in their berths, and were saved almost wholly destitute of clothing. A large number were caught between decks and drowned. The ladies generally succeeded in gaining the hurricane deck and were all saved. Some children were lost.” “The boat sank instantly with water washing over the hurricane deck while the stern remained above water. In the over-crowded decks below, pandemonium broke out as passengers rushed for the hurricane deck. A large number of people were trapped in the forward cabin and drowned…Another steamer, the Col. Chapin, got word of the disaster and it’s Captain, Stephen J. Webber, ordered steam to be raised and set out in the night to travel the 5 to 7 miles back downstream to help survivors. When the steamer arrived at the site around 11:30 p.m., there were 400 to 500 people crowded onto the elevated portion of the stricken Kentucky. Captain Webber was able to get two lines from the shipwreck to shore and began ferrying the survivors ashore in two small boats. The Walton’s oldest daughter, 18 year old, Clemmie, made it to shore with her infant sister Nannie’s gown clutched between her teeth. Mrs. Walton and three other children were rescued by the Col. Chapin’s boats. Her husband and son were missing. “Reports of the missing and dead ranged from 20 to over 200. Bodies of the men trapped between decks were pulled from the wreck for days after the sinking. Mrs. Walton’s husband and son were never found and she and her five remaining children made their way back to Missouri. Most of the Missouri men were from the 9th Sharpshooters division with others from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Cavalry and 10th, 11th and 16th Infantry, Hooper’s Cavalry, Shank’s Cavalry and Elliott’s Cavalry.” (Compilation from the files of Neil Block, Commander, William T. Anderson Camp #1743 SCV; transcribed by Lisa Perry. Information extracted from files and two articles to include (1) Reprinted article “Away Back in War Days”, Pioneer Times, October 1982, Vol. 6 No. 4, pages 409-410; original is an undated and otherwise unidentified clipping to the Editor of the Democrat-Leader, from the Scrapbook of the Jefferson City Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and (2) “Search commences for descendants of Confederate soldiers (lost) in SS Kentucky shipwreck in 1865”, Monroe County Appeal, Paris, MO., Sep 15, 1997, page 11. Accessed on Monroe County & The Civil War website.) Cappo: “….At 6:30 pm on the evening of June 9, 1865, the Kentucky left Shreveport bound for New Orleans with 800 passengers, baggage and provisions. For the most part, the passengers were paroled Confederate prisoners (some with their families), weary veterans of the Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana regiments - the larger portion being Missourians that had defended Shreveport. Most of the prisoners had been paroled two days before and were eager to get home. Among the passengers were Captain Anthony Walton of Glasgow, Missouri, his wife, Mary Winn Walton, and their six children, ranging In age from four-month old Nannie to 18-year old Clemmie. Mary Walton and the children were crowded into the ‘Ladies' Cabin’ on the aft portion of the boiler deck with the families of some of the other soldiers. Many of the paroled were sleeping where they could about the bow or in the forward cabin on the floor. The forward part of the Kentucky's main deck was also packed with 250 horses that the parolees had been allowed to keep after the surrender. To say the ship was over-crowded would be an understatement. Some two hours into her voyage, the boat struck a snag; one of the partially submerged logs that made the Red River notorious. By about 9:30 it was discovered that the boat had about two and a half feet of water in the hold. “No alarm was given to the passengers at first. Survivors of the sinking suggest that the ship's pilot wanted to make for shore but the Federal officer in charge of the transport ordered the Kentucky to keep moving down river. The vessel ran for about four miles after the leak was discovered, but by the time the captain finally turned for shore, the Kentucky had settled so much that he could not get near enough to the bank to put out his landing stage. A stern line was run to shore, but it snapped immediately. The boat swung out into mid-river, where the current is strong and the water deep and the bow was carried under, the boat careened over on side leaving only about 20 feet of the hurricane deck and the stern remained above water. As the boat heeled over, pandemonium broke out in the over-crowded decks below and passengers rushed for the hurricane deck. Adding to the confusion, the Texas deck caught fire as coal oil lamps spilled their contents. A large number of passengers were trapped in the forward cabin and drowned; estimates of losses ran as high as 288. The women on board, who occupied the ladies' cabin aft survived but several children were lost (The New Orleans Times, June 15, 1885). The loss of life was unusually heavy for a snagging accident. For some reason yet to be explained, the soldiers were permitted to remain asleep, in fancied security, while the boat had thus filled with water and was sinking; and thus nearly all of the soldiers were carried under with the boat. Some who were outside or could easily extract themselves, rose to the surface and swam out; some clambered up the sides and floor of the boat. Estimates of losses ran as high as 200. The heaviest loss occurred among those on the forecastle, composed of many Missourians. “A survivor of the wreck reported the horrifying events of the next few moments: “‘As the boat careened a great rush took place to the hurricane deck. Many passengers were in their berths, and were saved almost wholly destitute of clothing. A large number were caught between decks and drowned. The ladies generally succeeded in gaining the hurricane deck and were saved, but some of the children were lost.’ Meanwhile, word of the disaster quickly spread to another steamer, the Colonel Chapin that had tied up for the night some 5 to 7 miles upstream. Captain Stephen Webber was aboard the Colonel Chapin when the news was received. He immediately ordered steam to be raised and set out to render assistance to the survivors. The vessel arrived on the site about 11:30 pm and found some 400 to 500 people crowded onto the elevated portion of the Kentucky. Webber succeeded in getting two lines from the shipwreck to shore and began ferrying the survivors ashore in two small boats. 18-year old Clemmie (Clementine) Walton, swam with her infant sister Nannie's gown clutched between her teeth, and had been pulled to safety on the shore. Mrs. Walton tells of how she gave out the ‘Masonic distress call’ and soon she and her three other children were rescued from the wreck by the Colonel Chapin's boats. Her husband and son were among the missing.(Shreveport Journal July 10, 1974). “Reports of the missing and dead range from 20 to over 200. The official military report listed between 50 and 75 drowned. Bodies of the men trapped between the decks were pulled from the wreck for days after the sinking, while Mrs. Walton and her five surviving children sat on a trunk nearby. Her husband and son were never found and she and her live children eventually made their way to Missouri. (Shreveport Journal July 10, 1974)….” (Cappo, Russel Jr. NAI. “Disaster on the Red.” Shreveport.com, 9-12-2008 modification.) Gaines: “Kentucky (CSS Kentucky). U.S. Side-wheel steamer, 375 tons. Carried eight hundred paroled Confederate troops. Built in 1856 at Cincinnati. Formerly a Confederate gunboat captured at Memphis on June 6, 1862, and put into Union service. Snagged and sank with the boiler exploding on June 1, 1865, between the Red River and Alexandria. Thirty paroled Confederate soldiers died.” (Gaines, W. Craig. Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks. 2008, p. 68.) Paris Mercury, MO, 1897: “On June 9th, 1865, Pindall’s battalion then at Shreveport and having stacked their arms and surrendered with the remainder of the Trans-Mississippi army under Gen. Kirby Smith, were given transportation, and with paroles in their pockets, were placed on board the transport steamer, “Kentucky,” together with several hundred other Missouri troops, and started to New Orleans on their journey homewards. They were glad enough to leave the scenes of disorder succeeding the surrender at Shreveport, during which two of Kirby Smith’s trusted staff officers had been shot down by a Monroe county sergeant, the latter remaining unmolested for fear of a mutiny from the troopers, who at that time acknowledged but little discipline. “The “Kentucky” was a lower Mississippi packet and it was in some degree a happy, though ragged crowd of Missourians that swarmed her deck as she swung out from the wharf at Shreveport, and for the last time in the southland they sent that terrorizing Missouri yell floating back over the sluggish waters of Red river, in which within a few hours, so many of them were to sink to death, after having passed through three long years of blood and carnage where death had been denied them. It was a strange, wild crowd, not a company of church deacons, but a throng of disbanded soldiers, free from restraints, civil or military. Few of us, to day, know what such a thing means. They were mongrel in dress, being clad in the odds and ends given them by the government after the surrender, caps too small, pants too short, no shirts to speak of, in fact there being only one white shirt in the remnants of the Monroe county company, and that belonged to James I. Majors of Paris. It was indeed a Falstaffian band in regard to shirts. “The river was low and the packet, with its consignment of vanquished heroes, drifted slowly down stream, now running alongside low flat banks, now striking the hurricane deck against the overhanging