SUVCW

SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR



S. G. Griffin Camp #10
Keene, NH



Major Dort's wife and son drown


 

Quoting from the Keene Sentinel [August 21, 1862]:  "Dreadful Disaster on the Potomac.  A Steamer with Sick and Wounded Soldiers on Board Run Into and Sunk.  SEVENTY-THREE LIVES LOST.  Correspondence of the Associated Press.  Acquia Creek, Va., Thursday, Aug. 14.  A collision occurred on the Potomac River, last night, off Ragged Point, between the steamers Peabody and West Point, involving the loss of seventy-three lives.  The West Point was bound to this place from Newport News, with convalescent troops of Gen. Burnside's army.  The Peabody brought the rescued soldiers and passengers to this point, and from Lieut. Charles Scott, of the Sixth New Hampshire, who was on board of the ill-fated vessel, and in charge of the troops, I have obtained the following account of the affair: 

"[']We left Newport's News on Tuesday, the 11th inst., with 254 soldiers, four officers, three ladies, and one child.  At Fortress Monroe we took on 17 men, making in all 279 souls.  On Wednesday evening, the 13th inst., about 8 o'clock, off Ragged Point, on the Potomac, we were startled by a shock, and soon discovered that a collision had taken place between our steamer and another, named the George Peabody, bound down the river.  The West Point began to leak very fast, and it was ascertained that she would sink in less than ten minutes.  The Peabody, which had been partially disabled, could render no assistance, except with small boats.[']

"From other sources I learn valuable assistance was rendered by Capts. Biggs and Hall, and their assistant quartermasters, of Gen. Burnside's Army, who were passing in the steamer John Farren at the time, and by Acting-Master Joslyn, of the [?]unboat Reliance.  An unknown bark also rendered valuable assistance, and, by the combined efforts of all, two hundred and three persons were rescued.  The West Point went down in four fathoms of water, about one and a half miles from the Maryland shore, and nothing can now be seen of her but her smoke stack, masts, and some wrenched up planks on her decks.  All of her crew were saved except one fireman, named John Russell. 

"The brief period during which the West Point remained afloat after striking, and the consternation which prevailed, prevented the efforts to save all from being as successful as could be desired.  Capt. Doyle and Lieut. Scott were the last to leave the vessel.  Without attributing the blame to either party, I give you the statements on both sides. 

"The following is the statement of Wm. F. Kervin, Pilot of the Peabody.  It is corroborated by Capt. T[r]avers, who was on deck at the time of the collision.  [']The steamship George Peabody left Aquia [sic] Creek, Aug. 13, for Fortress Monroe, at 4 1-2 o'clock p.m.  The steamer proceeded down the river, and when about off Ragged Point, and steering east by south, made an unknown steamer, which was the West Point, on our port bow.  I gave him blow of our steam-whistle, which was answered in return by the steamer West Point.  When the steamer neared I ported our wheel.  The pilot, or whoever had charge of the steamer West Point, starboarded his wheel, and struck our bows on the port side, forward of our wheel, at five minutes past 8 o'clock p.m.[']

"The following is the statement of Capt. Doyle, of the West Point:  [']J. E. G. Doyle, master of the steamer West Point, certifies that between 8 and 9 o'clock p.m., of August 13, steering from Ragged Point to get sandbags, about five miles above Lower Machodie, about west by south across the channel, heard a whistle blow once two points on the starboard bow.  I immediately answered it, which signal means, "keep to the right;" our lights all burning at the time, our green light being the only one that could be seen from the other steamer, with which collision occurred.  I saw the boat coming down on us, immediately stopped the engine and backed the boat; the other b[oat] apparently going full speed, her port guard an[d] [?]addle box took our bow and stove it in, taking away about ten feet, leaving us in a sinking condition.  I immediately hailed him to stay by, as we were in distress.  He passed us, and I advised the pilot to beach the boat immediately, which [missing text] with.  My steamer headed up the Maryland shore, and sank in about four fathoms water.  I did everything to avoid the collision, and used my utmost exertions to save all I could.'

Through the kindness of Capt. Bland, and Post Quartermaster West, of this place, who kindly afforded me facilities for visiting the Peabody, I am enabled to send you the following partial list of the missing.  The entire number missing is seventy-three, of whom a portion may be saved, as a number were picked up by small [missing text] and schooners in the vicinity.  Wife and child of Maj. Dort, Sixth New Hampshire.  Wife of Lieut. Col. Scott, Sixth New Hampshire.  Wife [of] Capt. Cummings, Co. E, Sixth New Hampshire.  — Wayland, Co. H, Ninth New York.  Sergeant Schans, Forty-sixth New York.  Dr. Newell.  Privates in the Sixth New Hampshire Regiment.—C. E. Barker, Co. E; G. W. Marsh, Co. E; P. W. Cross, Co. C; Luther Cass, Samuel Plaisted, Co. A; Stephen Brooks, Co. B; Wm. Kimball, Co. C; D. H. C. Bryant, Co. I; [Jno. ?] Simonds, Oliver Young, Geo. W. Derby, Co. F."

Quoting from the Keene Sentinel [August 21, 1862]:  "The report of the tragical collision on the Potomac, on Wednesday of last week, brought to this community a saddening blow, and awakened in all hearts the sincerest sympathy for a bereaved husband and father—the generous and gallant Major Dort.  The particulars will be found elsewhere.  The other gallant officers, Lt. Col. Scott and Capt. Cummings of Peterboro', are known to many in this community, and they, too, share in the sympathy so justly felt for their companion in arms.  The hardships and perils of the battle field are, it would seem, enough for the human heart to bear—but the sudden deprivation of wives and children, while on visits of love and mercy, touches the deepest foundation of sorrow.  Capt. Cummings was married but a few days before leaving home for the war, and his young wife had not seen him since his departure; and mainly to gratify her desire to visit him before entering upon anticipated battles, she and her friends undertook the fatal trip.  Major Dort having lost an only daughter just previous to entering the public service, now loses with his wife the elder of two sons, scarcely seven years old.  This great grief he bears with the fortitude of a Christian and a patriot, and returns in a few days to fight his country's battles.  That God may protect him and his suffering companions, in the holiest of earthly causes, is the prayer of us all.  Lt. Col. Scott went to the captain and asked him to lower the boats in order to try to save the ladies, but he thought he could run the boat ashore and save all.  Little Arthur W. Dort was in his berth at the time, and was getting upon the upper or hurricane deck, when that gave way and all upon it went down together."

Quoting from the Keene Sentinel [September 11, 1862]:  "The bodies of the wives of Lt. Col. Scott, Maj. Dort and Capt. Cummings and of the son of Maj. Dort, with those of other persons drowned in the Potomac, by the collision of boats, some time since, have been recovered.  They were found on the Virginia shore where they were buried.  The remains of Mrs. Scott were taken to Peterboro, accompanied by Lt. Col. Scott, and appropriate funeral services were held last Sunday week.  The body of Dr. Newell was found among others.  The Doctor was a New Hampshire man, entered the service with a Massachusetts regiment and was connected with a Pennsylvania regiment at the time of his untimely death."

Note:  Photographs of Major Dort, Mrs. Dort and the Dort grave site in Keene may be viewed at our web site photographs page.

Back to the Main Index

 

© Copyright Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War,
A Congressionally Chartered Corporation