Argosy Disaster and William Winesburg

Argosy No. 3  

Timeline & Disaster

by Lori Drawl

I have attempted to combine numerous newspaper reports and brief snippets from regimental histories, etc.  to come up with a semblance of understanding of the events surrounding this incident.

 

• Items highlighted in blue are of special interest or represent contradictory information.

• Items highlighted in red indicate a major problem, which will be addressed at length at the end.

 

The one-year-old Argosy No. 3 steamboat was enlisted into the Union war effort to help transport troops home during the demobilization effort, traveling from Cairo, Illinois, to Cincinnati, Ohio. Piloted by Capt. Lewis Vandegrift.

10 Aug 1865 Pvt. Wm. Winesburg (Indiana 93rd Inf, Co. A) officially mustered out in Memphis TN, but he is listed as “Absent; POA”. He is not with the other members of his regiment as they head home on this date.

14 Aug 1865 Under the command of Col. Henry L. Phillips, the 70th Ohio Infantry mustered out in Little Rock, AK. From there, the regiment of 300 troops took a river steamer to Magnolia TN and on to Memphis TN.  While in Memphis, they transferred to another steamer bound for Cairo, IL. They relaxed in Cairo for one day and one night before boarding the Argosy No. 3 for the trip to a port in Cincinnati. From there they would travel on to Columbus, Ohio, before reaching their final destination of their homes in Adams County, OH.

21 Aug 1865 Day of the Argosy Disaster

• Transporting about 300 passengers to Cincinnati OH, comprised primarily of mustered out men of the 70th Ohio Infantry
• At Oxbow Bend on the Ohio River, near Hatfield Landing, KY, a tornadic storm blew the ship onto rocks on the Indiana side of the Ohio River causing the mud drums to explode.
• Reportedly, 30-50 men jumped overboard to avoid the steam as the Sultana disaster earlier that year was surely still very fresh in everyone’s mind. Eight of these individuals were never found and presumed drowned. I have been unable to locate information regarding the military or civilian status of the drowning victims.
• The ship “Morning Star” happened by and was hailed to assist the wounded. The captain did not heed the plea, which may have been attributable to the weather/night not making the wreck visible.  

The Colonel of the OH 70th later laid the case before military authorities to investigate.

• Ironically, the steamer Argosy (No. 1) was the next ship to come along. This boat then transported survivors to Cincinnati for medical care.

Casualties and Confusion

 

• Severely Scalded

 

Most newspaper sources report anywhere from 12-18 individuals were scalded and transported to Louisville KY for medical care.  

The History of Adams County Ohio states that of the troops from the Ohio 70th,  twenty-three were scalded severely and nine drowned.

Severely scalded troops mentioned by name in almost every newspaper article are:

 

• William Egelshoff (OH 70th, Co I)

• Michael Murray (OH 70th, Co. D)

• William Norton Shelby (OH 70th, Co. D)

• Mr. Brosher/Brasbee/Brisbee/Brashee/Brisble/Busbee (OH 70th, Co. D)

• Isaac Taylor (OH 70th)

• One of these men died en route to Cincinnati and was left there for internment.

• Another was expected to die before they reached Cincinnati or shortly thereafter.

• Local historian, Bert Fenn, reported that two of the injured are thought to be buried in Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville, KY.

• Fenn also mentions speculation that the Unknown Soldier may be one of the injured who died in Louisville and was subsequently buried with the others in the mass grave near Rono, IN.

 

 

• Deceased and Memorialized in Magnet, IN

 

Local Farmers collect bodies and prepared a mass burial at the accident site near the Town of Rono IN,  (later renamed Magnet, IN). A historical marker was erected in 1865.

#1-8 From the Ohio 70th – nine drowning victims” (History of Adams Co. OH)

 

1. John Herman Behren (OH 70th, Co. F)
2. John Robuck (OH 70th, Co. G)
3. Amos Rose (OH 70th, Co. C)
4. Alfred Rader (OH 70th)
5. John/Joseph McDaniel/McDonald (OH 70th, Co. F)
6. Hugh Taylor (OH 70th, Co. K)
7. Aaron Fiscus (Oh 70th, Co. K) ”only drowning victim recovered”
8. George W. McKinnley (OH 70th)

 

 

#9-10 Immediately Scalded to death

 

9. Martin Van Buren Long (OH 70th, Co. K)

10. Unknown Soldier discharged from the 39th Indiana Infantry

 

“We Have a Problem”

PROBLEM #1: Who was left in Louisville KY for internment, and are they buried at Cave Hill Cemetery?

 

• One of these men died en route to Cincinnati and was left there for internment.