maples and thrown toward the middle of the narrow stream, slowly by surely making its way, and they were content, for they counted every turn of the wheel, every vanishing cypress as only another step nearer home. Night (paints …unknown… lower) decks the tired troopers were lying about, most of them asleep, all those who had them with coats beneath their heads. On the upper deck the same scene was visible, the poor fellows dreaming no more of the battle’s din, of sudden charges, uplifted sabers and groans of the dying, heard not perhaps the long roar of artillery rolling over woodland and prairie, but in dreamland’s fancy, perhaps, were at home again listening to the low, sweet greetings of mother, sister or sweetheart. “Most of the Monroe county men were on the upper deck, some asleep, others standing in groups, talking lowly, too, of home and watching the ascending of a rich southern moon, which had just peeped above the cypress trees. The boat had struck a cypress knee in the stream that day and had (shoved) an immense (hole) in her side, but the Federal officer in charge, with a reckless disregard deserving death, had ordered it to be run on. A few hundred ex-rebels were of small consequence. The river was getting wide and deep. It was about 11 o’clock when a crowd of Monroe countians, J.I. Majors, Bob Smithey, Wm. Baker and others, standing on the hurricane deck, felt the boat quiver. Immediately the cry went up that she was filling, and before the sleepy and half-dazed men could gain their senses the transport was nearly half under water. The wild and tragic scene that the moon looked down on that night beggars description. Some escaped over a gang plank that had been hastily run out, hundreds jumped into the river and amid fighting, cursing and strangling, struck out for the shore, some of them reaching it in safety while others sank in the wild struggle or were swept out into the middle of the river. Men fought friends, had their clothes torn from them, and were choked with mud and loam. How many sleepers on the decks failed awaken will never be known. “To add to the weird and tragic scene dried leaves were gathered and fires kindled on the banks, besides which the shivering and almost naked men dried and warmed themselves. The reflection intensified the outlines of the ill-fated transport, with nothing but her stern shining against the moon, while far out over the waters could be seen their unfortunate companions and could be heard their despairing cries as they were swept away. Many were rescued when they drifted near the bank. Most of the Monroe county boys who were standing on the hurricane deck escaped, some of them grasping the flag pole when the boat careened, which, however broke from the weight of the half-hundred desperate men (clinging) to it and the crowd being first in the water succeeded in getting out without much trouble. Wm. Baker, however, went down with the boat. He stood as if paralyzed and never moved after the alarm was given. Other Monroe countians were lost also, including Doc Wilson and a man named Clayton, an uncle of Elisha Grigsby in the same company. “It was a wild night on the bank by the fires. Some of the men had nearly all the clothes torn from them, and Neal Price still tells of the noble rescue work done by R.H. Smithey, at present the giant sheriff of Monroe county, as, with only a shirt on, he stood in a clump of willows and pulled out drowning men as they were swept by. Next morning when the sun arose the scene was indeed a desolate one. The waters rippled silently, over the decks of the ill-fated, transport and flowed sluggishly among the willows, but never a message of their dead did they whisper, to the ragged shivering men on the bank. That day, another transport was sent down the river to pick up the remainder of the joyous crowd that had left Shreveport the day before, (unknown) the journey home was resumed. About midday the river began to give up its dead, and from the decks of the boat the men could see the upturned faces of dead friends as they floated past on their journey towards the sea. Some were seen in the mud along the banks, others caught in the clumps of willows that lined the stream. Where they were recognized friends got off the boat and gave them burial. Clayton was discovered on a scorching mud bank, his face turned toward the boat. He sleeps today in a lonely and unmarked grave among the cypress trees where a few of his old comrades in (arms) laid him to rest. “What a more pathetic tragedy than this does the page of history contain? Little wonder that the Federal commander at Shreveport wept when he heard of it and cursed the criminal stupidity of the officer detailed to take the boat to New Orleans. Coming, as it did, fight after four years of bloody strife, in which human life was wasted as chaff, it attracted but slight attention. Probably for the first time it is given in its terrible details in the