Maria Denning (Packet/Transport, 1856-1866)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sidewheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet/Transport
• BUILT: 1856 at Cincinnati, Ohio
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Burned at Algiers, Louisiana on May 11, 1866
• OWNERS: 1856: Captain Hercules Carrel and others; 1864: Captain Yore
• OFFICERS & CREW: 1856: Captain Hercules Carrel (master), Frank Richardson, T.W. Scott and Dick Raymond (clerks), D.D. Blois (pilot), Lew Jewett and Dan Clements (engineers), James Moore (mate); 1864: Captain B.A. Oglesby (master)
• RIVERS: Mississippi River; Ohio River; Cumberland River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 3746; Maria Denning was originally built for freight only. The second deck was an immense storage room. She ran St. Louis-New Orleans until the outbreak of the Civil War. At that point she was engaged in transporting government stores. Following a fray at Belmont, General U.S. Grant came aboard at Cairo. There in midstream ensued a parley with Confederate General Cheatham and General Grant. Both had served together in Mexico. Refreshments were served and high brass from both sides visited back-and-forth on the two vessels. At parting time, two hours later, the boats withdrew from one another to discover that officers from both sides were not sorted out. A second contact was made to get Yankees and Rebels on board their own boats. This precipitated something of a scandal, that the war had been suspended, that Grant was drunk, etc. In March 1864, she was stranded crossways on the Cumberland River. Captain Patrick Yore purchased her from Captain Carrel for $50,000 with the proviso she be released and delivered to St. Louis, which was done. Under Yore's command, she briefly acted as a troop transport. She burned at Algiers, Louisiana, on May 11, 1866