 

• Another was expected to die before they reached Cincinnati or shortly thereafter. (can apply to Problem #1 or #2)

 

• Local historian, Bert Fenn, reported that two of the injured are thought to be buried in Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville, KY.

 

SOLUTION (and you aren’t going to like it):

Source: Civil War Roll of Honor (Vol. 17) Union soldiers buried in Cave Hill National Cemetery (05), Louisville KY

1. Martin Long – Ohio 70th, Company K   died Aug 22, 1865.  Buried Section D, Range 4, Grave 10 National Cemetery Internment Control Record: Stone #3539
2. Aaron Fiscus  – Ohio 70th, Company K died Aug 21, 1865. Buried Section D, Range 2, Grave 11 National Cemetery Internment Control Record: Stone #3314

NEW PROBLEM: If they are buried in Cave Hill, who is buried at Magnet, IN?

 

• I have NEVER seen mention of anyone being reinterred to Magnet. If someone was going to go to the bother of reinterring Long & Fiscus, why not just take them home to Ohio?

 

• I have NEVER seen mention that the tombstones at Magnet are only symbolic memorials for those who died and their bodies are elsewhere.

Aaron Fiscus at Cave Hill, Aaron Fiscus gravestone at Magnet, Martin Long gravestone at Magnet.

I could not obtain an online photo of Martin Long’s tombstone at Cave Hill, but I have requested one.

PROBLEM #2: “Unknown Soldier”

 

• Fenn also mentions speculation that the Unknown Soldier may be one of the injured who died in Louisville and was subsequently buried with the others in the mass grave near Rono, IN.
• Another was expected to die before they reached Cincinnati or shortly thereafter (could apply to Problem #1 or #2)
• Unknown Soldier discharged from the 39th Indiana

POTENTIAL SOLUTION: William Winesburg

• Every source consistently states that the unknown soldier was discharged from an INDIANA infantry. Some sources mention the 39th and some don’t state any regiment number.
• The 39th Indiana Infantry ceased to exist on October 15, 1863, when its designation was changed to 8th Indiana Cavalry.  There hadn’t been a 39th Indiana Infantry for almost two years before the Argosy disaster, so this regiment designation for the unknown soldier seems highly unlikely.
• My theory is that it could be William Winesburg of the 93rd Indiana (a clerical transposition of 39th or incorrect information given to reporters). He would not have been traveling with his regiment due to his POW status, which would explain the inability to identify him accurately.
• The oral history and all regimental documentation available from the National Archives seem to be in agreement.  Fortunately, I have yet to find any information that negates this theory. Unfortunately, I may never be able to prove the theory beyond a reasonable doubt…but I am still looking for evidence!

POTENTIAL SOLUTION: Michael Manning  (Hold onto your hat!)

• Source: Cairo Evening Times (Cairo IL) Wed, Sep 6, 1865

“Michael Manning, Co. D. 36th Illinois Infantry, was scalded and died on the Steamer Argosy, and was buried six miles above the head of Flint Island in the Lower Ohio. Captain Vandegriff left his discharge and a small amount of money with Cunningham & Bennet, of this city, for his relatives.”

[Cunningham & Bennett was a transportation company contracted by the military to assist with the war effort. The description of his burial site matches the location of Magnet, IN]

• For Manning to be the Unknown Soldier, the “discharged 39th Indiana” soldier would have to be an inaccurate reporting of a soldier from the “36th Illinois”.
• If Manning is the Unknown Soldier, why is he “unknown”?    Vandegrift, the steamship captain, knew his identity (presumably from some sort of documentation he was carrying).
• Source: Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles 

Michael Manning enlisted in Company I, Illinois 36th Infantry Regiment on 15 Dec 1861. Captured 9/20/1863 and sent to (and survived) Andersonville.  Captured again 8/26/1864; prison not listed . Mustered out 7 Mar 1865. Remarks: Known to be discharged, no official notice recd.  He is listed as being in two Companies: I and D.

Would he not have been traveling with his regiment during the muster out process due to his POW status? His name is only found in ONE newspaper article, which may indicate that he was traveling without his regiment and why nobody mentioned his name to the newspapers.

I am struggling to find additional accurate information on this individual, in part because there are numerous soldiers with the name “Michael Manning” in Illinois (two in the 36th Illinois regiment alone).

• My theory: Michael Manning is buried at Magnet IN.  We now know that Aaron Fiscus and Martin Long are NOT BURIED there! So, if ten bodies are in the mass grave, Michael Manning and William Winesburg could both be there in an “unknown soldier” status….and one more left to be identified.