Mercury today. Far from the battle’s din, beyond the sounds of clanging strife, these gallant Missourians sleep the dreamless sleep. The battle death of heroes, sought in blood and carnage, denied them, while yet thinking and dreaming of the distant home, the prattling – children, mother, sister, sweetheart, they went down to death among the willows and waters – a mute, inglorious death for such a band of heroes. The same moon looks down, the same winds sigh among the southern cypress trees, but the silent sleepers, each with his long parole, wake not, but wait for the last roll call when earth, sea and river shall give up their dead and all the brave, the good and true shall be marshaled again within Wahalla’s Hall.” (Paris Mercury, MO. “Remembrances of Pindall’s Men as Told to Local Reporters.” Oct 8, 1897; in Mid-Missouri Civil War Round Table website.) U.S. War Dept.: “The sinking of the steamer Kentucky, on the Red River, in the month of June last [1865] was attended with the loss of a number of paroled rebel soldiers, the exact number of which is not yet known, though believed not to exceed thirty lives.” (US War Dept. 1884, 714.) Newspaper at the time June 10, Letter of Captain Stephen J. Webber commanding officer of the Col. Chapin to Assistant Quarter Master Perkins: “25 Miles below Shreveport, June 10, 1865. “To Capt. F. W. Perkins, A.Q.M. of transportation: “CAPTAIN: I left Shreveport in obedience to orders from Maj. Gen. Herron, thirty minutes past 7 ‘clock, June 9th. Finding it impracticable to travel after night, I landed the boat. The steamer Kentucky left previous to me about one hour. I presumed that all the boat would lay up together for the night. On proceeding down the river I found the Kentucky against the bank, turning the point and of course thought she was landing for the night. I laid the boat up. After being there a short time the Kentucky passed under a head of steam, at the rate of fifteen miles per hour (to the best of my judgment), and had passed us somewhere between five and seven miles when she sunk. I had the fires banked with the intention of remaining until daylight. After remaining about one and a half hours I was notified from the shore that the Kentucky had sunk, and that the assistance of the boat was required to prevent further loss of life (a great many having already been drowned), and destruction of property. I immediately raised steam and got under way. Arriving at the wreck abut half-past 11 p.m., I found everything in confusion and endeavored with all available means on board to secure men and women. I immediately lowered the boat and went in person to the boat; found no boats yet at work. I at once stretched a trail line to the shore, to run boats by the current being too strong to use sweeps or oars. My first mate directly afterward stretched another from the starboard after cabin-guard, when we set two boats to work, having procured one from the neighboring plantations. We eventually got everyone off who wished to come, some remaining on board – for what purpose I know not. The whole affair is very disastrous, involving a great loss of life, and in the opinion of all high-minded and honorable men, as well as some who were on board with the officers of the boat, and also in my opinion too, the disaster could have been avoided, and that it only resulted from inattention and ignorance, as an investigation of the same will prove. During the rescue of the people on board, and while running my small boat in person, I made use of the following language: ‘If I had the power, I would hang tehe Captain and pilots to the first tree that I could find,’ an assertion that I am prepared to maintain. “Having ascertained indirectly that the officers of this boat intend reporting me for the use of the above language, is the cause of my making this statement, as I know that they are wholly incompetent to command or have charge of anything regarding transportation, where human life is concerned. “Hoping that these few explanations will be fully satisfactory for the course I have pursued in the matter, I would, most respectfully, beg leave to subscribe myself you most obedient servant, “Stephen J. Webber, Captain Commanding Transport.” (Missouri Republican, St. Louis. “The Steamboat Disaster on Red River.” 6-22-1865, p. 1.) June 14, Missouri Republican, St. Louis: “Card From Passengers on Board the Kentucky. Baton Rouge, June 14, 1865. “The undersigned passengers, on board the ill-fated United States steamer Kentucky, feel it incumbent on them to notice through your columns the noble acts of the officers of the United States steamer Col. Chapin, who came to the wreck and assisted in rescuing some four hundred to five hundred souls, and administered many acts of kindness to the survivors, especially to the women and children, many of whom lost their all. We shall ever bear in kind remembrance Capt. S. J. Webber, clerk P. Bruce, Capt. Wm. T. Goodwin, U.S.A., and the First Mate, F. Kierman, and William Roberts, Second Engineer, for their indefatigable endeavors in saving life and property. A. H. Isaacson and family, John G. Ong and family, Wm. B. Jones, Captain Engineer Corps, Jas. S. Cartright, Lieutenant Artillery, F. H. Turner, 1st Lieutenant Co. G., 28th La., Alcide Bossier, J. C. D. Blackburn, Ursin Rodrigue, L. M. Spencer, Van DeMoss, C. A. Fischer, F. Hagan, Lewis D. Cook, D. G. Wilson, H. L. Turner. “The following are reported lost by the sinking of the Kentucky: “Col. Bush, 3d La. Cavalry; a son of Dr. Conconnon, and Mr. James P. Walton.” (Missouri Republican, St. Louis. “Card From Passengers on Board the Kentucky.” 6-22-1865, p.1.) June 15, New Orleans Picayune: “Our readers have already been made aware of the sinking of the transport steamer Kentucky, a short distance below Shreveport, on the 9th, and the loss thereby of the lives of some 200 persons, chiefly confederate soldiers from Missouri, and some from Arkansas, who had been paroled and were returning home. We had an interview yesterday with Mr. Louis Flatau, one of the survivors, who gave us quite a full account of the disaster, which we here transcribe for the benefit of our readers: “The Kentucky, which appears to have been an old and weakly craft, had shortly after leaving Shreveport been run into the river bank with quite a jar, but nothing serious was apprehended from it, and all retired to sleep. There were about 800 passengers on board, chiefly confederate soldiers from Missouri, and these were lying about the bow and in the forward cabin, on the floor, soundly asleep, when about 9½ P.M. it was discovered that the boat had two and a half feet of water in the hold. “No alarm was given at first, and an attempt was made to run her ashore; but, as the boat proved unmanageable, this failed. A stern line was then got out and fastened to thee shore, but not in time to do any good, for the boat swung out into the mid-river, where the current was strong and the water deep, and the bow was carried under, the boat careened over on its side, and slowly at firs, and then suddenly, the bow went down and only about twenty feet of the ladies’ cabin remained out of the water. This, too, standing at an inclination so nearly perpendicular that it was with great difficulty that any one could climb out. It is likely that the boat broke in the middle, as the Texas and hurricane deck forward remained out of the water, as well as the bell, which was kept ringing after the vessel sank, until the steamer Chapin came to their assistance. “For some reason, yet to be explained, the soldiers were permitted to remain asleep, in fancied security, while the boat had thus filled with water and was sinking; and thus nearly all of them were carried under with the boat. Some who were outside, or could easily extricate themselves, rose to the surface and swam out; some clambered up the sides and floor of the boat, and thus escaped; but about two hundred of them were undoubtedly lost. “Such was the confusion and terror, occurring as this did in the night, and while the men were asleep, that when they emerged from their dreams they thought of nothing but self-preservation. Among the few who exerted themselves to save the ladies, our informant names Major Buckner, Major Wardell and Captain Montgomery, of the confederate army, and Mr. A. H. Isaacson; and there were others whose names escaped his memory. He himself succeeded in rescuing the little daughter of Mr. Isaacson, who had already fallen down to the water. He clambered up with her, with great difficulty, until she could be put into the life-boat and taken ashore. “The current was exceedingly swift, and boats were almost unmanageable, otherwise more might have been saved. As it was, 400 persons were taken off, including all the ladies and children, so far as known, and their baggage. The Chapin, which had come down owing to the incessant ringing of the bell, rendered the greatest assistance in rescuing those who clung to the wreck, and her officers merit the gratitude of all who are in any degree interested in the survivors. The Chapin took on board the ladies and children, and many of the other passengers, all of whom were wet and weary, made them comfortable, and gave aid to all so far as lay in their power. “We are informed that all the officers and crew of the Kentucky were saved, and if notice of the dangerous condition of the boat had been given to the sleepers, or, better still, had there been such watchfulness and good conduct as not to have waited until the hull was full of water before trying to land, the lives of the two hundred victims of this piece of criminal indifference and carelessness would have been saved. Our informant could not furnish us with the names of any of the lost. Poor fellows! They had been four years from home, fighting bravely, if mistakenly, for what they regarded as their right. When the day of surrender came, they did not leave their colors, but remained to protect those near whom they were placed, and to deliver up, intact, to their late foes, the spoils of war. Like soldiers that had remained at their posts, and having, like soldiers, given their paroles, were about to return to their homes with the plaudits of both friend and foe, when in darkness the wave swept over them and they were gone.” (Reprinted in: Cincinnati Daily Commercial, OH. “The Red River Tragedy.” 