Newspaper Sources:

1. Cincinnati Enquirer; 24 Aug 1865, 26 Aug 1865
2. New York Times; 25 Aug 1865
3. Janesville Gazette, Wisconsin;  25 Aug 1865
4. Daily Empire (Dayton OH);  24 Aug 1865
5. Indianapolis Star; 24 Aug 1865
6. Argosy Disaster Remembered, Perry County News; 31 Aug 2015
7. Waterways Journal Weekly;  2 Apr 2018
8. Cairo Evening Times; Sept 5, 1865
9. The Gazette & Comet (Baton Rouge LA), Sept. 7, 1865
10. The Herald (Jasper IN) Feb 26, 1971
11. Buffalo Courier (Buffalo NY) Aug 25, 1865
12. Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling WV) Aug 25, 1865
13. Pittsburgh Gazette (Pittsburgh PA) Aug 24, 1865

 

What Happened to Private Winesburg?

A reader shared with me a puzzle that she’s been working hard on. Her Civil War ancestor has conflicting accounts about how and where he died. I’m posting it here to get more eyes and minds working on it. Since it is long and very detailed, I’ll divide it into 2 posts.

Here’s her research so far:

“I am researching my 3x great-grandfather, Pvt. J. William Winesburg (Co. A, 93rd Indiana Infantry). The oral family tradition has always been that he was ill while in Andersonville. He died en route home on the Ohio River. After decades of dead ends, I believe he may be the “unknown soldier” buried in Magnet IN.

If you are a member of Ancestry.com, here’s a link to William Winesburg’s profile page, where you can view his military service records from the National Archives (NARA) and follow my thought process to his fateful demise.

Photo from wikivisually.com The Civil War historical marker at the Magnet, Indiana site where the soldiers were buried.

I need to make the documentable connection between his release during the Andersonville prisoner exchange and what I believe to be his fatal trip home on the steamboat Argosy No.3 (traveling with 300 soldiers from the Ohio 70th) on 21 Aug 1865.

The Andersonville roster book says he was “exchanged Sept 17” in 1864. His POW Memorandum says “exch. Atlanta Sept 17” with basically nothing else filled in on the form except his name and regiment ID. A consultant at NARA said there was no way to track his movements in the exchange process.

Dead end at NARA? Any ideas or suggestions?

The official Andersonville website states the following, which poses the possibility that he was sent to another prison (rather than exchanged). His muster rolls seem to corroborate this, as he is listed as a POW from the time of his capture at Brice’s Cross Roads (near Guntown, MS) on June 10, 1864, until he was mustered out in Aug 1865.

Note in The Standard, a London, England newspaper on Sept. 9, 1865 about the tragedy on the Argosy. Sat, Sep 9, 1865 – 5 · The Standard (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

“In just the one week of September 7-13, nearly 17,000 prisoners were transferred to other prisons in Georgia and the Carolinas. In mid-September, Sherman and Confederate General Hood negotiated a “special exchange” for those captured in the Atlanta campaign and around 2,000 prisoners were sent to Atlanta for exchange.”

I then contacted the Nat. Park Service/Andersonville for any clarification on where he went on/after Sept 17, 1864. Their reply:

“His Memorandum from Prisoner of War Records should be able to answer this question. However, if he was a part of one of the September exchanges, then he went back to his regiment or was paroled out – so he wouldn’t have been received by another prison after Andersonville. His exchange would have taken place in Atlanta, GA. His “Memorandum from Prisoner of War Records” in his compiled service records from the National Archives should detail where he was held.”

Unfortunately, the POW Memo doesn’t say where he was held nor does it indicate that he was paroled out. I don’t know if the Brice’s Cross Road battle was officially part of the “Atlanta campaign” (different authorities have given me opposite opinions), which would determine his eligibility for exchange. During the month of Sept. 1864, his regiment was on the move from Arkansas to Kansas, so I don’t see how he could be returned to his regiment in Atlanta. Likewise, the muster rolls never reflect that he returned to duty. This reinforced my belief that he must have gone to another prison. (FYI…he has no hospitalization records at NARA).”

She Would Like to Find Information on These

• Any knowledge of documents/diaries/letters that might offer details on those involved in the prisoner exchange of Sept 1864?
• Any knowledge about the movement of prisoners from Andersonville to other prisons?
• Conflicting sources claim the 93rd Indiana Regiment was mustered out 10 Aug 1865 in Memphis TN or Gainesville, Alabama. However, if he was in a Confederate prison and not with his regiment, I am not sure how to follow his trail.
• If he was released from a prison at the time of mustering out, would there be a prison record of this?

(I thank you in advance for your generosity in sharing your time and experience with me. My goal is to uncover who may be buried in the Unknown Soldier grave (even if it turns out to be someone other than my ancestor) and have a proper tombstone erected to honor his sacrifice. Lori D.)

Stop back tomorrow for additional information provided by Lori.