6-23-1865, p. 1.) June 20, Arkansas State Gazette, Little Rock: “Cairo, June 20….On Friday the 9th, the steamer Kentucky with 1000 Parsons’ Command on board broke in two 15 miles below Shreveport and sunk. 200 persons were drowned including Judge R. T. Roberts of Saline Co., Mo., and a number of Ladies. Gen. Price’s escort was on board. The military authorities who compelled the boat to push out when the Capt. protested and informed them that she was then in a sinking condition. They are deserving of the severest punishment. The Capt. when he found the boat was actually going to pieces tried to land, but she was totally unmanageable. Mar. Roberts, son of Judge Roberts, was among the saved.” (Arkansas State Gazette, Little Rock. “200 of Parsons’ Men Drowned in Red River.” 6-23-1865, p. 1.) June 20, Galveston Daily News: “We copy from the Shreveport Sentinel of the 11th inst. [Sunday]: “From Mr. C. B. Brooks, who was on board the steamer Kentucky, we receive the following statement: About 9 o’clock Friday night [June 9] the boat in going down the river with a large number of passengers, mostly paroled Confederate soldiers, ran into the bank, striking amongst some trees or brush with a tremendous crash. She then swung round, and drifted down for some distance, perhaps a mile, when the alarm was given that she was sinking. It seems that she had once after striking got close enough to the shore for persons to jump off, which some did, but in the confusion she was not made fast. – It was only a few moments after the alarm was given before she sank up to the upper deck, where most of the passengers who had not swam ashore congregated, and were afterwards taken off by the Ohio Belle. “Mr. B. thinks that about forty-five or fifty men were missing, some of whom no doubt swam ashore. He also heard that three ladies and seven negroes were lost. Most of the passengers lost almost everything. “The number lost is estimated by others to be much larger – some fixing it at from one to two hundred whites and sixty or seventy negroes. The accident, which is attributed to the incompetency of he pilot, happened about fifteen miles below this city.” Shreveport Sentinel. (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Telegraphic….From the Shreveport Sentinel.” 6-20-1865, p. 1, c.2.) June 20, Indianapolis Daily Journal: “Cairo, June 20….The transport Kentucky, with 1,280 [the “8” number is unclear, it is not a “0”] paroled rebel troops, struck a snag twelve miles below Shreveport on the 9th, and sunk in three minutes. Over 200 lives were lost.” (Indianapolis Daily Journal, IN. “Steamer Sank.” 6-21-1865, p. 3, col. 2.) June 21, Cincinnati Daily Commercial: “Our Cairo [IL] dispatches announce the sinking of the steamer Kentucky, on Red River, twelve miles from Shreveport, La. There were twelve hundred paroled rebel prisoners on board, two hundred of whom were drowned. The boat struck a snag, and went down in three minutes. The Kentucky was guilt here, ten or eleven years since, and was originally in the Cincinnati and Portsmouth trade.” (Cincinnati Daily Commercial, OH. “Local Matters.” 6-21-1865, p. 2, col. 3.) June 21, Janesville Gazette. WI: “….Cairo, June 20….The United States transport Kentucky, with about 900 passengers, principally paroled prisoners and families returning to their homes, left Shreveport for New Orleans on Friday, June 9th. About nine o’clock on the same night it was discovered that the boat was taking water rapidly, and before the boat was landed and stages [gangplanks], she sunk in about twenty feet of water, the timbers breaking and crashing. The loss of life must have been terrible, she being much crowded and sinking inside of three minutes. It is supposed that some 200 perished. She had some 250 horses on board, all of which were lost except three. The passengers lost everything. The paroled prisoners on board were principally members of the Missouri regiments. There were some Arkansas soldiers on board and a small number of Louisianians. There were no Union soldiers among the number. The officers of the steamer were, it is believed, all saved.” (Janesville Gazette. WI. “Sinking of the Steamer Kentucky…” 6-22-1865, p. 3, c. 6.) June 24, Daily Davenport Democrat, IA: “The steamer Kentucky sunk near Shreveport, La., not long ago…[rip in page obscures several words] with a reported loss of life of two hundred persons, but recent investigations have ascertained that but twenty whites, and fifty black men, women and children went down with the wreck. – Sufficiently bad enough as it is.” (Daily Davenport Democrat, IA. “River Items.” 6-24-1865, p. 4.) June 26, Daily Missouri Republican, St. Louis: “The officers of the steamer Kentucky, have been acquitted of all blame for the late disaster.” (Daily Missouri Republican, St. Louis. “Latest News By Telegraph.” 6-26-1865, p. 3, col. 1.) June 29, Daily Quincy Herald, IL: “A passenger on the steamer Kentucky, which was lately sunk in Red River, and which had on board at the time, several paroled rebel prisoners from various Missouri and Louisiana commands, states that only about fifty of these troops were drowned and publishes the following list, comprising the names of those lost…[whose names he knew]: [We break the paragraph into separate lines, comprising 17 names.] John Dover, Cole county, Missouri; Daniel Fagally, Marion county; Robt. Kincannon, Saline county; Washington Burkhart, Knox county; John Burns, Audrain county; Joseph L. Wilson, Monroe county; J. T. Clayton, Ralls county; R. J. Cason, Howard county; Wm. Burton, Howard county; Benjamin Honchins, Monroe county; Benjamin Cooper, Howard county; James R. Enlow, Johnson county; John W. Enlow, Johnson county; James R. Thomas, Boone county; Brantley Hines, Henry county; Judge R. C. Robinson, Saline county, and A. B. Walton, Howard county.” (Daily Quincy Herald, IL. “Sinking of the Kentucky.” 6-29-1865, p. 2, col. 1.) Sources Arkansas State Gazette, Little Rock. “200 of Parsons’ Men Drowned in Red River.” 6-23-1865, p. 1. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/little-rock-arkansas-state-gazette-jun-23-1865-p-1/ Cappo, Russel Jr. NAI. “Disaster on the Red.” Shreveport.com, 9-12-2008 modification. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: http://www.shreveport.com/Disaster_on_the_Red.htm Cincinnati Daily Commercial, OH. “Local Matters.” 6-21-1865, p. 2, col. 3. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-daily-commercial-jun-21-1865-p-2/ Cincinnati Daily Commercial, OH. “The Red River Tragedy. The Sinking of the Kentucky. 200 Men Drowned in Their Sleep.” 6-23-1865, p. 1. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-daily-commercial-jun-23-1865-p-1/ Daily Davenport Democrat, IA. “River Items.” 6-24-1865, p. 4. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-davenport-democrat-jun-24-1865-p-4/ Daily Missouri Republican, St. Louis. “Latest News By Telegraph.” 6-26-1865, p. 3, col. 1. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/saint-louis-daily-missouri-republican-jun-26-1865-p-3/ Daily Quincy Herald, IL. “Sinking of the Kentucky.” 6-29-1865, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/quincy-daily-herald-jun-29-1865-p-2/ Gaines, W. Craig. Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2008. Galveston Daily News, TX. “Telegraphic….From the Shreveport Sentinel.” 6-20-1865, p. 1, c.2.) Monroe County & The Civil War. “Away Back in War Days [SS Kentucky sinks].” Accessed at: http://monroe.mogenweb.org/wardays.htm Indianapolis Daily Journal, IN. “Steamer Sank.” 6-21-1865, p. 3, col. 2. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indianapolis-daily-journal-jun-21-1865-p-3/ Janesville Gazette. WI. “Sinking of the Steamer Kentucky: Over 200 paroled Rebels Lost.” 6-22-1865, p. 3. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/janesville-gazette-jun-22-1865-p-3/ Missouri Republican, St. Louis. “The Steamboat Disaster on Red River.” 6-22-1865, p. 1. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/saint-louis-daily-missouri-republican-jun-22-1865-p-1/ Paris Mercury, MO. “Remembrances of Pindall’s Men as Told to Local Reporters.” 10-8-1897. Accessed at: http://mmcwrt.missouri.org/Moberly1897.htm The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin. “1865 July 1 [date of transcribed article]: 200 Lives lost as Steamer ‘Kentucky’ Sinks.” Transcription if from the Prescot Journal of 7-1-1865, entitled “Central Intelligence. Disaster on Red River – Sinking of a Steamer and Loss of 200 Lives.” Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://thecivilwarandnorthwestwisconsin.wordpress.com/2015/07/05/1865-july-1-200-lives-lost-as-steamer-kentucky-sinks/ United States War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies; Series 1, Vol. 52 (Part 1). Washington: GPO, 1884. Digitized by Google. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=ILF3AAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Way, Frederick Jr. (Author and Compiler), Joseph W. Rutter (contributor). Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System Since the Advent of Photography in Mid-Continent America (Revised). Athens OH: Ohio University Press, 1999. Wikipedia. “Mosby Monroe Parsons,” 7-30-2020 edit. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosby_Monroe_Parsons Wikipedia. “William Henry Parsons (colonel).” 3-10-2020 edit. Accessed 9-23-2020 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Parsons_(colonel)